Sugar milling makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy and provides jobs for roughly 23,000 people. As industry evolves, expanding into biofuel production and becoming increasingly automated, the skills needs of this workforce are changing. If you have experience in sugar milling, your input is welcomed as part of this project to help define the skills standards of your industry. Consultation will take place to review the qualifications and skills standards for sugar milling so that they can be updated to reflect … Read More

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) is calling for nominations from industry stakeholders for the Meat Processing Industry Reference Committee (IRC). IRCs understand the skills needs of their sector, industry or occupation and play an important role in the national training system. They advise the AISC and ensure national skills standards and qualifications meet the needs of employers, employees, training providers, and people seeking training. The AISC is looking for individuals with extensive experience and specialist training in meat … Read More

We received significant feedback on the draft qualification and skills standards that relate to equine dentistry and massage. This feedback required additional time for subject matter experts to consider and discuss with the Animal Care and Management Industry Reference Committee. A revised draft Diploma of Equine Allied Health and units for equine dentistry and massage have now been produced. They are available for validation and comment from 13-27 July 2021. Your feedback and expertise is needed to check that the documents reflect real work practices and the … Read More

Eight new projects to review and improve national qualifications and skills standards have been approved to commence. The projects are across the agriculture, horticulture, animal care, food, pharmaceutical and meat processing industries. They were approved by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) on the 22 June, based on the project proposals (cases for change) submitted as part of the 2021 Annual Updates to the IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work. Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management Review of Unit Sectors Project: This … Read More

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 … Read More

The combined influence of the global pandemic and digital transformation has accelerated the adoption of technology, rapidly spurring businesses ahead in their digital journeys. The newly released strategy by the Digital Transformation Expert Panel sets out how Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system can support Australia’s workforce through the impact of digital transformation underway across industry. Download the strategy, titled The Learning Country, here.

As part of their commitment to improve Australia’s skills systems, the Australian Government has announced an additional $149.2 million to establish and support a new industry engagement model in the vocational education and training (VET) system. The new model is a positive step towards an even better national VET system, allowing industry to have a bigger voice. ‘Industry clusters’ will be established to give industry a greater role in addressing strategic workforce challenges for their sectors; support improvements to training and assessment … Read More

Currently, many of the projects we are working on are at the ‘Validation’ or ‘Finalisation’ stage, which means the draft skills standards are getting closer to being published on training.gov.au and being available for use. At the same time, we excitedly begin work on a new round of projects which have been approved for development over the next year. You may be wondering what each stage in the project process involves and how you can be involved. Consultation takes place … Read More

Many kinds of workers are involved in caring for horses, with varied career paths across the industry. Unique expertise is required to fit saddles, advise on nutrition and carry out the day to day care of horses. Each service plays an important role in promoting and maintaining the welfare of horses. Updated draft qualifications, skill sets and units for a range of horse care roles are now available for validation and further comment. Your feedback and expertise is needed to check … Read More

Australian forests are a valuable, sustainable and renewable resource. They are managed by a skilled workforce that is part of the value chain for producing many products that are essential to our daily needs, from housing to paper. The industry is made up of many sectors, all of which have been impacted by the recent bushfires and COVID-19. The Annual Update to the IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (Skills Forecast) includes information about employers’ use of training packages … Read More

As part of the projects listed below, draft skills standards have been developed to define the skills required for entry level roles, high-level roles and remote operations. Thank you to everybody that provided feedback on the previous drafts. Your feedback has been considered to produce the final drafts which are now available for validation and comment. Click the links below for more information and to have your say.

The final drafts for the projects below are still available for comment and validation. Your input is appreciated to confirm whether the final drafts accurately reflect the way job tasks are performed.