UNCLASSIFIED
 
Dear Industry Reference Committee Members
 
The Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews MP issued a media release on Wednesday opening stakeholder consultation on unduly short courses and training product reform (see attached).
 
Further information, including details of the submission process for both papers that are invited between December 2017 and March 2018 can be found via the Department of Education and Training website portal at www.education.gov.au/VET-consultation.
 
As the Chair of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) I would like to encourage you, as Industry Reference Committee Members, to take this opportunity to have your views and that of your industry sector heard on these two important areas of reforms.
 
You may wish to provide your views through the below mechanisms:

• Through the submission process for both papers via the Department of Education and Training website portal at www.education.gov.au/VET-consultation
• Comments to the AISC Secretariat mailbox (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
• Feedback to your respective IRC Chair (noting the AISC will be hosting an all IRC Chairs meeting on 21 February 2018, where there will be an opportunity for Chairs to discuss these reforms)
• Participate in face-to-face stakeholder consultation sessions organised by Commonwealth/State and Territory Governments, likely to occur around February/March 2018.

In June 2017, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) released it strategic review into unduly short training (ASQA Report - Unduly Short Training) The review made three recommendations:

• The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 be amended to include a definition of the ‘amount of training’ that focuses on supervised learning and assessment activities
• Training package developers be able to respond to industry-specific risks by setting mandatory requirements, including an amount of training
• RTOs be required to publish Product Disclosure Statements that include the range of learning activities expected, including the amount of training, for each training product on their scope of registration.

Training product reform

In November 2016, the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Skills Ministers agreed that work be undertaken to examine and develop a case for change to enhance training products, in partnership with industry and in consultation with the VET sector. The purpose was to ensure that training products continue to be relevant in the future, and support skills development as technology and industry changes.
 
A Joint Working Party, comprising state and territory and industry representatives was established to undertake this work.

The Joint Working Party reported back to skills ministers in November 2017 on the case for change and recommended next steps. Skills ministers agreed to continue to explore enhancements to training products.
 
Regards,
 
John Pollaers
Chair
Australian Industry and Skills Committee
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(02) 6240 3613
 

 
 
 
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MEDIA RELEASE

THE HON KAREN ANDREWS MP

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Federal Member for McPherson

13 December 2017

Short courses, training product reform in the spotlight

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews is encouraging vocational education and training (VET) stakeholders to have their say on proposed reforms to ensure students receive high quality training that is responsive to the changing needs of industry.

Public consultation opens tomorrow on two important aspects of the VET system – training products, and unduly short courses – with stakeholders encouraged to consider and respond to discussion papers on these issues.

Minister Andrews said while the current training system had significant strengths, the Turnbull Government was committed to ensuring it was ready and able to respond to future challenges.

“We know the future of work is rapidly changing, and training products need to be able to adapt to a range of factors that will affect workforce trends including technological change, emerging growth industries, and the changing nature of work,” Minister Andrews said.

“The current system is weighted towards students gaining technical skills for a specific job. Expanding the focus to include broader skills, such as problem solving, language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy, will enable learners to gain more transferable skills that will allow them to access a broader range of employment opportunities.

“We’re asking VET stakeholders for their input on how we can ensure training products address future needs, including how qualifications are best designed, as well as the role of accredited courses and skill sets.”

Minister Andrews said it was also an important opportunity for stakeholders to have their say on the recommendations in the Australian Skills Quality Authority’s (ASQA) strategic review on unduly short courses, which proposed reform to the operation of the VET system.

“ASQA has raised concerns that unduly short courses are preventing learners from gaining the skills and competencies required through VET courses to be assessed as competent,” Minister Andrews said.

“We are particularly keen to hear from stakeholders how ASQA’s recommendations may benefit industry, training providers and students.

“The guiding prciple for all our reforms is that it is industry-led and learner-centred and leads to a system that is easy to navigate, adaptable and of the highest quality.

“Feedback from stakeholders is critical to ensuring we achieve these aims.” The consultation period will be open from 14 December 2017 to 9 March 2018.

To make a submission, the following website will be active from midday Thursday, December 14: https://www.education.gov.au/VET-consultatio

Minister Andrews’ media contact:                                 Matt Dunstan 0411 535 072

Department Media: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.