Government Skills Australia (GSA) is one of ten National Industry Skills Councils registered with and funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). GSA supports the development of skills and knowledge in the Local Government, Public Sector, Public Safety, Corrections and Water sectors.
GSA has two roles:
- to provide accurate industry intelligence to the VET sector about current and future skill needs and training requirements
- to support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of nationally recognised training products and services.
The prime mechanism used by GSA to ensure Local Government has the skilled workforce it needs is the Local Government Training Package (LGA04). Qualifications in the training package range from Certificate I through to Advanced Diploma. The diversity of qualifications available mirror the range of occupations employed in Local Government from local laws officers to planners, administration officers and a range of outdoor occupations.
The training package is currently undergoing a process of improvement to ensure it remains current and relevant to the workforce. Priority areas for improvement include increasing the focus on planning and environmental health, two areas experiencing significant skills shortages across Australia.
Over the next six months, GSA will engage in national consultations with industry stakeholders to identify areas of improvement in existing planning and environmental health qualifications. Consultations will aim to identify the range of occupations in these areas and the need to both review existing units of competency and develop new units to better reflect the skills and knowledge required in the workplace.
Identifying possible skill sets for Local Government will also be a priority during the continuous improvement phase. As of 2007 the National Quality Council has identified skill sets as an integral part of nationally endorsed training packages. Skill sets are defined as ‘one or more units that meet an industry need to provide skills for a discrete part or function of a job and have currency in the workplace’.
GSA will particularly be scoping the need for skill sets for:
- new entrants to Local Government who have higher level qualifications but who require specific induction to the sector
- employees engaged in compliance management
- employees working in very small and Indigenous communities.
As with previous iterations of the training package, successful outcomes will rely on the enthusiastic and dedicated engagement of the Local Government industry, training providers and relevant workforce associations.
For further information or to register your interest in being part of the continuous improvement of the Local Government Training Package, or if you would like to receive regular updates about the improvement process, contact Joan Whelan of Government Skills Australia on (03) 9349 3911 or joan.whelan@governmentskills.com.au
For more information on projects undertaken by Government Skills Australia, visit www.governmentskills.com.au
*Copy supplied by Government Skills Australia
