Annual Updates & Key Industry Trends

Our Role Establishing Skills Insight JSC

Skills Impact held a Skills Service Organisation (SSO) role between 2016 and 2022. In 2023 we established one of ten Job and Skills Councils (JSCs), after a submission to move into the role was backed by over 200 letters of support from a broad range of industry stakeholders. This new JSC, Skills Insight, has a broader scope to deliver outcomes that support a responsive VET system and a skilled and resilient national workforce. The industry coverage of Skills Insight is similar to our past coverage as a Skills Service Organisation.

Annual Updates have now been completed, with some in the final stages of going through approvals prior to publication on the Skills Impact website. The Annual Updates propose several projects to improve industry qualifications and skills standards between 2021-2022. They include information about employers’ use of training packages and qualifications, barriers to hiring apprentices and trainees, and reasons behind non-completion rates. They also look at alternative training being delivered, some of which draws on the training package, but is not delivered by registered training organisations.

A number of key themes emerged across the industries. While the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt by all industries, there were significant differences in the effects on each industry, including differences in demand for services, access to international markets and access to skilled labour. Many industries were also subject to the consequences of fires, droughts, floods and climate change. There have been periods of time over the past year where many RTOs were unable to offer some services, due to limited access to work sites for onsite training and assessment. As a result of this, and the lower economic margins and higher delivery costs characteristic to training and assessment in these industries, there were closures or postponement of programs within RTOs. Federal and State Government interventions to promote and support the use of VET were introduced and were welcomed by these industries. The IRCs also welcome and support the current work by Skills Ministers to find longer-term solutions.

The broader issues relating to access to VET, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia, remain a concern for most industries assisted by Skills Impact, with RTO viability and the importance of workplace delivery remaining key considerations. Important trends common to industries include traceability, provenance, biosecurity and digital skills. While technology and automation are continuing to drive skills changes in many industries, there is still a need to support small and medium enterprises through the training and assessment of current skills now and for some time, as very often the new technology is not affordable for a considerable period.

Thank you to those who provided feedback on the information outlined in the Annual Updates. Your input helps support the improvement and development of national qualifications and skills standards.

New Projects Approved

Click here to read about the eight new projects that have been approved for 2021-22. These projects will review and improve national qualifications and skills standards across the agriculture, horticulture, animal care, food, pharmaceutical and meat processing industries.

Proposed Projects Awaiting Consideration

The following proposed projects have been submitted with the aim that they will be considered at the next AISC meeting in July.

Forestry and Timber

Responding and Assisting in Bushfires Project: Forestry operators hold a key role in assisting with fire mitigation, firefighting, clean up, and clearing operations. Skills standards would be reviewed and developed to incorporate the skills required for bushfire prevention, assistance and recovery.

Sawmilling and Timber Processing Project: Skills standards would be updated to reflect the digital transformation and technological advancement of the sawmilling, timber processing and timber products sectors.

For more information, read the Annual Update

Racing and Breeding

Racing and Breeding Training Delivery Support Project: This project proposes the development of national training resources to overcome barriers associated with registered training organisation (RTO) viability and training delivery in regional, rural and remote Australia.