and represent approximately one-sixth of all businesses. The service industries are a keen user of the education and training system. Finally, if Australia is to achieve the ambitious COAG target of halving the proportion of Australians aged 20 to 64 years without qualifications at Certificate III level and above between 2009 and 2020, then we must have an education and training system that is prepared to engage with and prioritise the service industries. Approximately one-third of all Australian workers with qualifications below Certificate III are employed in the service industries. Introduction Service Skills Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the final report, A shared responsibility: Apprenticeships for the 21st Century. Service Skills Australia (SSA) appreciates the need to revitalise and renew policy over time—the apprenticeship and traineeship platform, Australia’s premier and long-standing skilling policy, is certainly no exception. This response highlights some areas and recommendations supported by SSA, and provides an overview of our concerns with the final report. While SSA broadly supports reform to the traineeship and apprenticeship system, we have significant concerns on the exclusion of the service industries from all future aspects of a reformed system. Furthermore, SSA seeks to highlight that the implementation of recommendations associated with Apprenticeships for the 21st Century will damage the capacity of the education system to achieve educational, productivity and participation targets. About Service Skills Australia Industry Skills Councils are independent, not-for-profit companies funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to support skills development across all industries. Service Skills Australia is the Industry Skills Council (ISC) for the service industries. Roles and functions We consult and engage with industry, training organisations, government and other stakeholders to develop and support the implementation of nationally-recognised training products that respond to industry skill needs. This includes: Providing industry intelligence and advice to Skills Australia, government and enterprises on workforce development and skills needs. Actively supporting the development, implementation and continuous improvement of high quality training and workforce development products and services, including training packages. Providing independent skills and training advice to enterprises, including matching identified training needs with appropriate training solutions.
and represent approximately one-sixth of all businesses. The service industries are a keen user of the education and training system. Finally, if Australia is to achieve the ambitious COAG target of halving the proportion of Australians aged 20 to 64 years without qualifications at Certificate III level and above between 2009 and 2020, then we must have an education and training system that is prepared to engage with and prioritise the service industries. Approximately one-third of all Australian workers with qualifications below Certificate III are employed in the service industries. Introduction Service Skills Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the final report, A shared responsibility: Apprenticeships for the 21st Century. Service Skills Australia (SSA) appreciates the need to revitalise and renew policy over time—the apprenticeship and traineeship platform, Australia’s premier and long-standing skilling policy, is certainly no exception. This response highlights some areas and recommendations supported by SSA, and provides an overview of our concerns with the final report. While SSA broadly supports reform to the traineeship and apprenticeship system, we have significant concerns on the exclusion of the service industries from all future aspects of a reformed system. Furthermore, SSA seeks to highlight that the implementation of recommendations associated with Apprenticeships for the 21st Century will damage the capacity of the education system to achieve educational, productivity and participation targets. About Service Skills Australia Industry Skills Councils are independent, not-for-profit companies funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to support skills development across all industries. Service Skills Australia is the Industry Skills Council (ISC) for the service industries. Roles and functions We consult and engage with industry, training organisations, government and other stakeholders to develop and support the implementation of nationally-recognised training products that respond to industry skill needs. This includes: Providing industry intelligence and advice to Skills Australia, government and enterprises on workforce development and skills needs. Actively supporting the development, implementation and continuous improvement of high quality training and workforce development products and services, including training packages. Providing independent skills and training advice to enterprises, including matching identified training needs with appropriate training solutions.
serviceskillsaustralia.docx