- Submission received
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Q1: Are there other design considerations that could further strengthen Jobs and Skills Australia's ability to provide advice to government?
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Response:
Literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LND) skills underpin people’s ability to obtain work, remain in the workforce, or to increase their skills and productivity to find new opportunities. The benefits of improving Foundation Skills levels in Australia move beyond economic and social outcomes. Literacy and numeracy proficiency is essential for sustainable development to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all (UN Sustainable Development Goal 4). Given the importance of LND skills there needs to be design mechanisms/avenues/structures to ensure that literacy and numeracy expertise is built into any consultation, data gathering and analysis around vocational education and training and workforce issues. Ways of doing this include the following: • Representation of literacy and numeracy experts on JSA key advisory bodies. Experts would include peak organisations such as the Australian Council for Adult Literacy. • Establishment of a National Literacy Information Agency. Given the diversity of approaches to literacy provision across states and territories, the Commonwealth has a unique and important role to play. It can act as a central coordination point for research, professional development, resource development and advice to government agencies on Foundation Skills. This could include the development of an adult literacy workforce strategy in response to the looming literacy workforce crisis, and the re-introduction of literacy/numeracy teacher scholarships. • Consultation with literacy/numeracy education providers. • Linking with key DEWR bodies such as the Foundation Skills Advisory Group. • Consultation with community organisations such as the States and Territories Councils of Social Service on their experience of learning needs in the community and pathways into jobs and skills training. • Processes established to hear from and engage with literacy/numeracy learners to gain a deeper understanding of their experience.
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Q2: What principles could be used to guide Jobs and Skills Australia's priorities, and the development of its workplan?
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Response:
Guiding principles for Jobs and Skills Australia functions need to include: • Equity of access to literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LND) for all adult Australians. LND underpins people’s ability to obtain work, remain in the workforce, and/or to increase their skills and productivity to find new opportunities. It is a gateway to all learning. • Ensuring programs are learner centric, based on principles of adult learning and removal of barriers and systemic inequities that lock out many disadvantaged communities. • Investing in education, increasing the capacity of the workforce to adapt to change.
Q3: How could Jobs and Skills Australia seek broader input into the development and refinement of its workplan?
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Response:
No response provided.
Q4: How could Jobs and Skills Australia engage tripartite partners, experts, and other interested parties in its major studies?
- Are the different needs of industry and learners effectively considered in designing qualifications in the current system? What works well and why?
- Are there issues or challenges with the way qualifications are currently designed? What are they and what could be done to address these?
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Response:
• There is a need for rigorous research into adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy (LND) needs and solutions. • It is essential that consultation take place with adult Literacy and numeracy specialists, especially academics in the development and delivery of any survey/study designed to measure literacy and numeracy. • Research needs to be informed, monitored and evaluated by LND specialists including LND specialist academics. Finding literacy and numeracy specialist academics who are experienced researchers in the LND area can be difficult in Australia as this field has been significantly under-funded in the past 20 years. Where once Australia led in LND research we are now lagging. We need to invest in building public LND expertise in our universities and in all levels of government. This will increase our understanding of LND needs and increase the effectiveness of our training approaches. Need for expert analysis In the past, the rich PIAAC data set was not adequately analysed and not used to drive policy change. We need adult literacy and numeracy specialists to interpret the data. Not individuals but a critical mass of specialist literacy researchers who can interrogate the data.
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Q5: What new information should Jobs and Skills Australia be collecting through its engagement to build a stronger evidence base?
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Response:
There is currently data on the need for improvements in adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills, gaps in provision, lack of specialist teachers, unmet needs and barriers to accessing classes. Data is also available on the literacy, numeracy and digital skills gaps experienced by regional and remote First Nations communities. As well, there is data on the lack of provision available for those that seek to improve their skills. This data needs to be accessed to build a stronger evidence base. The Australian Core Skills Framework needs to be used as a nationally consistent tool for measuring Foundation Skills levels amongst adults in Australia. New information could be obtained by directly accessing learner voices and their experiences.
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Q6: How can Jobs and Skills Australia expand its engagement with a broader range of skills and industry stakeholders in its work?
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Response:
No response provided.
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Q7: What types of outreach could Jobs and Skills Australia use to increase visibility and use of its products and advice?
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Response:
No response provided.
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Q8: How could Jobs and Skills Australia present its data and advice to aid stakeholders in informing their needs? What formats could better inform your work?
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Response:
No response provided.
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If you would like to add any further comments before submitting, please add them below.
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Response:
No response provided.