AREEA was one of a small group of industry stakeholders invited to share views on Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system at Parliament House last week.

AREEA executive director of industry services, Tara Diamond, joined nine other industry representatives at the roundtable discussion hosted by the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews.

Having been appointed to the portfolio following the 2016 federal election, Ms Andrews called the roundtable to hear first-hand views on apprenticeships and issues in the vocational education sector.

As a member of the five-person VET Advisory Board appointed by the Australian Government in 2014, Ms Diamond discussed the skills and training challenges experienced by industry, and options to create greater practicality in regulation.

“There is a strong case for national harmonisation of trade training and qualifications in Australia,” Ms Diamond said.

“Our apprenticeship system could be more user-friendly and effective for employers across all industries, particularly for employers in the resources and related industries who rely on the mobility of labour.

“National harmonisation would address the inconsistencies that currently make it costly and time-consuming to source and transfer employees across different locations.

“We must also ensure Australia’s VET system is responsive to the new skills required to support emerging operations in the oil and gas sector, and keep pace with innovations being delivered more broadly within the resource industry.”

The quality of training curriculum, delivery, assessment and industry requirements were also key topics raised by Ms Diamond on behalf of AREEA members.

For more information on the VET roundtable discussion or Ms Diamond’s involvement on the Australian Government’s VET Advisory Board, please email [email protected] or call 1800 627 771.