First Jobs and Skills Council formed, to focus on agribusiness

The federal government’s first new Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) has been formally established aaiming to help the agribusiness sector get the skilled workers they need.

The new Agribusiness JSC, named Skills Insight, has been established as a tripartite body inclusive of the full range of industry views as it pursues solutions to skills and workforce challenges, according to a statement.

The industry-led and owned organisation will identify skills and workforce needs, map career pathways across education sectors and develop VET training products.

It will also support collaboration between industry and training providers to improve training and assessment practice, and act as a source of intelligence on issues affecting agribusiness.

Skills Insight will not only be responsible for primary producers, but manufacturing of textiles, clothing and footwear, forestry, timber and furnishing sectors, working closely with Jobs and Skills Australia to gain a better understanding of the skills landscape.

The Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said the government was working with industry to ensure Australia’s VET sector, with TAFE at the heart, was equipping Australians with the skills they need for well-paid, secure work.

O’Connor said: “JSCs like Skills Insight will have the privilege and responsibility to help shape and direct the skills sector, providing valuable leadership and advice.

“This work will be critical in helping to develop the pipeline of skilled workers we need for agribusiness, and for the economy as a whole, while maintaining and building trust in the VET sector.”

The new council comes as the government delivers 13,200 TAFE and vocational education and training fee-free places for students in agriculture courses in 2023, while expanding the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List to include more agriculture, processing and veterinary careers.

As a first order priority, Skills Insight will develop an initial workforce plan for industry sectors. This will set a critical path for prioritising and diagnosing workforce challenges as the JSC beds down their operations in the first year.

A further nine JSCs are in the process of being established and are due to be operational by mid-2023.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the new council would complement the work of the tripartite Agricultural Workforce Working Group, which has been operational since the Jobs and Skills Summit.

Picture: NCVER