THE NATIONAL Skills Policy Collaboration has today released a ten-point plan to meet Australia’s skills challenges head on.
The statement by leading employer and union groups calls for significant action, innovative thinking and creative solutions to address Australia’s skills crisis.
The group consists of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Australian Education Union (AEU), Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) and Group Training Australia (GTA).
Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Ms Heather Ridout, said the competitive future of the Australian economy rests in large part with the development of a highly skilled & innovative workforce.
“This will only happen if there is a quantum leap forward in the resourcing and commitment by a range of parties to lifting the skills of Australians.”
”Australia’s economic potential will remain constrained unless productivity-boosting reforms such as those proposed in this statement are embraced and implemented,” she said.
President of the ACTU, Ms Sharan Burrow, said there was a need to look at fundamental reform.
“Australia has a generational opportunity to turn around the skills crisis. Reforms undertaken today will set us up for a new wave of productivity improvement and prosperity.”
“Australia’s skills shortage needs to be addressed urgently through improvements in the provision of vocational education and training. Greater industry involvement in this is essential if real improvements in delivery and outcomes are to be achieved,” she said.
The statement highlights ten steps integral to improving the quality and capacity of Australia’s workforce. These include:
· Renewed focus on apprenticeship completions
· A long-term strategy to improve Australia’s investment in education and training
· Skill infrastructure partnerships between public and private sectors
· Lifting Year 12 or certificate III completion rates
· A national vision and consensus on the future of TAFE
· A review of the traineeship program.
The plan has identified priorities that represent clear, tangible reforming goals. The Collaboration will work with the Rudd Labor Government to achieve the increased quality of skills and skilled workers Australia needs.
A key element of the plan is to support teachers, trainers and their leaders to improve their qualifications and knowledge.
The statement calls for a greater focus on making education and training more responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of learners.
Productivity is an important lens for vocational education. It is best shaped in ways that genuinely excite learners, encourage a social contribution, and develop enduring technical and holistic skills.
The Collaboration includes a number of business groups, unions and think-tanks who believe that Australia can lift its productivity, workforce participation and economic growth by investing wisely in education and training.
It will be conducting a roundtable in coming months to communicate the plan and to engage with other stakeholders.