AIS Newsletter May 2022
CEO Update
The importance of the Australian supply chain in our everyday lives has never been more recognised than in the past two years. Continuing disruptions caused by the pandemic have resulted in tectonic shifts in consumer behaviour and supply chain business operations. Building the resilience and agility of Australia’s supply chains is key to withstanding future global and domestic shocks.
The 2022 Supply Chain Industry Outlook, which was launched earlier this month identifies six megatrends which have and will continue to impact the supply chain.
It focuses on the supply chain sectors that we support: Transport and Logistics, Aviation, Maritime, and Rail. The Outlook presents a whole-of-industry view about the opportunities and challenges for the workforce and skills development necessary to meet industry needs. It also looks at the impact of COVID-19 while addressing the critical role that supply chains play in enabling a strong Australian economy. The 2022 Supply Chain Industry Outlook is available for download here.
In June, we will be releasing the 2022 Energy and Utilities Industry Outlook. Please keep an eye out for it.
Last month, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) welcomed the appointment of members to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council (the Advisory Council). The inaugural Advisory Council will support ASQA to continue its focus on best practice regulation of the vocational education and training (VET) sector. My congratulations go out to Mr Peter Costantini OAM (Chair), Professor Valerie Braithwaite, Ms Renee Hindmarsh, Dr Grant Klinkum, Ms Adrienne Nieuwenhuis, Mr Neil Quarmby, and Dr Don Zoellner on their appointment to the Council.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the excellent work that is being done by the Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Foundation. Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds is an initiative by industry, for industry, that exists to address industry-specific challenges regarding mental health and wellbeing. The aim of the Foundation is to build a psychologically safe, healthy and thriving working environment for truck drivers, distribution centre and warehouse staff, and other road transport industry members. To find out more, click the link healthyheads.org.au.
Recently, we lost one the giants with the sad passing of Professor Peter Noonan, an incredibly influential figure in Australian education reform over many years. From his senior role at the Australian National Training Authority in the early 90’s, to his more recent work on the AQF review, Peter was involved in many of the major reforms across the Australian education system. Those of us at AIS who had the pleasure to work or engage with Peter over the years, hold great memories of him as a person, his great intellect, and his generosity in sharing his deep understanding and expertise. He was a good friend to many.
On behalf of all of us AIS, I send deepest condolences to Peter’s family and friends.
Best regards,
Paul Walsh
Launch of the 2022 Supply Chain Industry Outlook
On the 4th of May, AIS released the 2022 Supply Chain Industry Outlook that identifies six megatrends impacting the supply chain. The Outlook focuses on the following industries in the supply chain that AIS supports: Transport and Logistics, Aviation, Maritime, and Rail.
The six megatrends include:
- Double disruptors – digital transformation together with the current pandemic has caused a double disruption to industry, leading business and economic activities to shift rapidly to the online world.
- Supply chain resilience – unprecedented disruptions coupled with consumers’ changing behaviour has highlighted the need for resilient supply chains
- Data analytics and logistics – the implementation of data-capturing technologies has been expedited by the pandemic and organisations are increasingly employing data analytics to inform their decision making and improve processes. The Internet of Things (IoT) connected networks of digital devices, appliances, software and sensors, continue to open up new frontiers.
- Automation – the transport and logistics sector is increasingly using robotics and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in warehouses to perform tasks more efficiently and safely
- Labour shortages – an industry-wide labour shortage is adversely affecting Australia’s economic recovery.
- Digital transformation – the acceleration of digitalisation has impacted the skills needs of the workforce, requiring many to upskill or reskill.
The Industry Outlook is based on extensive research and consultation with Industry Reference Committees (IRC) representing these sectors. It provides an overview of each industry and presents a whole-of-industry view about the opportunities and challenges for the workforce and skills development necessary to meet industry needs.
The report is a snapshot of a continually evolving story that is intended to alert and inform a wide audience and enhance the industry’s capacity to act on workforce development initiatives. It also looks at the impact of COVID-19 while addressing the critical role that supply chains play in enabling a strong Australian economy.
You can access the Industry Outlook here.
2022 Energy & Utilities Industry Outlook is Coming!
Following the release of the Supply Chain Industry Outlook, AIS is currently developing an Energy and Utilities Industry Outlook which is scheduled to be launched by the end of June.
The Outlook will identify megatrends that are impacting the Electrotechnology; ESI Generation; ESI Transmission Distribution, and Rail; Gas and Water industries and the skills needs of their workforce. It will also include overviews and fast facts on each industry, key Training Package development projects and case studies.
It will be based on extensive industry consultation and research, with the support of Industry Reference Committees that AIS supports.
Training Package Updates
NEW TRAINING PACKAGE RELEASES ENDORSED
New releases of the Aviation, and ESI Generation Packages were endorsed by Skills Ministers on 14 April.
The Industry Reference Committees responsible for these Training Packages with support from their Technical Advisory Committees, developed the materials contained in these releases through the projects below to address priority skills needs and current industry practices:
Aviation Training Package (Release 9.0)
Commercial Pilot Regulatory Update project – the Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane), two Skills Sets and three Units of Competency have been updated to enhance the safety of pilots when undertaking ‘incipient spin’ manoeuvres.
The units have been amended to address changes to CASA regulations Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS).
Two Skill Sets have been updated to incorporate the changes to these units. In addition, AVIY0017Y Control aircraft in advanced flight manoeuvres has been updated and moved to the elective bank of the qualification following the deletion of a previous Skill Set.
Electricity Supply Industry – Generation Training Package (release 2.0)
This release includes updates to a total of 11 qualifications, four Skill Sets and 159 Units of Competency through the following projects:
Remote Area Essential Service
The Certificate II in Remote Area Essential Service has been updated to address new power generation technology skills and provide clear vocational pathways to enhance employment opportunities for remote area communities. The revised certificate includes electives regarding the maintenance of energy generation equipment.
Operations Personnel
The updated Training Package materials address changes in the generation industry, including the move to renewable energy power generation, increasing automation of power generation control systems and data analytics. Six existing qualifications have been amalgamated into a Certificate III, IV and Diploma in ESI Generation, with streams for Operations and System Operations.
Wind Power Generation
The Certificate IV in Large Scale Wind Generation and 13 associated Units of Competency have been reviewed and updated to align with new technologies and current work and safety practices for wind turbine operators
TRAINING PACKAGES APPROVED FOR ENDORSEMENT
At its meeting on 14 April 2022 the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) approved the following Training Packages for referral to Skills Ministers for endorsement.
Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector Training Package (Release 3.0)
Transmission Structures
Training Package materials have been updated to address skills required by Transmission Line Construction workers.
The materials include an update to the Certificate II in Transmission Line Construction and three Units of Competency to accurately reflect the occupational outcome, and to address current work and safety practices.
Public Safety Training Package (Release 4.0)
National Recovery Training Program (Phase one)
Training Package materials have been updated to address skills required to support a recovery team member to work effectively in a disaster recovery context, and how to provide relief and recovery support to disaster affected communities. The materials include one updated Qualification, one new Skill Set, and three new Units of Competency.
Baseline recovery training, and its delivery to recovery workers, will improve the standard of disaster recovery support delivered to communities and improve the ability to transfer staff between jurisdictions when required.
NEW TRAINING PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The following projects were approved for commencement by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee at its meeting on 12 April:
Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector Training Package
Powerline Safety project
This project will develop one new Unit of Competency to address the skills and knowledge required by non-Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) workers to work safely near overhead electrical powerlines.
This work is vital to ensuring awareness and education of non-ESI workers across industries about the risks and hazards associated with working near electrical powerlines.
Police Training Package
Police Liaison and Community Engagement
This project will review and update the Certificate II in Community Engagement, Certificate III in Police Liaison, and Certificate III in Aboriginal Community Policing, including a total of 15 Units of Competency.
CURRENT TRAINING PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
There are currently 40 projects covering all industries that AIS supports. Of these, draft materials are at the validation stage in 27 of the projects before being submitted to the AISC for approval. All projects are scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Please visit the project page for a list of projects.
Generating Wind Power Skills
The electricity industry is changing quickly, and the hard work is being done to make sure workers have the right skills to move with these changes.
Demand for a newly skilled work force is essential as Australian moves towards its goal of net zero by 2050. The renewable energy industry, governments at all levels, and education and training providers are all playing their part to make this happen.
In 2020, 24% of Australia’s total electricity generation was from renewable energy sources, including solar (9%), wind (9%) and hydro (6%). The two biggest movers in this transition to renewable power generation is wind power, with a 14% average growth rate of the last ten years and solar power with a 33% average growth rate of the last ten years.
This growth in renewable energy generation is creating substantial job opportunities for people to enter the power generation industry or to transition from fossil fuel powered generation facilities to renewable.
Essential to this is a contemporary, industry recognised qualification and training opportunities.
The Electricity Generation IRC, supported by AIS, has just released a new Certificate IV in Wind Power Generation in the ESI – Generation Sector Training Package. This qualification covers the skills and knowledge required to work in wind power generation, enabling workforce development for a wide range of wind power generation work, including wind farm maintenance, wind turbine maintenance and repair. The qualification provides an excellent pathway for both new entrants into the industry and exiting workers wishing to transition to wind power.
The release of this qualification supports substantial investments by government and industry by enabling an increase in the number of skilled workers in the wind power industry.
A great example of this is the establishment of Australia’s first wind turbine training tower at Federation University’s Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre at its Mount Helen Campus in Ballarat.
The 23-metre training tower simulates the features of a working turbine with the capacity for 350 students to develop their skills in a real-life environment. It allows Federation TAFE to offer internationally recognised safety training courses as well as courses to upskill tradespeople to become wind turbine technicians. This was only made possible because of $1.8 million in funding from renewable energy companies Vestas, Acciona, GPG and Tilt Renewables as part of their commitment to train local workers in Victoria and increase the domestic talent pool instead of having to rely on international training providers.
The rapidly changing face of the electricity generation industry is having to change to accommodate more dispersed generation, micro grids, private gids and hybrid generation facilities.
In addition to the work being done in Wind Power the Electricity Generation IRC is currently developing five new units of competency and three new skill sets for control room operators to provide them with the skills to manage emerging technologies in wind, solar hydro and battery storage.
