Current and future skills needs
Terms of Reference (Word 32KB)
Submissions
Committee
membership
Public Hearings
On 23 October 2002 the Senate referred an inquiry into
current and future skills needs to the Employment, Workplace Relations and
Education References Committee. The committee will table the report on
6 November 2003.
Skills shortages are a constraint on innovation in industries reliant on
skilled labour. At a time when unemployment remains unacceptably high, skill
shortages also represent a waste of human potential. The Senate Employment, Workplace
Relations and Education Committee wants to identify current and future areas of skills
shortages. It will investigate whether current training programs are building a genuine
skills base supporting a flexible labour market, or whether they are functioning more as
wage subsidy programs with an emphasis on lower order or company-specific skills. It will
also investigate the capacity of Job Network and other parts of the employment system to
match skills availability with labour market needs. The Committee looks forward to
consulting a wide range of industry representatives, VET and other training providers,
government, union and community representatives.
The committee invites individuals or organisations wishing
to express views on some or all of the terms of reference to lodge written
submissions. Submissions
should be lodged before the end of March 2003. Those wishing to be
considered for inclusion in the public hearing program commencing from late
March 2003, should notify the secretariat as soon as possible of their
intention to make a submission.**
Submissions should conclude all contact details, including mailing
address, telephone and fax and email address if applicable and should be submitted
electronically (Microsoft Word version 6.0 - 95 or above) and e-mailed to eet.sen@aph.gov.au., alternatively, they can
be posted to:
The Secretary,
Senate Employment, Workplace Relations
and Education References Committee
Suite SG.52, Parliament House
CANBERRA, ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 3521
Fax: (02) 6277 5706
For further details on making a submission to a Senate inquiry please contact
secretariat secretary John Carter on (02)6277 3520 or see "How
to make a submission to a Senate Committee inquiry".
Hearings and Round Table Meetings
The committee will hear evidence both at formal
hearings and round table meetings. Witnesses at hearings will be selected
from among those individuals and organisations making submissions, in the
usual way. Witnesses are normally allocated a 45 minute timeslot in which to
respond to questions.
The committee also intends to host roundtable meetings
in conjunction with formal hearings. These are recorded by Hansard and form
part of the official evidence to the inquiry. As the committee’s experience
with its 2002 small business employment inquiry showed, there is advantage
in providing for a more informal and freer exchange of ideas and opinions,
allowing the committee to test the weight of evidence and opinion among a
range of interested parties. Participants in round table discussions do not
need to make formal submissions, although we would be pleased to receive
them.
The committee’s preliminary research for the current
inquiry suggests that the factors which may determine the demand and supply
of skills show considerable variation among industries and occupations, and
in regard to training capacity and regional location. The committee is
considering using roundtables to explore specific issues, or aspects of an
issue: for instance, skill shortages in a particular industry or set of
industries. Attendance at each roundtable could reflect those with an
interest in the issue in question. The secretariat will be consulting
regional networks and other interest groups in order to identify key
players. We would also be pleased to receive suggestions from interested
parties: key industry and training networks or organisations, and regional
bodies. The secretariat has already begun to contact relevant organisations
and authorities directly.
** Margaret Blood (on 02 6277 3524) will have principal
carriage of inquiry research, with assistance from Loes Slattery (02 6277
3546).
The committee expects to visit all states and
territories. There is a link at the top of this page that lists the
public hearings and roundtable discussions, with the relevant program when
available.
Report - Tabled 6 November 2003
Government Response - Tabled 12 May 2009