2021-22 Annual Report of the South Australian Skills Commission

I am delighted to present the South Australian Skills Commission’s inaugural annual report. The issue of skills has been front and centre of the national and state agendas and the Commission’s establishment and focus on skills and workforce development in South Australia could not have been timelier.

The Commission has embraced its new role, independently monitoring the skills sector, reforming the State’s apprenticeship and traineeship system and strengthening the coordination of industry input into government policy.

Our Commission members provided expert guidance to effectively integrate the activity of the former Office of the Training Advocate and Training and Skills Commission, while fulfilling the functions set out in the revised South Australian Skills Act 2008.

The finalisation of the Commission’s first Strategic Plan (2022-2024) has been a key milestone. The Plan represents many months of research, consultation and collaboration. Having drawn on the collective intelligence of South Australian employers, Industry Skills Councils, government and education sector stakeholders, the Plan sets down a high-level roadmap for the Commission. Aligning with the objectives of the State Government, the plan is flexible enough to adapt to change and respond to opportunities.

A key focus of the Commission is ensuring a connected skills sector and coordinated industry advice into government policy and programs. The seven Industry Skills Councils, each chaired by a member of the Commission, provide robust advice and industry insights. In addition, as Commissioner I participated in approximately 300 stakeholder engagements, inclusive of business, industry associations, registered training organisations, peak bodies, group training organisations, related statutory authorities and regulatory bodies. These meetings have allowed for candid discussions, promotion of the Commission’s role and strengthening of new and existing relationships.

Connectedness also extends to the myriad government stakeholders responsible for skills and training at a state and federal level. The Education and Training Advisory Group was convened by the Commission with representatives from various agencies across State and Commonwealth Government and a focus on creating connections, reducing duplication, identifying opportunities for collaboration and strengthening messaging around skills-related initiatives.

There was significant growth in traineeships and apprenticeships during this period. As regulator of the traineeship and apprenticeship system in South Australia, the preparation and implementation of the South Australian Skills Standards has been an essential element of reform. The Commission has worked with a wide range of stakeholders to enhance understanding of the new obligations associated with this method of training and how it helps to grow the State’s pipeline of skilled workers. In addition, the Commission has introduced new reporting arrangements with the Department to ensure greater oversight and compliance.

Significant effort has been invested in ensuring robust data to inform government decision making for skills and training, and this work continues with regular input from our Industry Skills Council members and involves engagement with other government entities.

The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on industry intensified the skills shortage in many businesses, and for many it also required them to rapidly upskill and reskill staff. The Commission undertook a range of activities to ensure the skills and training system was responsive to changing needs. This included the Commission’s Micro-credential Pilot Program, a joint initiative with the former Department for Innovation and Skills (now Skills SA) that has endorsed 25 micro-credential training programs that are responsive to local industry needs and fill gaps unable to be met by qualifications within the Australian Qualifications Framework. The Commission has also declared new trades and vocational pathways, including the first higher education apprenticeship pathway, and streamlined the reactivation of archived pathways.

To support learners throughout their training, and - in the case of apprenticeships/ traineeships - employers as well, the Commission offers a free and confidential dispute resolution and advocacy service that supported more than 1,800 cases in our first year of operations. The service provided the Commission with real-time indicators of the health of the skills sector and in monitoring the implementation of the South Australian Skills Standards, with feedback guiding amendments and allowing for early identification of systemic issues within sectors and across the system.

The South Australian Training Awards were an opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievement of individuals and organisations within the vocational education and training sector, the calibre of finalists a testament to the commitment and quality of our State’s training system.

With a clear strategic direction for the year to come, the Commission is well placed to progress strategic plan projects and deliver real outcomes including strengthening the apprenticeship and traineeship experience, improving supervisor training and increasing completion rates.

I am proud of what has been achieved since the creation of the Commission and I acknowledge the significant contributions of Commission members, Industry Skills Council members (previous and current) and the team within the Office of the South Australian Skills Commission. I’d also like to thank Minister Blair Boyer MP and his team for their support, and his Ministerial predecessor David Pisoni MP and staff.

Renee Hindmarsh
Skills Commissioner
South Australian Skills Commission

Our purpose

The South Australian Skills Commission is an independent voice ensuring an industry-led skills system that delivers prosperity for South Australia.

Our vision

A high-performing workforce aligned to the needs of industry, enabling South Australia’s individuals, communities and businesses to thrive.

Our values

Trusted – Our stakeholders know that we will always act with integrity and purpose.

Responsive – Listening, understanding and being responsive to the needs of our stakeholders and the South Australian economy is our core business.

Collaborative – We strive to be exceptional collaborators because we understand that it is through partnerships and collaboration that the best outcomes are achieved.

Effective – With a focus on outcomes we always seek to achieve genuine impact through our activities.

Our functions, objectives and deliverables

As set out in the South Australian Skills Act 2008, the South Australian Skills Commission is required to:

• advise the Minister on:
  • matters relating to the development, funding, quality and performance of vocational education and training and adult community education;
  • strategies and priorities for workforce development in the State with the aim of supporting employment growth and investment in the State (including recognition of skills and qualifications gained outside of Australia);
  • the State’s role as part of an integrated national system of education and training; and

• regulate the State’s apprenticeship and traineeship system; and

• prepare the South Australian Skills Standards and other information for the purposes of this Act; and

• undertake complaint handling and provide, where appropriate, mediation and advocacy services in disputes relating to apprenticeships and traineeships, vocational education and training, higher education or international education, and to otherwise assist in the resolution of such disputes (including by providing advocacy services for parties in proceedings before the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET); and

• monitor, and report to the Minister on, the state of vocational education and training and adult community education in the State, including the expenditure of public money in those areas; and

• promote the development of investment, equity and participation in, and access to, vocational education and training, adult community education, and higher education sectors; and

• promote pathways between the secondary school, vocational education and training, adult education and training, adult community education, and higher education sectors; and

• enter into reciprocal arrangements with appropriate bodies with respect to the recognition of education and training; and

• monitor, and make recommendations to the Minister on, the administration and operation of this Act; and

• such other functions as may be assigned to the Commission by the Minister or by or under this or any other Act.

The Commission must, in advising or making recommendations to the Minister, to such extent as may be reasonably practicable, consult with —

(a) industry and commerce, including industry, skills and other advisory bodies and associations and organisations established by or representing industry and commerce; and

(b) associations and organisations representing employees; and

(c) relevant bodies, associations or organisations representing higher education, vocational education and training and adult community education; and

(d) relevant government and community bodies.

The Commission may, in accordance with any requirements in the regulations, establish such industry engagement or advisory bodies as the Commission thinks appropriate (which may but need not consist of members of the Commission).

The following structure details Members of the South Australian Skills Commission, and as Chairs of Industry Skills Councils (ISC) and sub-committees of the Commission (as at June 2022). Term dates for Commission members are 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023, noting Richard Finlayson’s appointment commenced 18 January 2022, replacing Nikki Govan who resigned 31 December 2021.

The following details the structure of the Office of the South Australian Skills Commission as of 30 June 2022.

Changes to the agency

During 2021-22 there were the following changes to the agency’s structure and objectives as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes.

• The South Australian Skills Commission was established as a result of changes to the South Australian Skills Act 2008 on 1 July 2021. This involved the creation of the new organisational structure and replaced the functions of the Training Advocate and the Training and Skills Commission.

• Machinery of Government saw transition processes commence during the latter months of the financial year, leading to the transition of the training and skills function (including the South Australian Skills Commission) from within the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science (formerly Department for Innovation and Skills) to the Department for Education. Formal commencement of arrangements occurred 1 July 2022.

Renee Hindmarsh

South Australian Skills Commissioner

Renee is South Australia’s inaugural Skills Commissioner and Chair of the South Australian Skills Commission. This role provides independent industry-led advice to the Government of South Australia on workforce development priorities and is responsible for advising the Minister for Education, Training and Skills on the performance of the training system.

Renee has an extensive background in senior executive and advisory positions across the education and public sectors including through her previous role as the state’s Training Advocate since early 2019.

Prior to being the Training Advocate, Renee was the Executive Director of the Australian Technology Network of Universities where she drove collaboration between Australia’s technology universities to improve outcomes for graduates and strengthen links with industry.

Renee is passionate about training and skills development to aid South Australia in meeting its future skills needs.

Hon Blair Boyer MP

Minister for Education, Training and Skills

The Hon Blair Boyer is the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. In 2018 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the seat of Wright in the north and north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide.

Blair grew up on the family farm, just over the border from Mt Gambier in South-West Victoria. His father was a public school teacher for 40 years and his mother worked in the disability sector.

Blair completed an Arts/Law Degree at University, where he met his wife Cath in their first year. He practiced briefly as a solicitor before starting work for a country Labor MP.

The focus of his work in government has been education, child protection, industrial relations and emergency services; the latter leading to Blair becoming a volunteer with the Salisbury SES Unit.

• South Australian Skills Act 2008

• South Australian Skills Regulations 2021

Department for Education (including Skills SA)

Meetings attended by board members during 2021-22

ISC = Industry Skills Council
* = from January 2022
** = resigned December 2021

Agency response to COVID-19

During 2021-22 the Commission continued to work with other agencies to support South Australia’s recovery. As regulator of the State’s apprenticeship and traineeship system, the Commission proactively monitored and reported the impact of COVID-19 related restrictions and vaccination policies.

The South Australian Skills Commission is resourced through the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science and therefore administrative and operational functions comply with the Department’s policies and procedures, established in accordance with the public sector requirements. This report will refer to the Department’s Annual Report where appropriate.

Employment opportunity programs

Agency performance management and development systems

Work health, safety and return to work programs

*number of claimants assessed during the reporting period as having a whole person impairment of 30% or more under the Return to Work Act 2014 (Part 2 Division 5)

**before third party recovery

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

Executive employment in the agency

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has a workforce information page that provides further information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.

The Department for Industry, Innovation and Science allocates the resources required for the Skills Commission to function. The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2021-2022 are attached to this report.

As the Commission was established on 1 July 2021, there are no 2020-21 comparative figures presented in the full audited financial statements for 2021-22.

Download financial statements

The following is a summary of external consultants that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for the work undertaken during the financial year.

Consultancies with a contract value below $10,000 each

Consultancies with a contract value above $10,000 each

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

See also the Consolidated Financial Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance for total value of consultancy contracts across the South Australian Public Sector.

The following is a summary of external contractors that have been engaged by the agency, the nature of work undertaken, and the actual payments made for work undertaken during the financial year.

Contractors with a contract value below $10,000

Contractors with a contract value above $10,000 each

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

The details of South Australian Government-awarded contracts for goods, services, and works are displayed on the SA Tenders and Contracts website. View the agency list of contracts.

The website also provides details of across government contracts.

The Skills Commissioner is subject to the direction, in writing, of the Minister; however no Ministerial direction may be given in relation to a particular finding or recommendation of the Commissioner as per section 9 of the South Australian Skills Act 2008. The annual report (section 9(4)) is required to include any written directions received from the Minister. No Ministerial directions were received by the Skills Commissioner for the period.

NB: Fraud reported includes actual and reasonably suspected incidents of fraud.

The Department has risk-based strategies in place to control and prevent fraud. This is overseen by the Risk and Performance Committee. The Skills Commission’s processes comply with these policies.

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

Number of occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018:

0

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

Note: Disclosure of public interest information was previously reported under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 and repealed by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 on 1/7/2019.

The Carers’ Recognition Act 2005 is deemed applicable for the following: Department of Human Services, Department for Education, Department for Health, Department for Innovation and Skills, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, South Australia Police and TAFE SA.

Section 7: Compliance or non-compliance with section 6 of the Carers Recognition Act 2005 and (b) if a person or body provides relevant services under a contract with the organisation (other than a contract of employment), that person's or body's compliance or noncompliance with section 6.

The Department provides online training to staff regarding disability and inclusion, which includes the Carer’s Recognition Act 2005, as well as flexible working and special leave options to assist employees in meeting caring responsibilities.

Please refer to the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science Annual Report.

Data for previous years is available at: Data SA

Not applicable