Industry Skills Councils

About Industry Skills Councils

From February 2024, the following ten Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) will be established by the South Australian Skills Commission:

  1. Agribusiness, Food and Wine / Beverages
  2. Construction and Mining
  3. Creative Industries, Arts, Finance, Technology and Business
  4. Defence and Space Technologies
  5. Early Educators, Health, Human Services, Sport and Recreation
  6. Electrotechnology, Energy, Gas, Renewables and Hydrogen
  7. Manufacturing and Automotive
  8. Public Safety and Government
  9. Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Personal Services
  10. Transport and Logistics

The Industry Skills Councils largely align to the Commonwealth Government’s ten Jobs and Skills Councils.


Their functions

The functions of the ISCs include, but are not limited to, the provision of strategic, technical, evidence-informed advice to the Commission on its functions with respect to the following provisions of the South Australian Skills Act 2008:

  • s6 – declaration of trades and vocations, including pre-apprenticeships or pre-traineeships, specified skills sets, higher qualifications.
  • s19(1)(a) – where aligned to the functions of the national Jobs and Skills Councils.
  • s19(c) – the preparation of the South Australian Skills Standards
  • Part 4A – the recognition of other trade and declared vocation qualifications and experience (not being qualifications obtained under a training contract).


Their role

The role of ISCs will include, but is not limited to:

  • engaging with regulators, businesses, unions, rural and regional stakeholders in matters relating to vocational education and training, higher educational and workforce development.
  • providing an efficient and effective resource for the Commission to gather current and future industry workforce training intelligence that supports the government’s strategic policies.
  • contributing to and assisting in the testing and validation of the Commission’s work, government policy and program initiatives.
  • contributing to the Commission’s focus on the future workforce and training needs of South Australia and being involved in projects that support the Commission’s work.


More information

Further information about the revised ISC model is available below:

  1. ISC Terms of Reference (ToR)
  2. ISC Structure 2024 (training packages and industry sector composition)
  3. Nominee Selection Criteria

Watch the highlights

The 2021-2023 ISC highlights video recognises some of the contribution ISC members have made over the past two years in providing strategic advice to the South Australian government to reform vocational education and training as well as skills and workforce development.

For queries about Industry Skills Councils, contact the Office of the South Australian Skills Commission on phone 1800 006 488 or email ISC@sa.gov.au.