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This report identifies major workforce challenges for the Training and Education industry that will influence workforce development and particularly industry skilling decisions of businesses and individuals. The following table, Table 1, summarises the major challenges that the Training and Education industry has reported to [Innovation and Business Skills Australia] IBSA in relation to skilling and workforce development, with particular focus on the national [vocational education and training] VET system. These challenges are generally specific to the Training and Education industry but a common theme is the significant mobility and responsiveness required of VET; this need presents policy, administrative and service challenges to all who support industry skilling. This 2011 Training and Education Environment Scan (Escan) also presents an industry case study; the case study highlights the importance of, and potential success, that can be achieved when a planned approach is taken to workforce development.

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At the inaugural 2014 meeting, the COAG Industry and Skills Council (CISC) decided that ongoing reform was necessary to ensure that Australia's training system effectively supports the current and future skills needs of businesses across all sectors of the Australian economy. They also agreed on six key objectives for reform of the vocational education and training (VET) system. Since Ministers agreed to implement these reform objectives, IBSA Manufacturing has worked with its Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) to coordinate a proactive response to these imperatives. IBSA Manufacturing has implemented a range of integrated initiatives to respond to both CISC reforms and ministerial priorities across manufacturing-related training packages. This report sets out the progress of the Manufacturing sector IRCs in supporting VET system reform to date.

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This research arose from work commissioned by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee - in the form of a cross sector project looking at the need for digital skills in a range of manufacturing and related industries. The project was managed by IBSA Manufacturing, a Skills Service Organisation, which provides support to the following Industry Reference Committees (IRCs): Aerospace; Furnishing; Manufacturing and Engineering; Process Manufacturing, Recreational Vehicles and Laboratory; Sustainability; and Textiles, Clothing and Footwear. During the course of the project, national consultations were undertaken with more than 40 representatives from large (often multinational) businesses, small and medium businesses, unions, training providers and other VET sector stakeholders.

Many of the individuals involved in the consultations raised questions about how well the VET sector was prepared for the substantial digital changes impacting on the workforce and the manufacturing sector in particular. They questioned whether Training Packages were sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of the manufacturing sector as it responds to growing levels of digital disruption (or what has been termed the 4th Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0). The research undertaken to support the project, also identified a vastly greater number of reports and papers focussed on the challenge of upskilling workers for an Industry 4.0 environment, than in relation to the need for specific digital skills for manufacturing and related workers. This report synthesises the research evidence - in relation to both digital skills and the broader challenges of skilling workers for the Industry 4.0 workplace.

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An Industry Reference Committee (IRC) Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work is a report that is submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC). The report identifies training package development work required to meet industry needs and outlines the evidence of that need. This information is used by the AISC to determine future training package projects. An Industry Skills Forecast is developed for each training package.

IBSA Manufacturing supports six manufacturing Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) to produce the following Skills Forecasts: MEA Aeroskills Training Package MSS Sustainability Training Package; MEM Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package; MSF Furnishing Training Package (note the 2019 Furnishing Industry Skills Forecast has not yet been approved); MSM Manufacturing Training Package; MSS Sustainability Training Package; MST Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Training Package; MSL Laboratory Operations Training Package; PMA Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining Training Package; PMB Plastics Rubber and Cablemaking Training Package.

The 2019 Industry Skills Forecasts are based on research, analysis and consultations with IRC members and industry stakeholders and provide evidence of industry trends, opportunities and challenges, as well as current and emerging industry skills needs. From the range of imperatives and needs raised across the 2019 Industry Skills Forecasts three common themes have emerged: Theme 1 - The impact of new technologies; Theme 2 - An increasing focus on sustainability and the rise of the circular economy; Theme 3 - Harmonisation of regulations with international standards. This report explores each of these themes and the ways in which they affect the industries represented by the six IRCs.

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IBSA Group conducted an extensive series of research and consultation activities, 'Delivering modern manufacturing through a skilled workforce', in response to increasing changes in workforce skills requirements, the Australian Government's release of the Modern Manufacturing Strategy (MMS) [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 144.320] and the ongoing disruption caused by [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19. This report provides insights, from industry leaders and stakeholders from across the manufacturing industry, on the challenges currently facing the manufacturing sector. It also proposes strategies to support the development of a highly skilled workforce that can underpin the future of manufacturing in Australia.

These insights were gathered between November 2020 and March 2021. They involved industry stakeholders who are active in a wide range of manufacturing sectors through their firms and businesses, industry associations or as employees. The report provides a summary of findings from the program of works and, on the basis of these findings, proposes a series of skills responses to be advanced jointly by industry, governments and the training sector. The findings and recommendations in this document are drawn from the views of the individuals and organisations that participated in the consultations.

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IBSA Manufacturing has prepared a Case for Change with supporting research; which was endorsed by the Project Reference Group. This Digital Skills Cross Sector project, by design, looked across a number of Training Packages to identify qualifications, skill sets and units of competency impacted by digital analytic/diagnostic skills, additive manufacturing (3D printing) skills, and programming/coding skills. Stakeholder feedback identified a need to strengthen specific digital skills in specific existing qualifications/units. In response to this feedback, the Case for Change includes recommendations to review and update 10 existing qualifications and 211 existing digital units from Training Packages within the scope of this project - with a priority given to those which have not had substantial changes made to them for five or more years. The Case for Change also recommends the undertaking of further cross sector work to examine the skill needs of Industry 4.0 and the potential impact on Training Packages.

The Case for Change has been lodged with the Department and will be considered by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee in 2018.

Abstract from publisher's website.

Attachment D is a research report, 'Preparing for Industry 4.0 - will digital skills be enough?', by Claire Field and Maria Langwell. The final version of their research is available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 135.1079. Show less

In July 2015 [Innovation and Business Skills Australia] IBSA commissioned a national project to review and report on the future directions for [vocational education and training] VET level public relations training in Australia. The project was to scope the possible directions that would inform subsequent updates and revision to the Business Services Training Package (BSB). The objectives of the project were: (1) to identify the relevant industry currency of existing units of competency and qualifications within BSB covering public relations; (2) to scope the potential of BSB public relations with regard to contemporary industry practices, including the need for relevant qualifications in the sector; (3) to identify the extent of industry support for further development of relevant units of competency, qualifications and/or skill sets; and (4) to scope the possible pathways between any proposed qualifications, higher education and other relevant components in the existing BSB Package. This final report presents the findings of the project, an analysis of the scoping issues and a recommended solution for VET public relations training.

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