It is well recognised that Local Government is a large industry that requires a wide range of skills from its many employees. This requirement for skills is constantly expanding as Councils undertake a greater range of activities and face increasing pressure to meet community expectations in the delivery of services. From the employee perspective, it is important that acquired skills and qualifications be formally recognised and that they be transportable within and beyond the Local Government sector.
To meet these requirements within the framework of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training System, the Local Government Training Package has been developed over a number of years and received national endorsement in 2001. This Training Package reflects the input of Local Government and provides the most comprehensive vocational training tool available to Councils. It is the first time that the skills and knowledge for effective operation in Local Government have been identified.
The Training Package includes competency standards, a qualifications framework and assessment guidelines. It provides a package of skills and knowledge identified as necessary for the effective and efficient operations of Local Government and includes a full range of relevant qualifications from entry level to middle management. Importantly, the Training Package provides an assessment strategy which recognises skills achieved in the workplace as well as formal training. The qualifications are transportable for employees who move between Councils or between Local Government and other industry sectors.
Because of Local Government’s unique needs and “cross-industry” structure, the Training Package provides a framework which incorporates a range of other industries’ Training Packages such as Community Services and Civil Construction. In addition there are currently four Local Government specialist qualification pathways: Governance and Administration, Environmental Health and Regulation, Planning and Management of the Physical Environment and Operational Works.
Australian Local Government Training Ltd (ALGT) is the organisation responsible for the development, marketing and maintenance of the Local Government Training Package. ALGT is Local Government’s voice in the Vocational Education and Training System (VET), being a not-for-profit organisation with a Board comprising representatives of the Australian Local Government Association, Local Government Managers Australia and the Australian Services Union. ALGT is the Industry Training Advisory Board (ITAB) for Local Government and works closely with other industry-specific ITABs, peak associations, Registered Training Organisations and State Training Authorities.
All Councils have been invited to take advantage of the Local Government Training Package and are kept informed of developments by ALGT and State and Territory Industry Training Advisory Boards (ITABs). ALGT has documented a number of case studies where Local Government has utilised the training package to increase the skills of Council staff. For example, Hobart City Council is a registered training organisation that is currently delivering qualifications to its employees in Environmental Health and Regulation and in Governance and Administration.
ALGT is currently auditing the Local Government Training Package in order to reflect the present and future needs of Councils across Australia. All stakeholders are being invited to contribute to this evaluation.
Councils that wish to learn more about the Local Government Training Package and how it can assist them and their staff are invited to contact their State ITAB as follows:
Victoria: (03) 9429 0004
Queensland: (07) 3000 2255
New South Wales: (02) 9440 7630
Tasmania: (03) 6223 7977
Northern Territory: (08) 8981 2550
Alternatively, Councils may wish to contact Australian Local Government Training, the national ITAB, as follows:
Australian Local Government Training
PO Box 53
Carlton South Victoria 3053
Phone: (03) 9349 3911
Fax: (03) 9349 3730
Email: info@algt.com.au
Website: www.algt.com.au
