PVCA backs federal govt VET expert panel

The Print & Visual Communication Association (PVCA), formerly known as the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA), is backing new additions to the Federal Government’s VET system.

In a bid to revitalise vocational education and training (VET), the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash and Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships Steve Irons launched an expert panel to provide independent strategic advice on key reforms.

This flows on from the Joyce Review ‘Expert Review of Australia’s VET System’ which was released in April.

This panel will be chaired by head of the Government’s review of the VET system, Steven Joyce, who will be joined by Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute professor of tertiary education policy Peter Noonan and Dr Vanessa Guthrie, who is expected to bring industry perspective with her senior leadership and executive experience.

PVCA president Walter Kuhn congratulated the Government on the establishment of the VET Expert Panel and welcomed the appointees.

“It is great to see an expert from industry on the panel, which is something we continue to advocate for all Government reforms” he said.

According to the PVCA, the key to this expert panel’s success will be through increased consultation with industry, especially the print and packaging industry, as the largest employer group in the manufacturing sector.

“Industry consultation is imperative and without it, even the best-intentioned policies can fail. We want to see the VET system continue to grow and we want to see better support especially within the print and packaging industry,” Kuhn added.

The PVCA mentioned that Cash previously said the Government is working to address the challenges outlined in the Joyce review, which declared confidence in the sector was declining, outcomes were inconsistent and not aligned with industry needs, and that the system was too complex to navigate.

Irons mentioned that the reforms will deliver a vocational education sector that provides workforce skills and relevant, up-to-date qualifications that match the evolving opportunities and challenges of Australia’s modern economy.

“The PVCA welcome the minister and assistant minister’s comments and agree with the Joyce review’s findings of inconsistencies and not aligned with industry needs, and hope to see this reform improve the VET sector,” Kuhn said.

“Industry is absolutely crying out for a nationally consistent and flexible system, and the PVCA hopes that these reforms and the strategic advice from the expert panel will help alleviate this situation for the industry.”

The PVCA said it will continue to have an open dialogue with the ministers’ offices and lobby on behalf of its members.

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