Wright, Ben - TasTAFE - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government

Related consultation: Submissions - Skills Reform: Improving industry engagement and reforming qualifications in Vocational Education and Training discussion paper
Submission received: 10 February 2021

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:

Absolutely, its is crucial in a lot of ways, we rely on good connections with Industry for work placements of our pre employment classes and for our teachers  to remain current with industry practises.

In my area of TasTAFE the return to Industry for teachers is non existent, we used to have an industry reference group but we had a change of business names and new roles and it gone.
The return to industry is to keep us connected to the people who we train apprentices for and also to look and new tools, materials and ways to do the work safely.

Our training and assessment couldn't be further from industry expectations at current place in time.

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:

Its left up to the managers and they control what gets done, it was left to the teachers and time made for it to happen it would great.

In Tasmania we have 3 industry bodies but TasTAFE only associate with the master builders but again, teachers don't get listened too!

we even have 70 professional development built into our teachers agreement and it doesn't happen because the time isn't allowed for in the yearly timetable.

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:

Better funding for public Rto's

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:

Not in Tasmania, we are about to embark on one of the biggest qualification changes ever and the industry are already unhappy.

Tasmania has had representatives on some of the meetings but we are too small and don't get listened too

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

Response:

The funding models need to looked at especially for Tasmania, private rto's are delivering everything on the job and there units that we know cant be delivered onsite but somehow they get away with it.