Many of you provided advice on the direction and skill needs of your industry between now and 2022. These views have been compiled and submitted to the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC), documented in industry-specific IRC Skills Forecasts and Proposed Schedules of Work.

One of the clear themes to emerge during consultation was the need to look at different ways to address industry skill needs, in addition to reviewing qualifications and units. This year some different types of projects have been proposed, that offer new and complementary approaches to enhance the work of updating qualifications.

For example, industries such as racing and breeding, forestry and timber, have requested projects to develop national assessment tools. The racing and breeding industry have developed a strong culture of sharing standards and approaches to ensure high levels of integrity, safety and welfare. The context of training and assessment in the racing industry is similar across Australia and so the industry would like to formalise these shared practices through the development of assessment tools.

In the forestry and timber industry, much of the training takes place on the job. Operating in regional and remote areas, they would like to attract registered training organisations to their sector. The development of assessment tools may offer the flexibility to continue in-house training, while allowing workers to gain a national qualification.

In the pulp and paper industry it is also common for training to happen on the job. Even though employers are using the training package as a guide, employees cannot receive a qualification unless it has been delivered by a registered training organisation. A research project has been proposed to uncover the nuances of why this is happening.

Project proposals have also been submitted to address new and growing industries, such as crocodile farming. While current employment numbers are relatively low, the risks of working with Australia’s most dangerous predator, the paramount importance of health and safety, and the critical importance of Indigenous involvement have led the Aquaculture and Wild Catch IRC to recommend development of qualifications to support this new and growing industry.

“Skills Forecasts are an opportunity for industry to guide and influence the decisions and strategies of the AISC for how best Australia can respond to skill needs.” Michael Hartman, CEO of Skills Impact.

Several projects have already been approved for development in 2019-2020 (further details in this news story). All other project proposals will be considered by the AISC at their June and subsequent meetings.

Development Process of IRC Skills Forecasts