Leaders from the local skills training providers will meet in Townsville and Cairns next week to discuss changes to the framework in which vocational education and training is delivered. The ITECA North Queensland Skills Provider Roundtable meetings are being convened by the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak organisation representing independent providers in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors.
"The Australian and Queensland Governments are pushing ahead with major reforms to the skills training sector that will impact providers in the state's north. These roundtable discussions are designed to build a shared understanding of the changes ahead and what they mean for independent providers with a commitment to quality," said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
A priority for ITECA Queensland is to understand the issues for independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in the state's north so that these can be factored into discussions about the future direction of the skills training sector. This is one of the key outcomes sought from the ITECA North Queensland Skills Provider Roundtable meetings.
"The lived experience of independent RTOs in Townsville, Cairns, and the broader region provides critical insights into what policy changes are required to deliver the quality outcomes that both students and employers look for," Mr Williams said.
The ITECA North Queensland Skills Provider Roundtable meetings will be attended by a representative of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) who will provide an update on the agency's work on workforce planning and skills forecasting, two pieces of information critical to the task of planning what courses will be delivered in the state's north. Also attending will be Mr Williams who, although now works at a national level, has first-hand knowledge of delivering skills training across regional and remote Queensland.
"It's the experience of planning skills training from Bowen to Bamaga, and as far afield as Bedourie in the South West, that provides a unique perspective on what's required to ensure that students have access to quality skills training," Mr Williams said.
The ITECA North Queensland Skills Provider Roundtable will be held in Townsville on 14 March 2024 and Cairns on 15 March 2024. Stakeholders from the skills training and business community are encouraged to attend and can register via the website at:
www.iteca.edu.au/north-queensland
