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New Industry Training Advisory Services

Under the new arrangements, ten industry training advisory councils will be established and responsibility for provision of advisory services for the construction industry has been given to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Board.

The BCITF is currently negotiating a contract with the Department of Education and Training that will establish the required outputs and services and the funding provided to deliver those services.

The training advisory service function will require the establishment of a strong industry representative network that supports the input of key stakeholders to high-level strategic issues affecting workforce development in the construction industry.

The BCITF Board intends to move quickly to establish training advisory services and has determined a model for a training advisory network that will support operations for the construction industry.

A copy of the proposed model which the Board intends to put in place is detailed below. A “Construction Industry Strategic Group” will be formed comprised of Key industry stakeholders that deals only with high level strategic issues and will act as an advisory body to the BCITF Board.

There will also be two industry advisory groups which will undertake working party activities and deal with less strategic matters such as training packages etc.

The BCITF is making adjustments to its current staffing structure and will be recruiting additional people to undertake the necessary training advisory role.

The Construction Industry Strategic group will involve eleven industry representatives, a representative of the State Training Board and a representative from the Department of Education and Training. The group will be chaired by the Executive Director of the BCITF.

It is intended that this group will meet on a quarterly basis and will involve senior level representatives from the various sectors of the industry who have the expertise to provide high-level strategic input to skills formation issues.

HIA has been requested to nominate a representative to the Industry Strategic Advisory Group, and this is currently being considered by the HIA WA Regional Executive Committee.

The first meeting of the CISG will be held within the next two months. A final meeting for the year is planned to be held as a joint meeting with the BCITF Board on Monday 8^th December 2008 .

MODEL FOR A NEW BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING ADVISORY NETWORK

• The Building and Construction Industry Training Board will assume ultimate responsibility for providing skills formation advice to the State Training Board and Department of Education and Training.
• The outcomes, timeline, Key Performance Indicators and resources provided will be agreed through a memorandum of understanding between the State Training Board, Department of Education and Training and the Building and Construction Industry Training Board.
• The Building and Construction Industry Training Board will enhance its current advisory network and other consultation processes to ensure appropriate stakeholder input to skills formation and training Fund issues.
• The consultation processes will include, but will not be confined to the following:
• Direct communication with stakeholders through various processes.
• A strategic level consultative forum known as the “Construction Industry Strategic Group (CISG)”.
• Two Construction Skills Advisory Groups which will enable industry and stakeholder input to skills development issues.

ROLE AND OPERATION OF CISG

• Has membership nominated by the following organisations:
  • Chairman BCITF
  • Housing Industry Association
  • Master Builders Association
  • Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union
  • Australian Manufacturing Workers Union / AWU
  • Civil Contractors Association
  • Civil Contractors Federation
  • Master Plumbers and Painters Association
  • Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry and Air Conditioning Contractors
  • Carpenters Association
  • Department of Education and Training
  • State Training Board
  • 2 additional Industry members not nominated by an Association or Union
• CISG is an advisory and recommending body providing strategic advice and funding suggestions to the Building and Construction Industry Training Board on key skills formation and training issues.
• CISG meets on a quarterly basis and when needed to address particular projects or issues.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING ADVISORY GROUPS

• CISG and the Board receive information and advice from two additional industry representative groups which are comprised of employers (including group schemes) Industry Associations, Union nominees and RTOs.

The two group’s scope of activity is set along training package lines as follows: 

• The Construction Skills Advisory Groups will meet bi monthly or as required.
• The advisory groups will provide information to the Strategic Advisory Group but may also provide advice to the Building and Construction Industry Training Board directly where the matter is not of a strategic nature requiring higher level industry input.

SECRETARIAL SUPPORT

• Both the Construction Industry Strategic Group and the Skills Advisory groups will be supported by the BCITF.
• Membership of all advisory groups is voluntary however the Fund will meet abnormal costs of travel or other minor expenses such as parking to attend meetings.
• Meetings may be held in Regional Centres on occasions in conjunction with local industry stakeholders.