The Queensland government today launched what it claims is the most sweeping review of skills and training in more than 40 years.
Premier Peter Beattie and the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Tom Barton released a green paper on the state's proposed responses to the challenge of skills for jobs and growth, and urged vigorous public debate.
"This review will tackle skills shortages and prime Queensland's workforce to drive economic growth," Beattie said after tabling the green paper in Parliament.
"Its 24 proposals include modernising apprenticeships - partly by shortening contract periods for some trades.
"Examples of apprenticeships that may be reduced from four to three years are: carpentry, stonemasonry, roof plumbing, mechanical and electronic engineering, cabinet making, panel beating and cooking.
"Apprenticeships could go down to two years for trades such as roof tilers, painters and decorators, bricklayers, farriers, bicycle mechanics, musical instrument makers and repairers, hairdressers, jewellers and upholsterers.
"Another proposal is a review of the trade apprenticeships training wage system, which would strike a balance to make apprenticeships more attractive to both employers and prospective apprentices.
Other proposals include:
- A revitalised TAFE Queensland, with upgraded infrastructure, specialist TAFE centres to lead training delivery in specific fields, and establishment of the Southbank Institute of TAFE as a Vocational Education and Training Institute of Technology.
- A new adult apprenticeship system to encourage people aged 25 years and over to gain trade qualifications
- A specialist Trade and Technician Skills Institute and two new trade and technical training campuses on the north and south sides of Brisbane. The new specialist institute would be responsible for training delivery in areas such as automotive, building and construction, electrical and electronic engineering, manufacturing and metals. It would deliver training across the state through trade and technical centres at other TAFE campuses.
- Improved recognition of prior learning to enable existing skills to count towards vocational qualifications.
- A range of new vocational graduate diplomas and vocational graduate certificates to help associate professionals upgrade their skills.
- Better relationships between government and industry to improve planning and delivery of training.
- Improved access to career information and guidance services for Queenslanders of all ages.
- A new business skills advisory service to assist employers to meet their skilling needs.
- A more strategic partnership with Queensland's private training providers..
Barton says the discussion paper proposes a range of new approaches to skills formation.
"It is about better matching training with the needs of employers, ensuring that training is accessible and relevant to people who already have a job, and new ways to plan for future skills needs," he says.
"The paper also identifies the factors government, employers, industries, training providers, unions and the community can influence to achieve the best solutions to addressing skills shortages."
Barton says he expects that some of the proposals will create debate.
"We recognise that some of the proposals will be controversial, but that is exactly why we have put them out for discussion," he says.
"Unless we make sensible changes now, skills shortages will become an increasing problem, particularly as the workforce ages.
"We need to rethink our current methods of skilling and identify solutions that will have the most impact where it is needed."
Barton says Queensland's industries depend on access to high-quality skills to compete internationally.
"Employers need the best and brightest workers who are highly productive, innovative and can show the world how it's done," he says.
"I encourage everyone interested in the skills shortages issue to get involved in discussions to help identify the most effective strategies possible for ensuring that our ‘smart state' is a skilled state."
A series of community consultation forums will be held throughout Queensland in June, July and August.
The green paper, a supporting research paper and forum details can be accessed
here or by emailing
skillsreform@det.qld.gov.au.
Submissions are requested by August 31.