The following projects are underway to improve current qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. The Government allocates projects to Industry Reference Committees (IRCs), based on advice in the IRC Skills Forecasts or a Case For Change.
On behalf of the IRCs, Skills Impact manages the projects, taking them through a process that adheres to the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.
Click on a project below to find out more and to register your interest to receive updates.
Projects are organised under the relevant IRC:
Completed Projects
Once a project has been finalised, the revised qualifications, skill sets and units are published on training.gov.au and available for delivery by registered training organisations.
Click here to view completed projectsAgriculture and Production Horticulture IRC
Ag & Horticulture Core Skills Project
This project will look at the common skills that feature across all sectors of the industry. It will focus on the broader qualifications that apply to these sectors, and which can be contextualised to apply to numerous job roles.
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Animal Reproduction Project
Qualifications and units of competency relating to reproduction of agricultural animals will be reviewed to incorporate the current skills and knowledge required for this work, including skills for working with new technologies.
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Crops, Pastures & Seeds Project
Farmers and seed producers are drawing on the latest technology and science in response to increasing global demand for food and fibre and changing environmental conditions. Existing units of competency and qualifications for broadacre cropping, pastures and seed are being reviewed to define current work techniques and practices.
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Dairy & Milk Harvesting Project
This project will review existing units of competency for dairy and milk harvesting so that they reflect the skills and knowledge required to operate the vast array of technologies across dairy harvesting operations of various sizes and contexts.
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Permaculture, Organic Production & Composting Projects
This project will look at the job skills associated with permaculture, organic farming and composting. Guided by industry experts, the skills will be defined in national qualifications and skills standards that will help support the future training and development of the workforce.
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Pig and Poultry Farming Project
Skills in animal welfare, safety and sustainability are critical for pig and poultry farmers. This project entails the review of 10 pork and 11 poultry units, along with nine skill sets, so they meet the current skills needs of industry and align with current legislation. Relevant qualifications will be updated to reflect the changes to the units.
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Water Allocation & Entitlement Skills Project
Access to water resources is vital to Australian farmers and it is equally vital that farming communities understand the water market. Skills standards related to the acquisition, management and trading of water will be developed.
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Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management IRC
Landscaping Project
This project will review and update current qualifications, skill sets and units of competency in landscaping construction and design, so that they reflect current industry trends, support safe work practices, and promote clear career pathways.
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Parks & Gardens Project
This project will review and update qualifications, skill sets and units of competency for managing and maintaining parks and gardens, so that they reflect current terminology, equipment and practices.
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Respect for Country Job Skills
Skills Impact is seeking to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about whether qualifications and stills standards for respecting Country reflect the accurate skills and knowledge for this work, and to hear about any improvements that can be made.
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Skills for Land Rehabilitation (Mined Land) Project
This project will address the need for national skills standards for the rehabilitation of land that has been used for mining. It may result in a specialisation stream within a current conservation and land management qualification and the development of skill sets.
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Animal Care and Management IRC
Horse Care Project
This project will review the skills standards for a range of job roles responsible for providing care for horses. They will be updated to reflect current safety standards for specific job tasks and to better support career pathways.
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Small Companion Animal Incident Management Project
The bushfire events of 2019-20 underlined the need for national skills standards to be developed to support the important role of animal facility, emergency service, animal welfare and evacuation centre workers involved in the coordination and care of small companion animals during disasters caused by natural events.
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Trainers of Assistance Dogs Project
Growing evidence for how assistance animals can improve the quality of life for people with impairments and disabilities is driving demand for more skilled trainers of assistance dogs. The specific skills standards for this job role will be developed and packaged as a specialisation in existing qualifications.
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Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical IRC
Australian Native and Bush Food Project
Domestic and international consumers are hungry for Australian native and bush foods, which offer both nutritional benefits and cultural appeal. This project aims to address the need for national skills standards to describe the skills needs of the Australian native and bush foods sector.
Sugar Milling Project
The skills needs of the sugar milling industry will be identified and addressed as part of this project. Consultation will take place to review the Certificate II in Sugar Milling Support and the Certificate III in Sugar Milling Industry Operations, along with 41 units and one skill set.
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Forest Management and Harvesting IRC
Entry Level Forestry Skills Project
Qualifications, units of competency and skill sets for entry level forestry roles will be reviewed and redesigned as part of this project, with scope to develop units and skill sets to reflect current skills needs.
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High-Level Forestry Skills Project
Consultation will take place throughout this project to review and redesign skills standards and qualifications for high level job roles in forestry, including the specialist skills to supervise, plan and manage production forests and commercial plantations sustainably.
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Remote Forestry Operations Project
As part of this project, one skill set and two new units will be developed to address the need for specialised safety skills for remote operations, including mental health awareness and first aid.
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Meat IRC
Meat Processing, General, Quality and Safety Skills Project
In producing high quality meat products for local and global consumers, the meat processing workforce relies on a combination of core skills in safety, quality assurance, and leadership. This project will review the Certificate III in Meat Safety, Certificate III in Quality Assurance, Certificate IV in Meat Safety, Certificate IV in Quality Assurance and Certificate IV in Leadership qualifications and 125 units, with a focus on the core units required for these qualifications.
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Meat Rendering Project
This project will capture the skills required to perform rendering and pre-rendering processes, including the expertise to work with the more recent equipment, terminology and processes.
Meat Slicing Project
Consultation will take place to address the need for a unit that captures the skills required for using meat slicing equipment in a retail butcher setting, as well as more broadly in the meat and food and beverage processing industries.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical GMP Project
Consultation will take place to update up to three qualifications, one skill set and four units that refer to the skills required for pharmaceutical GMP.
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Pulp and Paper Manufacturing IRC
Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Review Project
This project will undertake a full review of all pulp and paper manufacturing qualifications and skills standards so they reflect current job roles, new technologies and processes and the current regulatory environment. This project will also look at identifying some solutions to improve the usability of the training package and accessibility of training.
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What is the training package project process?
