Australia’s vocational education and training system is designed to provide the training that our country’s workplaces need to maintain and improve our global competitiveness.
Its success relies on close communication between the system’s three stakeholders-industry (employers and employees), Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and the government.
In Tasmania three industry liaison officers (ILOs) have been appointed to facilitate the communication between these stakeholders. By consulting with industry and RTOs through both forums and individual interaction, the ILOs gain insights into the training needs of industry and the capacity of RTOs to provide that training. In addition to businesses and RTOs, ILOs keep in regular contact with peak industry and employee bodies, councils and other regional organisations. They also work with other agencies with complementary roles, such as the Department of Economic Development and Tourism Tasmania.
The ILOs feed back information to the state government, and participate in planning the resourcing of industry training that is needed to support the development of industry capability in line with Tasmania’s economic priorities and directions.
Consultation with industry must be comprehensive, especially in industries that may consist of predominantly small businesses, which is a common feature of Tasmania’s commercial environment. ILOs determine not only the extent of demand for training but the particular requirements of an industry sector. These include factors such as how and when the industry needs its training delivered, for example whether there are seasonal downtimes when plenty of time is available for training or whether training is best delivered on the job or in a classroom.
Often the ILO facilitates the direct interaction of RTOs and industry, creating the opportunity for direct linkages to be made so that training partnerships can develop.
The ILO also provides advice to industry and RTOs on government policy and directions, so that employers and RTOs can plan and position themselves in terms of future opportunities and requirements for training.
Industry liaison officers need credibility with stakeholders, and Tasmania’s three ILOs have an extensive background in a number of industry areas. They are familiar with the demands of business in general, and each has first-hand knowledge of particular industry areas. They also have experience in the training industry. They therefore relate well to all stakeholders, which is particularly important where training may become available to industry sectors that haven’t previously been involved in the national vocational education and training system.
The appointment of the ILOs and the creation of the Tasmanian Learning and Skills Authority Industry Advisory Group (TIAG) form Tasmania’s new industry advisory arrangements, supporting the state’s ongoing commitment to meeting industry’s needs for training.
Guaranteeing Futures