McWilliam, Lynette - Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Related consultation
Submissions - Skills Reform: Improving industry engagement and reforming qualifications in Vocational Education and Training discussion paper
Submission received

Does the role of industry need to be strengthened or expanded across the VET system? Why/why not?

  • What does industry engagement mean to you?
  • How can industry be encouraged to connect with and use the VET system? What does this look like?
  • Are there any roles for industry in the VET system that are not covered or outlined in the case for change?

Response:

Industry engagement means consultation with subject matter experts who are practitioners in the industry we  work with to provide training prrograms.
Part of the consultation  process undertakem by AMSA with industry participants regarding a National Plan for Environmental Emergencies  involves the definiation of a recognised training program that is competency based, with Statements of Attainment in relevant Units of Competence awarded by AMSA RTO.
Industry has a place in the VET system through provision of information regarding roles of participants in the industry and their training requirements to ensure competence in those roles.

Are you aware of the current industry-leadership arrangements led by the Australian Industry and Skills Commission?

Response:

Yes

How effective are the current industry engagement arrangements in VET in meeting your needs?

  • What works well and what could be improved? How could it be improved?
  • How well are you (or your organisation) represented by these arrangements?
  • How well do current arrangements allow collaboration across industry sectors on common workforce and skills needs?

Response:

The current industry engagement arrangements for emergency services are adequate, however the specific requirements for AMSA's training programs are very specific, and therefore industry engagement is not always possible for the specific requirements, but are covered in general consultation.
AMSA is well represented in general emergency management consultations, that simple does not cover the very specific requirements for our needs.
Consultation on common workforce and skills needs is not well consulted widely across a number of industries as most industries remain stovepiped and do not consider outside their own requirements

What can be done to drive greater collaboration across industries to broaden career pathways for VET graduates and maximise the workforce available to employers?

  • How can workers be equipped with skills that can be applied across different jobs?
  • How can industry support this through the VET system?
  • How can we break down silos and improve collaboration across industry groups?

Response:

Participants within our industry tend not to move outsie the general industry parameters, but there are skills similarities within a number of industries that can be applied to our indsutry.
A capable RTO should be able to research UoC's and/or qualifications that provide the skills necessary for training participants to gain necessary skills and knowledge
Silos canonly be broken down when all industries agree to consult and work together for an overall better coordinated outcome

Are qualifications fit-for-purpose in meeting the needs of industry and learners now and into the future? Why/why not?

  • 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?

Response:

Many qualifications are definitely fit for purpose for specific industries, but there are far too many industries that believe the skills represented in other industries are not applicable to them unless the naming of the UoC's or qualifications are significant for their specific industry.
There are differing needs for each specific industry, but there is far too much focus on each industry as a separate entity, and not looking across the board on what is availabole and what can be generic and just contextualised for specific industries.
Some industries have higher leverl support and "bigger vocies" than others and can "outshout" others and garner greater support for their needs, to the detriment of smaller interest groups.
Qualifications are designed on a knee-jerk basis, and regularly do not consider an across the board generic approach, with industry contextualisation.

Are there any further issues in relation to improving industry engagement in the VET sector that you would like to provide feedback on?

Response:

There needs to be much more general consultation on generic requirements that can be utilised across a number of sectors.
It must be remembers that on many occasions those industry SME's that attend working groups, and provide feedback etc are volunteers to those gatherings, and on many occasions this is done to the detriment of their working income.
There must be consideration fot the manner in which consultation is undertaken, so that respected SME's currrently working within various industries can prrovide comment and feedback.