Facing up to Australia’s skills challenge: industry sets key priorities to address the skills crisis

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.

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. 

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). It will be conducting a roundtable in coming months to communicate the plan and to engage with other stakeholders.

Mr Jim Barron, CEO of Group Training Australia (GTA) said:

“The Rudd Government has called for an education revolution. We need a training revolution as well. This ten point plan shows the way and, if implemented, will deliver long term economic and social benefits’.”

Ms Linda Simon, Federal TAFE President of the Australian Education Union (AEU) said:

“TAFEs have played a vital role in the vocational education and training sector for many decades and with the resources will continue to into the future.

A vibrant and well resourced public TAFE system is essential to planning for the broader learning needs of Australians, and for current and future skill needs”, said Ms Simon.

Mr Jack Dusseldorp from the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) said:
“The global war for talent means that Australia must do much more to
educate, train and add value to its workforce if we are to remain competitive. Benchmarking Australia’s skills performance against the OECD leaders and the best in the Asia-Pacific region will be crucial.”

Media contacts:

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) –  Lidija Ivanovski 0432 121 636
Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) -   Tony Melville 0419 190 347
Australian Education Union (AEU) - Pat Forward 0425743954
Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) -   Penny Stevens 02 6375 1540
Group Training Australia (GTA) –   Mr Bob Bowden 0412 753 298