The 35th meeting of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) was held on 2 December 2020.
The Chair formally welcomed Ms Lee Veitch, the new nominee for Tasmania and acknowledged that Lee’s extensive experience in the community services sector in Tasmania and focus on skills and workforce matters will make a valuable contribution to the work of the AISC.
The Chair notified the Committee that Ms Karen Ho will replace Dr Simon Booth as the ex‑officio representative for the Skills Senior Officials Network (SSON). Karen will commence in the role from January 2021 and will bring a wealth of experience in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, with a current focus on skills, workforce planning and policy development in her role with the Western Australian government.
VET Reform Update and Discussion
Job Trainer
Members were updated on JobTrainer and noted that:
- all states and territories have now signed the JobTrainer Schedule
- JobTrainer funded training places are available in South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales
- the lists of available JobTrainer courses are on the MySkills website.
Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package, Release 2.0
The Committee was informed that a decision on the endorsement of Release 2.0 of the Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package is pending.
Streamlining and Prioritisation Framework
As directed by Skills Ministers, the Committee discussed a proposed approach to the deletion of training products identified as having zero enrolments over the last three years and the implementation of a new framework for prioritising training package development activities from 2021.
Members agreed:
- to commence with the deletion by 31 December 2020 of a first tranche of units and qualifications that have been identified as having zero enrolments over the period 2016‑2019 and that also show no evidence that enrolments will occur in the short to medium term.
- that a second tranche of units and qualifications be identified for potential deletion through the standard training package development process over the next 12 months.
- Changes to the training package development process and documentation to ensure an ongoing focus on the streamlining and rationalisation of training products over the long term.
The Committee noted that while students will no longer be able to be enrolled in the products, they will remain available on the national register for viewing for other non-enrolment purposes, for example Human Resources policy and industry standards. The Committee also agreed to a rapid process to re-instate training products for enrolment purposes if required.
Members agreed to the incorporation of new framework for prioritising training package development activities into the training product commissioning, development and endorsement process.
The Committee endorsed updates to the Training Product Development and Endorsement Process Policy (TDPEPP) to effect these changes and agreed that an information pack with key information on the streamlining and rationalisation agenda and prioritisation framework be disseminated to SSOs and IRCs shortly to support these changes.
IRC Action Plan Progress Update
IRC Membership Analysis and Reviews
Members acknowledged progress to implement key activities in the action plan to strategically engage and enhance support to the IRC network. The action plan is available on the AISC website and stakeholders will be provided with regular updates on key activities being undertaken.
Members discussed IRC review processes and agreed to defer IRC reviews until reform directions on industry engagement arrangements are agreed by Skills Ministers. This will minimise disruption and support IRCs to complete training package development work currently commissioned.
The AISC remains committed to ensuring that IRCs operate in accordance with the IRC Operating Framework. Vacant IRC positions should continue to be filled through existing processes. The AISC may choose to review individual IRCs where significant issues have been identified.
AISC Strategic Communications and Engagement
The Committee noted significant progress made to enhance AISC strategic communications and engagement with industry and other stakeholders in 2020. Key achievements include expanding channels to share information and communicate outcomes from AISC meetings, and targeted presentations by the AISC Chair at conferences and webinars with industry. Members agreed to publish a new dashboard on the AISC website to share with stakeholders examples of achievements and key milestones from the training product development process.
Cases for Endorsement
Sixteen Cases for Endorsement were approved by the Committee for referral to Ministers for endorsement:
| IRC | Details of submission | AISC Decision |
| Local Government IRC
LGA Local Government Training Package – Update and transition |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the LGA Local Government Training Package – update and transition |
| Public Safety IRC
Emergency Management / Fire and Emergency Aviation Related Roles |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the PUA Public Safety Training Package, Release 3.0 |
| Agriculture and Production Horticulture IRC / Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management IRC
AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management – Rooftop and Vertical Gardens Part 3 – Joint Project: Horticulture and Nursery Project |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
Green Walls and Rooftop Gardens
Nursery production and Production Horticulture
|
Approved the Agriculture Horticulture Conservation and Land Management, Part 3 of 3 (Green Walls and Rooftop Gardens, Nursery Production and Production Horticulture) of the Training Package.
Agreed the Training Package be expedited to Skills Ministers for consideration for endorsement. |
| Information and Communications Technology IRC
ICT Information and Communications – Getting a more specialised job in telecommunications |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
Applied Digital Technologies
Telecommunications
|
Approved the ICT Information and Communications Technology Training Package, Version 7.0 |
| Metalliferous Mining IRC / Extractive IRC
RII Resources and Infrastructure – New and Emerging Technologies / Metalliferous Mining / Extractive |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the RII Resources and Infrastructure Industries Training Package, Version 7.0 |
| Rail IRC / Transport and Logistics IRC
TLI Transport and Logistics – (Rail) Infrastruct6ure Skills / Fuel Storage Dangerous Goods Contractor / Logistics and Warehousing |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the TLI Transport and Logistics Training Package, Release 8.0, noting that approval is subject to the Certificate II in Supply Chain Operations being deemed non‑equivalent to the existing Certificate II in Warehousing Operations and Certificate II in Logistics. |
| Aviation IRC
AVI Industry Skills |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the AVI Aviation Training Package, Release 7.0 |
| Property Services IRC
CPP Property Services – Fire Protection Inspection and Testing |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the transition of the Certificate II and Certificate III in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing to the 2012 Standards |
| Corrections IRC
CSC Correctional Services – Dog Handler / Offender Engagement / Correctional Management |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the CSC Correctional Services Training Package, Release 3.0 |
| Culture and Related Industries IRC
CUA Creative Arts and Culture – 8 projects |
The Case for Endorsement includes updates to 50 qualifications and 546 units of competency, including:
|
Approved the CUA Cultural Arts and Culture Training Package Version 5.0 except for 2 units and one qualification:
The IRC is requested to re-submit CUA50420 Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services at the February meeting with a more appropriate WHS unit. The IRC is requested to consider the 22 other qualifications that contain either CUAMWB501 or CUAMWB502 as an elective and substitute a more appropriate WHS unit through a minor change. |
| Public Safety IRC
DEF Defence – Defence Simulator Maintenance / Defence work, Health and Safety / Defence Evaluations |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the DEF Defence Training Package, Release 4.0 |
| Pharmaceutical IRC
FBP – Bioprocessing Technologies |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the FBP Food Beverage and Pharmaceutical Training Package, Version 5.0 |
| Financial Services IRC
FNS Financial Services – 5 projects |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the FNS Financial Services Training Package, Version 6.0 |
| Maritime IRC
Compass Adjuster / Dynamic Positioning / Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal) / Maritime Towage |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the Maritime Training Package, Release 7.0 |
| Water IRC
NWP National Water – Water Industry Operations / Water Industry Treatment |
The Case for Endorsement includes:
|
Approved the NWP Water Training Package, Release 4.0 |
| Gas IRC
UEG Gas Industry – Gas Leak Survey / Gas Control Systems / Gas Processing / Pipeline Emergency Repairs |
|
Approved the UEG Gas Supply Training Package, Release 2. |
The Committee welcomed Ms Clare Sullivan, Chair of the Local Government Industry Reference Committee (IRC), who was invited to discuss the work of her IRC in finalising the Local Government Training Package. Mr Mark Burgess, Chair of the Public Safety IRC, was also invited to discuss the work of his IRC in preparing new and updated training products for the Public Safety Training Package. The Committee valued their input in considering the recommendations from their respective IRCs.
Industry Skills Forecasts
The AISC noted 5 Industry Skills Forecasts (ISFs) updates submitted by the following IRCs:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Health Worker
- Children’s Education and Care
- Dental
- First Aid
- Technician’s Support Services
The ISFs do not contain any projects for approval.
AISC Meeting Efficiencies
Templates for AISC meeting papers
The Committee approved the following updated template documents for implementation from January 2021:
- Case for Change (CfC) template
- Case for Endorsement (CfE) template
- Case for Change (CfC) checklist
- Case for Endorsement (CfE) checklist
The Committee agreed the updated templates will provide more structured, relevant and concise information and will enhance consistency of preparation by the various Skills Service Organisations (SSOs). Members noted the inclusion of new sections to reflect the framework for prioritising training package development that will be introduced from 1 January 2021 to ensure a greater focus on the streamlining and rationalisation of training products.
2021 Meeting Schedule
The Committee agreed to hold two additional half‑day virtual meetings in 2021, to the six meeting dates already agreed, to enable more frequent consideration of training package products. The 2021 meeting schedule for training package consideration is:
- Tuesday 23 February 2021
- Tuesday 20 April 2021
- Tuesday 22 June 2021
- Wednesday 21 July 2021
- Thursday 19 August 2021
- Tuesday 12 October 2021
- Friday 12 November 2021
- Wednesday 1 December 2021
Next meeting: The next AISC meeting will be held on 23 February 2021.