The Emergency Response Sub-Committee (the sub-committee) was established on 3 April 2020 under the direction of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Skills Council. The sub-committee operated until 31 December 2020. The sub-committee enabled fast-tracked adjustments to qualifications and training package requirements and ensured that Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector could quickly respond to areas of workforce and skill needs, critical in supporting economic recovery.
The sub-committee’s priority was on national training products to support and skill key frontline workforces impacted by COVID-19, including aged care, disability support, health care, and the early childhood education and care sectors.
The sub-committee engaged with industry, government and VET regulators during COVID-19 to help provide national training solutions to fill critical skill gaps and achieve the best outcomes for industry, students, employers and jobseekers. Stakeholders were kept informed of any restrictions, limitations or safeguards that needed to be put into place to ensure quality of training.
The sub-committee worked collaboratively with Skills Service Organisations, Skills Organisations, Industry Reference Committees, State and Territory Authorities, Registered Training Organisations, Regulators and Peak Bodies to collect information on known and emerging issues and concerns that are affecting the VET sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about the remit of the sub-committee, including focus, duration and functions, in the Terms of Reference.
Emergency Response Sub-Committee Members
The Emergency Response Sub-Committee is comprised of:
- Chair, Emeritus Professor Tracey Horton
- Dr Don Zoellner (NT)
- Ms Adrienne Nieuwenhuis (SA)
- Mr Brett Schimming (Qld)
- Mr Scott Connolly (ACTU)
- Ms Nadine Williams (Commonwealth)
- Dr Simon Booth (SSON representative)