STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH AFFAIRS
MARY PORTER AM MLA {CHAIR), STEVE DOSZPOT MLA {DEPUTY CHAIR), MEEGAN FITZHARRIS
MLA, GIULIAJ ONES MLA
Inquiry into vocational education and youth training programs in theACT
Submission 15 -ACT Electrotechnology Energy Advisory Board
Submission to the
Inquiry into Vocational Education and Youth Training in the ACT
By the
ACT Electrotechnology Energy Advisory Board
The ACT Electrotechnology Energy Advisory Board Inc. (EE-AB) is an independent body representing
the following industries for training matters in the ACT and region;Electrotechnology
Electricity Supply
Electricity Generation
Gas Supply.
The EE-AB is a not-for-profit association funded by ACT industry and E-Oz Energy Skills Australia.
The current Board membership comprises:Member
Mr Darrell Hills (Chair)
Steve Buckley
Craig Simmons
Peter Crowe
Neville Betts
Leanne Bodle
Tim Van Dalen
Brian Coates
Ross Heazlewood
Representing
Electrical Industry and wider community
ACT National Electrical and Communications Association
(NECA)
Director, ACT Government, Construction Services Branch
ACT Electrical Industry
Electrical Trades Union (ETU)
ACTEWAGL
Australian Vocational Training Academy Pty Ltd (Registered
Training Organisation)
Canberra Institute of Technology, Trade Skills and Vocational
Learning College. (Registered Training Organisation)
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy Advisory Board (Executive
Officer)
Observer
Ann Goleby
(RetiredApril 2015,
replacement to be advised)
Representing
Director, Training and Tertiary Education (TaTE), ACT
Education and Training Directorate (ETD)
The Board has been active in the electrical industry in the ACT for over 20 years providing the
following services on behalf of the industry;-
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy advisory Board
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Monitoring the quality of apprentice and industry training in the ACT
Liaising with governments on behalf of industry
Providing industry intelligence to agencies including the Training Fund Authority
Brokering training partnership arrangements
Supporting training initiatives
Representing local industry in the national training agenda,
Background
From the outset we wish to acknowledge that the CIT Electrotechnology Department went through a
near 'perfect storm' of change early in 2013 which we believe has had lasting effects on the Trade
Skills and Vocational Learning College (the College). The significant elements of this change
included:The ACT electrotechnology RTO, Electrotech Skills Centre (ESC), ceased operation in
March of 2013 and approximately 300 ESC electrical apprentices were transferred to
CIT, this represented about a 50% increase in numbers, after the term had begun.
The CITwas not funded to extend the UEE07 electrotechnology training package
beyond March 2013 which forced the CIT to move to the UEE11 package for all
apprentices. Convention had been to let apprentices in the later years to complete
their apprenticeship under the training package in which they enrolled. CIT chose to
not apply the convention which had a significant impact on a large number of
apprentices & their employers. The Board of EE-AB had sort for the convention to
apply with CIT, but unfortunately the EE-AB's recommendation was ignored.
To the credit of the Electrotechnology Department they agreed to participate in the
E-Oz Energy Skills Australia Energy Industry Managing Apprentices Progression
program (EIMAPS), which commenced in the first term of 2013. This program
required a significant paradigm shift from the traditional delivery, assessment and
administration on the part of the staff at the College.
A bubble in numbers of completing apprentices (See figure lACT Electrotechnology
Apprentice Commencements, NCVER 2014) was beginning to place extra demands
on identifying candidates for the 'capstone' assessment process, this resulted in a
backlog of potential candidates.
There has been three Heads of Department at the College over as many years, each
of which has departed the job (EE-AB feels) expressing a deal of frustration.
Issues
There was concern in the industry for the adverse effect of the convergence and cumulative effect of
the above issues and the Board has attempted to work with as many levels of the College as
possible.
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy adviso1y Board
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Early in 2014 the Electrical Trades Union raised concerns with the Board stemming from complaint(s)
they had received. We subsequently facilitated a number of meetings, involving the College, CIT
Management and the ETD, to address the concerns which rose through these complaints.
These joint processes have led to agreed improvement in some aspects however some issues
remain. The issues could be summarised as follows.
1.
Concerns with the training package delivery regarding compliance with the training package
requirements.
The Board understands that the Electrotechnology Department has; or can produce, a
mapping document which demonstrates that the training being delivered and assessed at
the CIT complies with the current electrotechnology industry training package. A document
of this nature would be invaluable to the Board in assuring the ACT industry that the
standard of training for electrotechnology apprentices is being maintained. EE-AB have
made numerous requests for the mapping document to be provided to the Board. There
have been commitments made by CIT to provide the documents but to date the documents
have not been forthcoming.
The Board has offered to broker an "E-Oz Pink Slip Audit" which would provide the
opportunity for an appropriately qualified third party to examine, and give the College
feedback on selected elements of the electrotechnology training.
2.
The absence of a person in the Electrotechnology Department management team with
appropriate industry experience and electrotechnology training package implementation
experience at a senior level.
From our interaction with the College, we are experiencing a lack of appreciation of the
application of the profiling system, as a system of supporting the competency decision for
individuals as well as concerns regarding the application of the capstone assessment
process. A person with the appropriate experience and skills can appreciate the interplay
of these features of the training package and can reflect the industry needs in this regard.
We consider that it is reasonable to expect that a person of these attributes be part of the
management team as the electrotechnology apprentices are now a very significant cohort
of all the apprentices being trained at CIT. We appreciate that it is difficult to find a person
with these qualities; however we think that EE-AB can assist through our connections to EOz and their extensive network of the electrotechnology training workforce.
3.
Identifying the gaps for individuals (mainly from, but not limited to, Electro Skills
apprentices) and communicating that to apprentices and employers.
The Board acknowledges the significant and challenging task for the CIT in identifying
training gaps for apprentices coming from a different RTO. However due to representations
received from the industry expressing frustration in dealing with the CIT, the Board feels
that despite recent improvement in communication with employers and apprentices the
process for identifying training gaps is unclear.
4.
Concerns on a backlog of apprentices due to sit the capstone assessment.
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy adviso1y Board
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Throughout 2013 and 2014 the Board had received representations from industry
concerning the delays for some apprentices who, while having completed the required
training were not being invited to sit the capstone assessment.
The reasons for apprentices not sitting the capstone at the expected time are many and
varied, however for much of this time the CIT processes for selecting apprentices for the
capstone assessment was not clearly evident.
It was considered by the Board that one of the delays was due to the unanticipated bubble
in the high numbers of apprentices coming through the system.
As a result of CITworking with the Electrical Trades - Industry Advisory Group, (which
involves range of ACT employers and the Board), a backlog was identified and itemised. CIT
did put additional resources to the issue and worked with the Industry Advisory Group to
eventually reduce the backlog to manageable levels.
The Board would like.to work with the CIT to better define and itemise the capstone waiting
list so that industry develops confidence in the process and has information with which to
assist CIT in makingthe process over all more effective.
The Board would be happy to attend the inquiry to expand on the above issues if required.
28 April 2015
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy adviso1y Board
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Figure 1-ACT Electrotechnology Apprentice Commencements (NCVER 2014)
Commencements
200
180
160
140
aJ
·'~
<(
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
ill Commencements
129
199
ACT Electrotechnology and Energy advisory Board
181
168
112
65
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