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The Consultation Process

The Workforce Futures papers

The consultation process on Workforce Futures was facilitated through the release of three background papers in September 2009. These included an overview paper Towards an Australian Workforce Development Strategy, Background Paper 1: What does the future hold? Meeting Australia’s skills needs and Background Paper 2: Powering the workplace: Realising Australia’s skill potential.

They were distributed to a wide range of peak industry bodies, education and training authorities and representative organisations, Industry Skills Councils, economic and regional development bodies.

The consultation process

The consultation process used to refine the proposals put forward in the background papers and to develop the Workforce Futures Strategy involved:

• a Steering Committee involving educationalists, researchers, and workplace specialists, as well as government officers working in relevant areas
• consultation with key stakeholders around alternative scenarios for Australia to 2025
• input from state and territory governments, Industry Skills Councils and peak organisations on workforce development initiatives being undertaken
• a nation-wide consultation process and written submissions
• strategic conversations with key agencies to develop recommendations.

The background papers formed the basis of discussion at the variety of stakeholder consultation meetings and roundtables conducted in over twenty sessions around Australia. The consultations were predominantly hosted by Philip Bullock, Chair of Skills Australia and attended by Board members.

The public consultations took place in all states and territories over September to November 2009 with involvement by key stakeholders from enterprises, industry, tertiary education providers, professional associations and others. At each consultation session there was the opportunity for table discussion, plenary sessions and for stakeholders to provide written feedback.

In total over 400 stakeholders were consulted and included:

• government officials from education, training, industry, regional development and local government agencies
• education providers - universities, and public and private VET providers
• professional associations
• Industry Skills Councils and state-based industry training advisory bodies
• peak industry association representatives
• trade union officials
• researchers and consultants
• group training organisations
• career development specialists.

A full list of stakeholder organisations that were invited and attended to the consultations can be found on the Skills Australia website.

Presentations

Presentations were also made at conferences including the Melbourne Institute Economic and Social Outlook Conference; the Centre for Employment, Education and Training (Monash University) Conference; the Business Higher Education Roundtable; TAFE South Australia Senior Managers’ Conference and the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council Conference (by Dr John Buchanan).

Additionally the following organisations hosted focused sessions for members, staff and other interested parties:

• Group Training Australia
• Australian Industry Group
• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• The Australian Council of Trade Unions
• The Business Higher Education Roundtable
• Community Services and Health and the Service Skills Industry Skills Councils, and Skills DMC.

Submissions

Over 40 written submissions were received, complementing the written and verbal feedback provided by participants at state and territory roundtable meetings. A list is available on the Skills Australia website.