Page 3562 - Week 11 - Thursday, 23 October 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
As part of the function of promoting quality vocational education and training provision, the bill provides that the director-general has the power to visit premises of a registered training organisation conducting VET courses. The bill will also repeal the council’s function to establish university advisory panels to advise the Minister for Higher Education, as this is an unnecessary duplication of resources.
The ACT has agreed to implement national harmonisation principles for Australian apprenticeships. An aim of the harmonisation principles is to ensure that compliance requirements for Australian apprenticeship training contracts are nationally consistent. In response, this bill provides the director-general with the power to determine probationary periods for training contracts that align with nationally agreed probationary periods. Jurisdictions have agreed on probationary periods in the range of 60 to 90 days.
Currently there are no legislated probationary periods for apprenticeships and traineeships in the ACT. Under the current legislation, training contracts can only be cancelled by the director-general. This amendment will enable an employer or an apprentice or trainee to end their training contract before the end of their probation period without requiring formal application or approval from the director-general.
In addition to simplifying the compliance requirement for training contracts, this bill recognises the removal of a layer of bureaucracy between stakeholders and government. Since 2010 the council’s advice functions have been replaced with effective direct consultation between government and stakeholders. The transformation reflects substantive changes to the training and tertiary education landscape at both the national and local level. Improved engagement between government and stakeholders is a key element of reform in the ACT VET and higher education sectors.
The bill repeals the council’s functions to inquire into, and advise the minister on, issues about VET and higher education. The bill also realigns the council’s inquiry and advice functions to the director-general. This enables the directorate to consult directly with stakeholders about VET training issues.
The changes made by this bill provide recognition of the wide-ranging changes to the training and tertiary education landscape at both the national and local level since the Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003 was enacted in 2007. As members are aware, our training system has become part of a national training system, with benefits to be gained from improved mobility for workers, less complexity for employers and opportunities for streamlining processes. The bill continues the government’s ongoing efforts to deliver an efficient and high-quality vocational education and training sector for all Canberrans.
In closing, I would like to thank all those involved in drafting these amendments. The work was comprehensive and I think it reinforces the faith I have in Education and Training Directorate officials that they know their business and how to make these changes as easy as possible. Indeed I take the opportunity to thank all those involved in the ACT vocational education and training sector for the work they do and the benefits they bring to the ACT.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video