Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback on the projects below. Your expertise is vital in updating the skills standards and qualifications for these industries, so that they match real job functions and skills needs. Your feedback will inform further work on the final drafts, which are expected to be available for industry comment and validation in May 2021. A summary of the feedback and how it was addressed in the final drafts will also be … Read More

Thank you to those who provided feedback on the draft Annual Update to the IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (Skills Forecast), including  training package projects that have been proposed for 2021-22 and descriptions of changes in the industry environment. This year’s Annual Update includes information about employers’ use of training packages and qualifications, barriers to hiring apprentices and trainees, and reasons behind non-completion rates and alternative training being delivery. It also includes information about employers’ use of the national AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and … Read More

Farmers, seed producers and seed processors are adapting their technology and processes to keep up with increasing global demand for food and fibre, and produce crops that are drought resistant, higher yielding, and more nutritious. The qualifications and skills standards for broadacre cropping, pastures and seeds are being reviewed and updated as part of this project. As a result of feedback collected on the draft documents, a single unit AHCSPO3XX Process planting seed is now available for review and comment. Feedback collected between 2 February … Read More

We are seeking your feedback on a key training package project that has been proposed for 2021 – 2024 and specific changes to the industry environment that have been identified in this year’s Annual Update to the IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (Skills Forecast). The reputation of Australian meat as high quality has been built by a skilled and trained meat processing workforce. This year’s Annual Update includes information about employers’ use of training packages and qualifications, barriers to hiring apprentices and trainees, and reasons … Read More

Applications for the 2021 Gottstein fellowship grants, scholarship grants and industry skill grants are now open until 9am Thursday 20th May 2021. These award grants offer career making opportunities in Australia’s forest and wood products industry. All details are at www.gottsteintrust.org. Don’t miss the chance to be considered and please make sure others know – your colleagues and networks right across the forest and wood products supply chain. Fellowships this year focus exclusively upon project travel within Australia and/or New … Read More

A range of resources and tools are now available to support training delivery of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operator Induction Skill Set. The skill set was developed to support the pharmaceutical industry in their urgent response to the COVID-19 health crisis. The skill set is designed for workers entering the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, particularly those working with bioprocessed products, such as vaccines and antibody testing devices. The training resources and tools include: Trainer Guide: Contains training materials to address all four units of competency in the skill … Read More

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is gathering vital information about employer’s training needs and their satisfaction with the training system. They are contacting employers across the nation to take part in a bi-annual Survey of Employers’ Use and Views of the VET System. The survey was first conducted in 2005 and they aim to interview around 9000 employers nationally. New this year will be questions designed to understand what the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the … Read More

Are you an RTO who has worked alongside an industry business to offer innovative solutions for training their workforce? Perhaps you are an employer who has developed a collaborative relationship with a training provider to upskill your employees? The Government wants to hear examples of effective collaboration between industry and training providers. They want to understand how good collaboration and innovation helps to achieve better outcomes for learners, employers and Australian workplaces. Visit skillsreform.gov.au to share your story. Your story will help … Read More

The Government is expanding the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy program. The Program will now become demand driven and expanded for a full 12 months for new apprentices and trainees signed up prior to 30 September 2021. This is a great opportunity, with a 50 per cent wage subsidy available to businesses that take on new apprentices or trainees. The 100,000 places that were originally made available were quickly taken up. It is estimated that this expansion will generate around … Read More

Future projects to improve qualifications and skills standards in 2021-22 are being proposed in this year’s Annual Update to the Skills Forecasts. The Annual Updates also highlight specific industry changes and include information about employers’ use of training packages and qualifications, barriers to hiring apprentices and trainees, and reasons behind non-completion rates. We encourage your feedback on the information in the Annual Updates, including the proposed projects. Thank you to everybody that has already contributed to the information in these … Read More

Thanks to the contributions of everyone involved in the projects below, the qualifications and skills standards for caring for some of our most rare and endangered animals, as well as the animals in our homes and communities have been updated to meet industry needs. The qualifications and skills standards revised and developed as part of the Exhibited Animal Care and Marine Wildlife Project and Pet Care and Animal Training Project have been endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee … Read More

In order to maintain a competitive edge in domestic and global markets, the Australian meat processing industry requires strong management and leadership skills. These skills are supported by the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing, which were updated as part of a national, industry-led project and are now published and available for use. Thank you to the numerous industry volunteers who contributed to the process to review and update these qualifications. The qualifications have been revised to better reflect technological advances, current compliance … Read More