Skills Tasmania is an independent statutory body. The Skills Tasmania Board provides industry leadership and advice to ensure that Tasmania has the level of engagement needed to deliver the skills development that industry and the workforce require.
Skills Tasmania comprises the board, general manager and staff of Skills Tasmania. The Skills Tasmania general manager is responsible for the operations of Skills Tasmania and is accountable to the Board.
The Skills Tasmania Board consists of seven directors, drawn from industry, who are supported by staff of Skills Tasmania. Board membership is broadly reflective of the business community.
The Skills Tasmania Board has substantial executive powers in terms of policy development, planning and entering into purchasing and performance agreements with registered training organisations.
Objective of Skills Tasmania
Objective of Skills Tasmania
The objective of Skills Tasmania is to ensure that Tasmania has a vocational education and training system that supports a productive workforce and contributes to economic and social development in the State.
In practice, when read in conjunction with its functions, this requires that Skills Tasmania take a broad focus on workforce development issues.
Functions of Skills Tasmania
The general functions of Skills Tasmania are set out in Section 8 of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1994. They are:
- to develop and implement policies, strategies and plans for the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills in Tasmania;
- to develop and implement policies, strategies and plans for the purchase of vocational education and training;
- to ensure that programs and services relating to the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills that meet the needs of businesses and communities in, and the people of, Tasmania are provided;
- to advise the Minister on all matters, including policies, strategies and plans, relating to the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills in Tasmania;
- to advise the Minister on national vocational education and training policies and intergovernmental agreements and to oversee the implementation of such policies and agreements;
- to enter into arrangements with registered training organisations and other persons in relation to the purchase of vocational education and training and the performance by those organisations and persons of vocational education and training functions;
- to oversee the administration of vocational placements and training agreements;
- to liaise with representatives of industries, businesses, communities and interest groups in relation to the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills in Tasmania;
- to monitor the effectiveness of policies, strategies and plans for the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills in Tasmania when implemented;
- to inquire into, undertake research into and report on
- the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills; and
- the need for vocational skills of businesses and communities in, and the people of, Tasmania;
- to promote and facilitate the development, acquisition and recognition of vocational skills;
- to liaise with the Qualifications Authority, the Tasmania Development and Resources Board established under the Tasmanian Development Act 1983 and other relevant government bodies of this State or elsewhere on matters relating to vocational education and training and vocational skills;
- other functions imposed on Skills Tasmania by this Act;
- other functions imposed on Skills Tasmania by the Minister by written notice provided to Skills Tasmania
Skills Tasmania is comprised of 10 teams
Each of the teams provide advice and support to the Board and its committees, to enable it to fulfil its objectives.
Team Members
Mark Sayer, General Manager Skills Tasmania
mark.sayer@skills.tas.gov.au
Karen Hay, Executive Support Officer
Mike Brough, Deputy General manager
Keith Thompson, Industry Strategy
Chris Johnston, Service Provider Strategy
Carolyn Nichols, Learner Strategy
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Team leader
John Boutchard
john.boutchard@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
- To purchase training from Registered Training Organisations, and other providers
- Process payments to creditors relating to the purchase of vocational education and training (VET) and other services
Team Functions
- To develop and administer contracts with Registered Training Organisations
- Implement and refine payments and contracts management processes
- Co-ordinate the activities of the Purchasing Unit
- Assist in the implementation and co-ordination of appropriate strategies that support efficient VET purchasing decisions and associated financial management and operations for Skills Tasmania
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Research and Information Team
Team leader
Daniel Albert
daniel.albert@skills.tas.gov.au
"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." Kofi Annan (Ghanaian diplomat, seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.)
Team purpose
- Undertake database development and maintenance, data collection and provide a research and analysis service to:
- inform policy and strategy formulation;
- assist and advise on decision-making;
- address queries on skills related issues, database management and data collection from internal and external clients;
- meet national and state data collection and reporting requirements; and
- provide a database management service.
Team Functions
- Development and maintenance of databases and provision of database management services
- Collection of statistics
- Undertake qualitative and quantitative research and analysis.
- Provision of a statistical and information service on skills related issues including apprentices/trainees, VET delivery and outcomes of training, to other teams in Skills Tasmania, the Board and external organisations
- Liaison with State and Commonwealth government agencies and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research
- Represent Skills Tasmania on national committees and working groups which set national standards for statistics and reporting
- Assists RTOs, GTOs, ACCs and schools with software, databases and statistics collection
- Assist other Skills Tasmania teams with statistics collection and analysis, surveys and other information collections.
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Team leader
Carolyn Nichols
carolyn.nichols@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
- To promote and support vocational education and training under the training contract.
- To assist parties to achieve successful outcomes in accordance with the training contract.
- To ensure compliance with the Vocational Education and Training Act 1994 in relation to training contracts.
- To develop, support and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
Team Functions
- Provide a training consultancy client service for training under agreement conducted in accordance with the Vocational Education and Training Act 1994.
- Advise parties to training contracts as to their rights, obligations, and entitlements for the duration of the contract.
- Where necessary, counsel and conciliate between parties entering into, or party, to training contracts.
- Monitor compliance and carry out investigations into allegations of non-compliance with the legislation and/or the training contract and report the findings to management.
- Provide ongoing monitoring and support to employers, apprentices and trainees at a business where there have been issues.
- Approve training contracts and amendments in accordance with delegated authority.
- Maintain liaison with and provide information, advice and direction to the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Australian Apprenticeships Centres, Registered Training Organisations, Group Training Organisations and other VET and non-VET stakeholders.
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Team leader
Karen Pritchard
karen.pritchard@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
- To register, process amendments and complete training contracts in Tasmania.
- Pay travel and accommodation allowances.
- To promote and support vocational education and training under the training contract.
- To assist Australian Apprenticeships Centres (AACs), Registered Training Organisations and parties to the contract to complete the training contract in preparation for registration.
- To ensure training contracts comply with the Vocational Education and Training Act 1994 and the policies adopted by the Tasmanian Training Agreements Committee (TTAC).
- To develop, support and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
Team Functions
- Provide advice to key stakeholders on the requirements to complete the training contract to ensure registration.
- Liaise with parties to the training contracts, Australian Apprenticeships Centres, Commonwealth and State Government Departments, Registered Training Organisations, Employers and Training and Apprentices.
- Administer amendments to the training contract in consultation with Australian Apprenticeships Centres, Training Consultants and the parties to the contract.
- Communication and collaboration with Skills Tasmania teams particularly purchasing and training consultancy
- Receive, process and pay travel and accommodation allowances
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Team leader
Chris Johnston
christopher.johnston@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
To provide corporate support to Skills Tasmania and Skills Tasmania Board
Team Functions
Corporate support through:
- administrative and high level executive support to the Board and its committees
- monitoring of Skills Tasmania expenditure and administering payments against Skills Tasmania budget
- maintaining Legislation
- supporting Skills Tasmania's information management
- facilitating student placements within Skills Tasmania
- co-ordinating state/local government partnerships on behalf of the Department of Education
- facilitating communication between Skills Tasmania, clients and stakeholders through web site development and maintenance (including the Skills Tasmania Internet and staff only Intranet); Skills Tasmania newsletter and ad hoc publications and resources as required
- administering Skills Tasmania conference, Tasmanian Training Awards and WorldSkills Australia Tasmania Region
- Events management
- providing general corporate support to Skills Tasmania and Skills Tasmania Board
- manage purchasing across Skills Tasmania
- resource management across Skills Tasmania
- reception service
- Skills Tasmania Public Communications
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Team leader
Carol Spurgeon
carol.spurgeon@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
To manage the Skills Tasmania's participation in and contribution to capability building within the vocational education and training sector in Tasmania.
To manage the implementation and review of training packages to support the uptake of nationally recognised training in the State.
To support and stimulate the use of information and communication technology in the vocational education and training sector in Tasmania.
Team Functions
Management of training products, client support and services will be achieved through:
- program and project management;
- policy development and implementation;
- strategic and operational planning;
- partnership development with RTOs and other providers;
- implementation of state and national initiatives relating to capability building of RTOs and other providers;
- facilitating and supporting partnerships between RTOs and enterprises.
- collaboration with other Skills Tasmania teams
- liaison with state/federal government agencies;
- product development;
- networking and consultation with client groups; and
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Team leader
Keith Thompson
keith.thompson@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
Skills Tasmania has policy, plans, resources and programs that maximise its contribution to the State productivity and participation goals required for economic and social development.
This will be achieved by working with industry, other clients, State government agencies, the Commonwealth and other teams to recognise opportunities, generate ideas, negotiate means and outcomes, implement action and evaluate results.
Team Functions
- industry liaison
- Commonwealth - State business
- policy coordination
- strategic and business planning
- performance evaluation
- workforce development.
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Team leader
Leanne McLean
leanne.mclean@skills.tas.gov.au
Team Purpose
- To formulate strategy that realises opportunities, overcomes challenges and meets stakeholder needs for vocational skills development: skills development that supports a more productive workforce, continued economic development and greater social inclusion in Tasmania.
- To communicate (and enable staff engagement in the formulation of) strategy so that it informs Skills Tasmania operations, in particular Skills Tasmania's purchasing functions.
- To implement and communicate strategy that relates to identified groups of learners facing barriers to education, training and workforce participation.
- To evaluate and report on the performance of the Tasmanian VET system, the execution of skills development strategies and other related initiatives as required.
Team Functions
Strategy formulation, communication, implementation and evaluation will be achieved through:
- evidence-based research
- strategic and operational planning
- policy development, implementation and review
- project management
- program development and coordination
- performance monitoring, review and reporting
- networking and consultation with stakeholders in particular learners, employers, service providers, communities and other government agencies
- communication and collaboration with Skills Tasmania teams
- Commonwealth and State/Territory Government relations including negotiation of multilateral/bilateral funding agreements for VET, and
- liaison with the Skills Tasmania Board and Minister for Education and Skills.
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Team leader
Ian Paterson
ian.paterson@skills.tas.gov.au
Team purpose
- To develop and implement initiatives to meet workforce development and skill formation objectives of the Tasmanian Skills Strategy;
- To collaborate with industry stakeholders to enhance the capability of businesses and industry associations to identify and respond to workforce development needs;
- To facilitate, support and monitor projects and programs that address the workforce development and skill formation objectives of the Tasmanian Skills Strategy.
Team Functions
The team will achieve its purpose through:
- strategic and operational planning
- project and program management
- performance monitoring and review
- networking and consultation with stakeholder groups in particular learners, employers and service providers
- collaboration with other Skills Tasmania teams, and
- liaison with State and Commonwealth government agencies.
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Tasmanian Skills Strategy
