Anonymous - 35

Related consultation
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:

To me the industry engagement is the feedback from end user of the qualification for improvement in the relevant VET system.  In order to encourage the industry to connect with and use VET system, an awareness among the industry representatives through webinars/ seminars/ conferences/ workshops is utmost important. Also feedback from industry representatives on issues related to regulatory requirements and industry needs like commercially driven freshcare courses followed by private audit by the same organisation would be the great opportunity in addressing issues relating to low turnout of accredited VET training. 

Any industry related commercial or non commercial courses must be routed through VET sector and be developed and delivered as accredited units available to all relevant RTOs for inclusion in their scope. 

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:

Probably the current industry engagement in VET sector is inadequate. This is evident from the fact that some privately (major retail businesses) developed quality assurance arrangements are forcing industry to adopt their terms and forego the VET qualifications.

To be able to overcome such impediments, no organisation be allowed to have their own courses but be included such courses in VET sector.

I understand that my organisation is partly represented by industry engagement arrangements in VET sector. 

The current arrangements of industry engagements partly allow collaboration across industry sectors on common workforce and skills needs. 

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:

Workers need to be equipped with more generalized skills (e.g. quality assurance in food crops, not in a specific crop like blueberry alone or banana crop specific) that can be applied across different jobs. The industry can support this through the VET system by providing feedback on common issues across industries.

To be able to break down silos and improve collaboration across industry groups, we need to create awareness among specialized industries about their relevance to other industries and sectors while training their existing staff.

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:

The different needs of industry and learners are  of course effectively considered in designing qualifications in the current system. However, the middle man or the retail organisations who are the bulk buyers are having greater influences and must be engaged in consultation. 

The qualifications meeting regulatory needs are working well due to their commercial supremacy. 

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

Response:

No response provided.