2022-23 Annual Report of the South Australian Skills Commission

The South Australian Skills Commission’s second year of operations has been as equally productive as its first. Guided by its inaugural Strategic Plan 2022-2024, the Commission embarked on several key projects focussed on its core functions under the South Australian Skills Act 2008.

The establishment of Jobs and Skills Australia and the announcement of the ten Jobs and Skills Councils in late 2022, signalled the need for greater collaboration with like bodies in other states and territories. To that end, a new body, the Federated Industry Skills Network (FISN) had its first meeting in Adelaide, coinciding with the Australian Training Awards hosted in South Australia on Friday 18 November 2022.

Membership of, and contribution to, the FISN supports the Commission’s function of advising the Minister on the State’s role as part of an integrated national system of education and training. Fostering national coordination of industry advice and bringing a shared approach to training package review and development, the FISN seeks to assist in mitigating stakeholder engagement overload.

In providing advice to the Minister and national authorities, the Commission is supported by its seven Industry Skills Councils (ISCs). Members of ISCs are selected for their individual skills, technical knowledge of vocational education and training (VET) and breadth of understanding of specific industries that underpin the South Australian economy. Supporting the work being undertaken at the national level including consultation on:

• Australian Bureau of Statistics’ review of occupation codes
• Jobs and Skills Australia’s Skills Priority List
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Australian Apprenticeship Priority List.

In addition to assisting the development of the Commission’s projects to support its Strategic Plan, ISCs have provided input to key state priorities including:

• Skills SA Department for Education 10-year Skills Plan
• Department for Education conversation on the purpose of public education in South Australia
• Department for Education’s technical colleges.

As a contributor to the development of the Roadmap for the future of TAFE SA (2023-2033), the Commission was keen to convey the benefits to be realised by greater collaboration between TAFE SA and other training organisations. The Commission further cautioned against a wholly market-based approach to the VET system in South Australia.

The role of Skills SA and its delegates who manage much of the day-to-day operations associated with the administration of apprenticeships and traineeships is acknowledged. Throughout 2022-23 the Commission continued its focus on building reliable and timely reporting and monitoring on traineeships and apprenticeships. Complementary to this work is the Commission’s dispute resolution and mediation service, supporting apprentices, trainees, employers, and students.

In early 2023, the Commission welcomed the establishment of a national VET Completions Taskforce by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. To support this work, the Commission and Skills SA partnered to deliver the VET Completions Interactive Workshop in May 2023. The workshop enabled the collation of shared experiences of registered training providers, employers, unions, apprentices, trainees and students, to inform the National Skills Agreement.

The South Australian Training Awards once again provided the opportunity to acknowledge and commend our State’s finest training providers, VET students, apprentices and trainees and their employers, and their role in fostering excellence in skills and workforce development.

The joint Commission and Skills SA Department for Education Micro-credentials Pilot program concluded on 30 June 2023. From its commencement in November 2020 to 30 June 2023, 34 micro-credentials have been endorsed, 278 participants (as at 31 March 2023) having completed a micro-credential. An evaluation of the pilot will inform decisions about future micro-credential frameworks.

Tribute is paid to the outgoing members of the board, Dino Rossi, Caroline Rhodes, Steve Shearer, Andrew Clarke, Tanya Cole, Paul Brock, Richard Finlayson, and Liz Cohen, who retired in December 2022, for the untiring and collaborative application of their professional expertise and knowledge in support of the Skills Commissioner and the Minister. Each board member brought valuable skills and expertise and a commitment to strategic and systematic improvements to the South Australian VET system and positioning it within the national context.

It was an honour and privilege to take the role of acting South Australian Skills Commissioner following the unexpected resignation of Renee Hindmarsh, the inaugural South Australian Skills Commissioner. Renee was indefatigable in her approach to systems change and improvement to support students, business and industry more broadly. Her oversight of the establishment of the Commission and deepening connections within and across government and industry is applauded.

Sara Longbottom

Acting South Australian Skills Commissioner (3 April – 21 July 2023)

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:

1. matters relating to the development, funding, quality and performance of vocational education and training and adult community education;
2. 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);
3. 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 (ISCs) and sub-committees of the Commission as at June 30, 2023. Term dates for Commission members were 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023, noting the resignation of Liz Cohen as of 1 December 2022, with Tanya Cole assuming the role of Chair of the Health, Disability, Aged Care, Community Services and Early Childhood ISC at this time.

As also indicated in the below organisational structure, Sara Longbottom was Acting South Australian Skills Commissioner as at June 30, 2023. Sara Longbottom was appointed Acting Skills Commissioner, effective 3 April 2023, with resignation of Renee Hindmarsh as the State’s inaugural Skills Commissioner, effective 31 March 2023.

The following details the structure of the Office of the South Australian Skills Commission as at 30 June 2023.

Changes to the agency

During 2022-23 the following changes to the agency’s structure and objectives as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes took place.

Machinery of Government changes saw the transition of the training and skills function from the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science (formerly Department for Innovation and Skills) to the Department for Education (DfE). In line with this change, the South Australian Skills Commission also transitioned to align with DfE, including receiving corporate support through a service level agreement from DfE. Commencement of this arrangement formally took effect from 1 July 2022.

Renee Hindmarsh

South Australian Skills Commissioner (1 July 2021 – 31 March 2023)

Renee was 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.

Our Acting Skills Commissioner

Sara Longbottom

Acting South Australian Skills Commissioner (3 April 2023 – 21 July 2023)

Sara took on the role of acting Skills Commissioner following Renee Hindmarsh’s resignation. Sara has been with the Commission since its inception in July 2021 and played an instrumental role in its establishment.

With a background in industry and community engagement, regulation of the traineeship and apprenticeship system, dispute resolution and complaints handling, Sara was well positioned to take on the role.

Her extensive experience and expertise in the Commission’s role and functions, enabled her to provide considered advice to the Minister for Education, Training and Skills and to oversee the operations of the Commission.

The Honourable Blair Boyer MP

Minister for Education, Training and Skills

Blair lives in the North-Eastern suburbs of Adelaide with his wife and three daughters. He grew up on the family farm in rural South West Victoria, not far from Mount Gambier.

He was elected to represent the State electorate of Wright in 2018 and was appointed Minister for Education, Training and Skills in March 2022.

Blair is passionate about education and believes that a strong, affordable and accessible public education system is the key to equality.

• South Australian Skills Act 2008

• South Australian Skills Regulations 2021

Department for Education (including Skills SA)

Meetings attended by board members during 2022-23

ISC = Industry Skills Council
* = resigned

The South Australian Skills Commission is resourced through the Department for Education 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 and data from previous years can be located via Data SA, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science.

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

Executive employment in the agency

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 Education allocates the resources required for the South Australian 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 2022-23 are attached to this report.

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.

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

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

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.

During the reporting period an external risk management agency was contracted to undertake analysis of the strategic risks of the Commission including via consultation with Commission members. Results of the analysis and mitigation strategies were handed down following this and will be used to inform strategic risk management practice over 2023-24.

The Department has risk-based strategies in place to control and prevent fraud. The Skills Commission’s processes comply with these policies.

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

Nil

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.

NIL

The Carers’ Recognition Act 2005 is deemed applicable for Department for Education.

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.

Please refer to the Department for Education’s Annual Report.