Industry bodies to help shape SA’s job growth

Key industry bodies will have a stronger voice in mapping out jobs growth in South Australia and the training needs of a future workforce.

TAFE Plastering Apprentice - CAIN GERRITS ism17 and is following in his father's footsteps to become a plasterer, pictured working on a site at Kilburn with his dad Ben, Wednesday November 21, 2018 - pic Mike Burton

Key industry bodies will have a stronger voice in mapping out jobs growth in South Australia and the training needs of a future workforce.

Through the Training and Skills Commission (TaSC) Industry Skills Councils (ISC’s) are being formed to provide advice to the state government and have input on the future workforce needs and training priorities for each industry sector they represent.

TaSC chair Michael Boyce OAM, says establishing ISC’s are vital in developing a more strategic approach to workforce development and traineeships and apprenticeships. While the Commission provides economic forecasting on jobs growth, the new ISC’s will provide an added perspective based on more detailed industry intelligence and needs.

“We’ve never had that before,’’ Mr Boyce said. “The collective feedback has been positive in support of the reintroduction of Industry Skills Councils.

“The Commission will have direct input from industry to provide strategic advice to the Minister for Industry and Skills on skills and workforce development as well as inform the government’s new Training Priority Plan,’’ Mr Boyce said.

“The Training Priority Plan will inform the government on which industries and what training is needed to feed into the State’s vocational training budget and to support the areas of state priority.’’

The ISCs cover eight key industry sectors from South Australia’s economy- Agribusiness, Construction Mining & Energy, Creative Industries, Business & Digital Platforms, Defence & Aerospace, IT & Cybersecurity, Education & Service Sector, Food, Wine, Tourism & Hospitality, Health, Disability, Aged Care & Community Services and Transport and Manufacturing industries.

Each sector is forming a committee drawn from peak bodies, industry associations, employers, regional associations and the like to ensure a good cross section of all industry sub sectors.

The Marshall Government has committed to creating 20,800 additional apprenticeship and traineeship positions, over the next few years with a $100m funding commitment and a further contribution of $103m by the federal government.

The Training and Skills Commission recently released a discussion paper — Future Proofing the South Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship System — to explore the challenges that face the current system. Following face-to-face discussions, online submissions, phone calls, site visits and attending various focus groups and forums, the Commission received almost 500 responses to the paper. A summary of the feedback received will be published in December with the final recommendations to be released in the first quarter of next year.

The Commission was established under the Training and Skills Development Act 2008, to regulate the apprenticeship system and provide high level independent strategic advice to the Minister for Industry and Skills.

Future proofing industry

As one of the largest employers of apprentices in South Australia’s building and construction industry PEER provided input for the discussion paper on Future Proofing.

Its chief executive Peter Nolan says the process set up to access direct input from busy employers had ‘absolute clarity’, accessibility and a choice of ways to be involved.

“What I liked about the consultation approach was they provided very good background papers, well constructed briefing papers, so that anyone that is interested in being part  can read the paper to inform them as to what was being consulted on, why consulting was happening, and what outcome they are looking to achieve,’’ Mr Nolan said.

“There were options available to do it online face, face to face or as part a forum.

“This gives employers the opportunity to provide input into the process in a way they prefer - a lot of busy employers would prefer to provide input online others like to get involved in the discussion face to face.’’

Mr Nolan says a changing technological world impacts on the skill sets and the state’s employers are a key part of the trainees and apprenticeship systems so it is crucial and essential they engage with discussions about the future of apprenticeships and trainees.

“The apprenticeship system is based on a very old system of master and apprentice and it is evolving,’’ he said.

“The Training and Skills Commission is reviewing how to ensure apprenticeships remain relevant today and in the future

“An example is flexible apprenticeships whereby an apprentice commences their apprenticeship whilst they are at school.

“You can’t make informed decisions without having effective consultation communication with the key stakeholders.’’

Keeping the trade in the family

FOR as long as he can remember 17-year-old Cain Gerrits has wanted to work as a plasterer, like his great-grandfather, grandfather and his dad Ben. Now Cain is following in their footsteps, after convincing his dad that he wanted to be a school-based apprentice, earning while learning the trade. He is employed by Gerrit’s Plastering as a second-year apprentice and is training at Flexible Construction Training & Assessments.

Cain’s dad has been taking him to job sites as a youngster where he learned the name of tools and cleaning up. He recalls that as a youngster of eight or nine, he was intrigued how the art of plastering would transform the look of a building.

“I thought it was amazing, how it (plastering) can change the whole appearance of a house,’’ Cain says.

“In school holidays I would go for a day or two and as time went on I would go for longer. “It would be passing tools, cleaning up after him and trying to assist in any way. “My dad has been role model throughout my life and that was my main goal as a young lad — to be like him.

“Now I’m using the pathway to see if that is what I want to do the rest of my life.’’ The St Patrick’s Technical College student who has completed his Certificate III in Solid Brick plastering plans to do his general builder’s licence and advises young people wanting an apprenticeship to plan ahead.

“It’s another qualification you can have under your belt,’’ Cain says.

“If you want to go on this pathway, look for work experience.

“If you just stand back and do nothing it will just get harder and harder.’’

Cyber security traineeship launches

RISING community concerns around cyber security about the level of threats are increasing, have created a need for training programs to fill predicted future jobs in this industry, the Australian Information Industry Association spokesman says.

A new Certificate IV in Cyber Security began at TAFE this term — a Skilling South Australia initiative and a key action of the South Australian Government Cyber Security Strategic Plan 2018-2021.

AIIA chair, Dino Rossi says the introduction of a cyber traineeship as an alternative vocational pathway is valuable because as people continue to be interconnected with various devices, it will create a demand for this skill set.

“If you think about all of the devices, information and interconnectedness of everything — whether it’s the mobile phone, computer or social media — has increased,’’ he said.

“We know that government and business are progressively interacting, interconnecting and utilising the internet (and) the levels of threats are increasing.

“The assets of businesses and government need to be protected.’’

“The demand for skills in the marketplace that have cyber security skills are increasing significantly.

Mr Rossi says in the past, pathways into cyber security were restricted with only cybersecurity components included in undergraduate programs and traditionally has been an upskilling via a Master’s program in universities.

“What’s been missing is a lot of the entry level type programs,’’ he said.

“This is where the Certificate 4 in Cyber Security is really a nice entry point for either the people who want to upskill- so hey might be working in industry and want to do a short course to get them upskilled or people who are entering the workforce — they might be leaving school or people who want an alternative career pathway.

“So it does fill a gap.’’

Skilling SA is inviting employers, industry associations, group training organisations and training providers to submit applications for project funding.

The primary objective of Skilling South Australia Projects is to drive growth in apprenticeship opportunities over the next four years.

For details and to read the guidelines: www.vet.skills.sa.gov.au/employers

Originally published as Industry bodies to help shape SA’s job growth