AIS Newsletter December 2020

 

CEO Update

This is my first newsletter as CEO, and I want to express how honoured I am for the opportunity and excited to continue the journey of AIS as we support Australia’s workforce needs. Our vision and mission are centred around delivering innovative world-class workforce solutions – working collaboratively with industry, government and enterprises, and I am committed to delivering this.

 

The year 2020 was one filled with the unexpected and I am sure we all collectively feel it required us as a nation to rise to many challenges. We are also in the midst of VET reform activities which requires us to be agile and adaptive in how we deliver our support to industry and government.

 

Our important work continued with vigour and showed an enduring commitment from our Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members to deliver high quality Training Package materials. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed their time and expertise, including our broad base of stakeholders from across Australia, who participate in committees and those who provided feedback on materials. Your input ensures we have industry’s needs front and centre in all that we do.

 

In addition to our work supporting IRCs, we also provided technical and secretariat services for the Cross-Sector Supply Chains Project Reference Group and Digital Transformation Expert Panel – two priority initiatives announced by the Australian Government.

 

  • The Supply Chain Skills project created 10 new Skills Sets to support skills common to multiple industries and workforce mobility. These and other resources, including a knowledge platform and short video, are available on the Supply Chain Skills and Careers Hub website. A compendium to the Companion Volume was also developed to support RTOs to deliver these units.
  • Supporting the work of the Digital Transformation Expert Panel to ‘provide advice on how Australia’s VET system can most effectively respond to digital change underway across industry and its impact on the nation’s workforce’. The Digital Transformation Skills Strategy will be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee. A dedicated website provides more information on the work of the Digital Transformation Expert Panel. This provides project updates and a wealth of resources and will inform how our VET system can most effectively respond to digital change underway across industry and its impact on the nation’s workforce.

 

At AIS we are continually looking at how we support you in our work. We have released our annual stakeholder survey and your feedback will be greatly appreciated to inform future approaches.

 

I would like to recognise Robert Adams for his achievements during his long tenure with AIS. The expansion of AIS’ portfolio to support 11 industry sectors and the launch of our business arm AIS Global are a few of his accomplishments. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

 

On behalf of the AIS team, I wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Thanks also to our highly talented and dedicated team at AIS. We look forward to continuing our work with you in 2021.

 

Paul Walsh

CEO

 

The year in review

Training Package development

 

In 2020, AIS representatives attended 26 industry and education forums including presenting at some of these key events. Many events were reshaped, cancelled or postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

 

Our eleven IRCs, through the support of various TACs and industry stakeholders, have collectively overseen the work of 80 Training Package projects throughout 2020. This has involved a huge effort from all, including transitioning our engagement approaches online which proved to be very successful. We held:

  • 58 IRC Meetings – involving over 140 industry leaders, and
  • 295 TAC meetings – involving over 450 industry subject matter experts

 

This resulted in the completion of 34 projects and 13 Training Package releases endorsed by the COAG Skills Council/Skills Ministers this year. A further 21 projects have been completed and materials submitted to the AISC for consideration. We look forward to releasing these following their approval. A summary of these projects is provided below.

 

An additional 16 new projects are underway covering Correctional Services, Police, Electrotechnology, Gas, Maritime, Transport and Logistics and Rail Training Packages.

 

Our website, refreshed this year to better support how we provide information and engage with you, has detailed information about these projects.

 

AIS Global activities

 

It has been a busy year as we navigated the complexities of delivering our domestic and international projects during COVID-19 restrictions. We undertook innovative approaches for our work which was particularly evident in a series of webinars we delivered to Vietnam-based industry, training college and government leaders about the important role of industry intelligence in the skills pipeline.

 

This was part of the Australian Government’s Aus4Skills program, which saw us continue our work in supporting the establishment of a pilot industry-led VET system in the logistics sector throughout 2020. We are proud of many achievements under this program of work, including a first-of-its-kind Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Strategy and our continued support of the Logistics Industry Reference Council (LIRC) and its secretariat, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry on a range of governance, communication and stakeholder engagement strategies, and the development of Occupational Standards. A major achievement was the development of a five Year ‘Roadmap’ for the LIRC to support a skilled workforce for Vietnam’s logistics sector, which we look forward to supporting as it is rolled out.

 

Our support to Safe Work Australia (SWA) in developing new National Assessment Instruments for High Risk Licencing continued during the year and we look forward to supporting three Technical Working Groups with their important work as we enter a new year.

 

In keeping with AIS Global’s vision of preparing our world for the future of work, we commenced work on developing a Rail Skills Framework that will look at the impacts of automation while also exploring so called ‘soft skills’ and their importance for a range of operational rail roles. This is an innovative piece of work which draws on our internal capability to provide tailored research and data analysis solutions.

 

We were pleased to win a place on a South Australian Government panel to provide capability building for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). AIS Global is planning to expand this program of work to develop tailored professional development packages for RTOs, including tools, information and current industry knowledge across Australia.

 

2021 is shaping up to be a busy year for us as we roll out an exciting program of work to support the development of a skilled workforce across a broad range of industry sectors, both here and overseas.

 

New Training Package releases endorsed in 2020

Electrotechnology – transition to 2012 Standards for Training Packages – incorporating 79 qualifications, 50 Skill Sets and 530 Units of Competency.

 

Aviation – One new Skill Set to support training needs in the use of new 3D Computed Tomography (CT) scanning technology, a priority of government to strengthen aviation security at Tier 1 airports in Australia.

 

Correctional Services – revised to include skills required by Correctional Officers, covering Cultural Competencies, Immigration Detention (new Certificate III), Technical Skills, Electronic Monitoring (new Skill Set), and Youth Justice.

 

Water – Existing qualifications merged into single qualification with specialist groupings to streamline training pathways. Revised standards address new technologies and changing work practices.

 

Transport and Logistics – Updates take account of new technology affecting job roles in all parts of the transport and logistics sector. Specific changes address new regulatory requirements changing work practices, and digital technologies concerning Logistics operations, Chain of Responsibility, Freight Forwarding, Heavy Vehicle driver safety, Shared equipment, traffic operations and Stevedoring qualifications.

 

Cross Sector Supply Chain Skills – this project was commissioned by the AISC. 10 new Skill Sets and 16 new Units of Competency developed for those supply chain skills common to a range of industry sectors and in doing so, support the mobility of skilled labour and agility of the Australian workforce.

 

Transport and Logistics (Rail) – new Skill Sets and units address new technologies and skill requirements of Network Control, Passenger Train Guard & Network Fault Support operators and Autonomous Rail Vehicles.

 

Defence – 18 qualifications and 121 Units of Competency covering Defence Sensor Operations, Range Control, Chaplaincy, Military Justice and Explosive Ordinance updated to align with Defence capability and regulatory requirements and enable workforce mobility.

 

Maritime – 13 new Skill Sets and 15 new Units of Competency developed to enable the safe operation of vessels and provide pathways for seafarers to obtain Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) certification required for specific job roles

 

Training Packages approved by the AISC, pending endorsements by Skills Ministers

Public Safety – one new Skill Set and three new Units of Competency to address the technical skills required by emergency services personnel to safely undertake tree operations during emergency incidents.

 

Police – two new qualifications (Diploma of Crash Investigations and Advanced Diploma of Crash Analysis) and 10 new Units of Competency relating to road crash investigation and analysis and changing police practices involving forensic investigation processes.

 

Training Package projects completed and submitted to the AISC for consideration

Gas – new and updated units covering Gas control systems (including new Certificate IV) Gas leak survey, Gas processing and Pipeline emergency repairs.

 

Maritime – new Units of Competency and Skill Sets for specialist maritime operations in Dynamic Positioning, Compass Adjusting and Maritime Towage.

 

Water – includes four new Units of Competency and updated core units and electives, covering contemporary industry practices, new technologies, and operator certification changes in water operations and water treatment. Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations and Certificate IV in Water Industry streamlined into a single qualification.

 

Corrections – New units and Skill Sets developed for correctional staff concerning offender engagement, correctional management and dog handling.

 

Defence – three new Skill Sets, 3 new units and qualifications updated to address Defence capability reviews, wider industry practices, and Defence legislative requirements regarding Evaluations, Simulator Maintenance, and work, health & safety.

 

Aviation – Certificate IV in Aviation (Aviation Supervision) and seven Units of Competency updated to support supervisory operational roles in the Aviation industry.

 

Transport and Logistics – a new Skill Set and five new Units of Competency for Fuel Storage Dangerous Goods Contractor; two existing Logistics and Warehousing qualifications into one Supply Chain Operations qualification to meet the skills needs of entry-level workers in logistic and warehousing roles.

 

Transport and Logistics (Rail) – revised Training Package incorporates new technologies used in building rail infrastructure and automation used in track infrastructure installation and maintenance.

 

Public Safety – eight new Units of Competency developed to address technical skills required by fire services personnel undertaking aerial firefighting activities; updated Advanced Diploma and Diploma of Emergency Management qualifications.