Good afternoon Industry Reference Committee (IRC) members and Skills Service Organisations (SSOs),
I trust that you all had a relaxing break over the holidays and hope that it was without disruption. 2022 has kicked off with a lot of productive activity with several updates from across the sector.
It is fair to say that the transition to the new system is well and truly underway. Since my last message in December, work is progressing to put processes in place for a smooth transition this year. This will ensure training product development work is completed and support handovers to Industry Clusters later in the year.
As I have previously emphasised, the AISC’s main priority this year is ensuring the continuity of the training system and the completion of all existing training product projects by the end of 2022. The continued engagement of IRCs and their SSOs is central to a successful transition. The AISC is committed to supporting you during this time.
I look forward to working with you all in what will be a busy year.
Best regards,
Tracey
AISC meeting update
The AISC has held its 44th meeting since the last newsletter. The meeting communique will be available on the AISC website shortly.
Skills Reform update: Industry Clusters Grant Opportunity
Stage one of the two-stage grant process to establish Industry Clusters is open until 31 March. The grant opportunity is available on GrantConnect.
A virtual Industry Briefing is being held on Thursday, 3 March 2022 at 2pm (AEDT). The briefing will provide information to applicants prior to stage one closing. The agenda is being finalised and will be made available through GrantConnect prior to the Industry Briefing.
Registrations are now open if you would like to attend.
Two previous virtual Industry Briefings were held on 14 December 2021 and 20 January 2022. The presentations, recordings and responses to questions are available on GrantConnect.
An ‘Industry Clusters Marketplace’ has been established to encourage industry cooperation and engagement. The Marketplace offers industry leaders the opportunity to connect with their counterparts in aligned industries. Participation in the Marketplace is voluntary, and it is hosted on the Skills Reform website. Please refer to the Stage 1 Marketplace Notification addendum on GrantConnect for more information.
The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the Department) encourages you to promote the ‘Industry Clusters Marketplace’ to your networks and appreciate your ongoing support in the grant opportunity.
If you have further questions, please contact the Grant Round Manager via industryengagement@dese.gov.au
National Industry Insights Report Snapshots: Second batch of industry pages updated
The second batch of industry pages are now live on the National Industry Insights Report (NIIR) website.
The NIIR website offers high-level information and data for each industry sector. The remaining 23 sectors have been updated and include:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Manufacturing and Related Services
- Tourism, Travel and Hospitality.
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) developed the NIIR website which is informed by their research and industry intelligence.
Stay tuned for the National Skills Overview which is due for completion and publication by the end of March 2022.
The ANZSCO Review: 2021 Australian Update and consultations in 2022
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Update 2021 on 23 November. The update focussed on occupations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, naval shipbuilding, cybersecurity, as well as the majority of the emerging occupations identified by the National Skills Commission (NSC).
The ABS is now preparing for consultation on the 2022 update. The ANZSCO update seeks to improve the timeliness and accuracy of labour market data, provide updated occupation descriptions that reflect contemporary Australian conditions, identify gaps in the labour force, and support the creation of pathways to fill these gaps.
The ABS was appreciative of all those who contributed and provided feedback through the targeted consultation process last year and encourages participation this year.
For 2022, the ABS is partnering with Australian Government agencies including the Department to update a selection of construction-related trade occupations where an Australian Apprenticeship is a significant pathway.
The review will also target the remaining 25 emerging occupations identified by the NSC which were not addressed in 2021. The ABS is after general stakeholder input on other priority areas too.
Preliminary consultation was undertaken in February 2022 with industry representatives to seek views on the proposed scope of construction-related trades occupations to be reviewed as part of this update.
Approximately 20 occupations are being proposed for broader public consultation in March 2022. The ABS will then consider all submissions and develop proposed changes ahead of a second round of public consultation in June 2022.
The proposed changes will then be reviewed by an independent panel of technical experts. The updated classification will be published in November 2022 following ABS clearance processes.
Public consultations open on 1 March 2022 until 28 March 2022. IRCs and SSOs interested in providing their views on the scope of the update can visit the public consultation hub on the ABS website.
For information about the targeted ANZSCO update, the ABS can be contacted via email at anzsco.maintenance@abs.gov.au