For Employers & Industry
The skills challenge
As employers and industry bodies know, the challenge of ensuring a supply of well-trained, adaptable, competent people to meet the demands of industry is very significant.
Skill shortages are hampering the ability of industry to grow. A shortage of people trained at higher levels is also limiting the capacity of businesses to expand, change and innovate. Victorian industry performs well but to stay competitive it must have access to more people with the right skills and its workforce must be able to continue learning and adapting as skills requirements change.
This challenge is affecting industry right across Australia, not just in Victoria. The need for change in the training system is well understood by governments and it has been the focus of much discussion and debate.
A client-focused, demand-driven system
In the new skills system, training provision will be driven by demand from individuals and businesses. Skills for Life - the Victorian Training Guarantee, will make training places available to all Victorians at all levels of skills development, subject to eligibility requirements that encourage enrolments at higher skill levels.
Private and public providers will be able to offer government subsidised training so people will have more choice and employers and industry groups who can stimulate more demand will see that demand met by the system.
A further $10 million will mean that in areas of critical skill shortage and for those facing significant labour market disadvantage, there will be access to additional places, where the normal eligibility requirements cannot be met.
A new partnership with industry
Industry has always worked in partnership with government on skills development, and the Victorian government has well developed training advisory and policy development structures in place through the Victorian Skills Commission and Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs).
Their role will be strengthened in the new system with an additional $4 million available for expanding the work of ITABs in promoting training, stimulating new demand for training in their industry areas, developing information for individuals and for businesses and encouraging employers to commit to training their existing workforce.
Industry membership of the Victorian Skills Commission will be strengthened and its role in advising government on current and future industry needs will continue. It will keep providing important information on how we are progressing in meeting Victoria's skills development needs.
Direct support to businesses
The government is providing $52 million for Skills for Growth - the Workforce Development Program, to assist small and medium sized businesses access training for their employees.
Workforce planning and training specialists will work directly with small and medium sized enterprises to help them identify the skills development that is needed to plan for meeting those needs and to get access to training solutions tailored for their business. Skills for Growth will offer a customised and independent service that includes access to government subsidised training places and skills recognition for eligible employees.
The Victorian Skills Pledge is another new program for rewarding employer commitment to the skilling of their workforces and the promotion of lifelong engagement in skills development.
Apprentices and trainees
The government continues its strong support for the apprenticeship and traineeship pathway, together with our employer and union partners. This pathway to skilled jobs offers a balance of experience and learning on the job and formal learning leading to a full qualification.
The government is investing an additional $2 million in targeted Apprenticeship Retention Projects to lift levels of retention and completion, beginning with the key industry area of building and construction. The government will continue to encourage participation in apprenticeships and traineeships and will provide ongoing incentives for employers and support to apprentices and trainees.
Phased implementation
The skills system changes are significant involving major reconfiguration to existing practices. They will be phased in over the next four years, starting with Diploma and Advanced Diploma level qualifications. The Victorian Skills Commission will have a role in monitoring the changes and there will be a full mid-term review to check that we are getting the intended outcomes.
For more information visit the Skills Victoria website, where you can download a copy of the full statement Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria, SMS 'skills' to 13 46 88 or call the Hotline on 13 18 23.
