VET News

Latest AISC Communique Now Available

The 24^th meeting of the AISC was held on 25 February 2019 followed by the AISC Strategic Planning Day on 26 February 2019.

One of the key themes the AISC focused on over the two meetings was continuous improvement, which includes the ongoing work on further streamlining the training product development system, including the AISC’s processes. The AISC is also focused on creating stronger alignment between training packages and current and emerging job roles, job families and career pathways.

Industry Skills Forecasts and Proposed Schedules of Work

In the context of effectively managing increasing volume of work submitted to the AISC for consideration, the Committee discussed and agreed to implement a three-year rolling cycle for submission of full Industry Skills Forecasts and Proposed Schedules of Work, with Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) providing a brief update of the forecasts annually, between the full submissions. The annual updates will cover relevant changes in their industry, including job roles, and how training package changes can address work place requirements.

Streamlining Project

The AISC/Senior Skills Officials’ Network (SSON) Streamlining Working Group will be convened in early March 2019 to agree next steps for the project. The Council of Australian Governments Industry and Skills Council (CISC) has requested that potential efficiencies throughout the whole training package system be considered, including the assessment of further efficiency gains within the AISC’s processes and post approval implementation stage. The AISC also discussed the importance of looking at potential improvements beyond the current arrangement, including technological solutions as part of the broader conversation of streamlining the training package system.

National Industry Insights Report (NIIR)

The AISC agreed to extend the National Industry Insights Report contract, noting that many IRCs are making use of the data contained in the report. The AISC commends the NIIR to all IRCs.

Low use and obsolete qualifications

The AISC renewed its commitment to the priorities of CISC ensure obsolete and superfluous qualifications are removed from the system.

Online IRC governance Training

The AISC noted the IRC governance training is now available as a self-delivery module for IRC members on the AISC website: https://www.aisc.net.au/content/resources. This resource provides IRC members with the knowledge required to undertake their roles and is commended to all members.

National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER)

Mr Simon Walker, Managing Director of NCVER, joined the meeting via teleconference to share a draft infographic template that brings together quantitative data on low use qualifications. The AISC provided feedback on the template, and were particularly interested in seeing information that differentiates between new students and those who are up-skilling within qualifications.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

The Chair of the AQF Review (the Review), Professor Peter Noonan, attended the meeting to provide an update of the review and to discuss key issues emerging in consultations undertaken to date. The AISC will meet with Professor Noonan after the Review has been finalised to discuss its findings

National Career Education Strategy

Dr Lyndal Groom, Branch Manager, Department of Education and Training attended the meeting to provide a presentation on the National Career Education Strategy. The Committee noted the strategy was launched by the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, on 13 February 2019 after being endorsed by the COAG Education Council.

Cases for Endorsement

The AISC approved the following Cases for Endorsement for implementation:

• CPP Property Services (Real Estate) Release 8.0
• TAE Inclusion of People with Disability – Cross-sector project Release 3.0

Cases for Change

The AISC approved the following Cases for Change to proceed to training package development:

• HLT Health Training Package (Indigenous Environmental Health)
• HLT Health Training Package (Cast technology)
• ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package (Print and post-press technical skills)
• AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management training package– Joint Project 1

Industry Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (Skills Forecast)

The AISC approved the following Skills Forecasts to proceed to training package development:

• AHC Training Package (Horticultural Technology)
• FWP Training Package (Timber truss and frame estimating and design)
• TLI Training Package (Rail infrastructure and electric passenger train guards)

The AISC approved the structure of the Disability IRC.

For more information, you can view the original announcement on the AISC website.

Date posted Mar 28, 2019