NRSET Recommendation 6: Forging Stronger Ties between Industry and Education

Recommendation 6.1 – Marketing kit to promote career pathways and jobs

This initiative is being led by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA).       

Industry will develop and integrate careers material from across the resources sector to provide comprehensive resource sector careers information. MCA has worked with state minerals chambers/councils to develop a coordinated careers marketing portal.  The People for the Future portal was relaunched in March 2012: http://www.peopleforthefuture.com.au/.

APPEA’s Industry Workforce Strategy Committee will develop a strategic approach to career pathways. The Australian Government will also commission research on the best ways to provide career advice to young people.

Recommendation 6.2 – Employment pathways for students

This initiative is being led bySkills Queensland.  

Skills Queensland will collect examples of partnership models between schools, Trade Training Centres (TTCs) and the resources sector from all jurisdictions and identify the key success factors in the current models for industry-education cooperation. Further high quality resources sector teaching materials that support teaching of the national curriculum will be developed, for example the Mineral Council of Australia’s OresomeResources.

The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy has also been launched to operate as a 'virtual' academy where teams work with students and teachers to provide direct access to employment in the resources sector through programs targeting four different pathways - operator, trade, technical and professional.

Formed in 2005, the QMEA's focus is to help students develop successful careers in the mining industry.

The QMEA is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Queensland Resources Council, working across 34 state, independent and catholic Queensland schools, encompassing over 20,000 high school students.

This partnership between school and industry is a world-first that offers Australian students a clear pathway from school to industry.

Recommendation 6.3 – Trades Training Centre funding to take into account anticipated strong demand for skills in the resources sector

This initiative is being led by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).                                                                    

Opportunities for schools to direct training to occupations in local demand in the resources and construction sectors will be promoted in Round Four of the TTC Program. This will assist with forging stronger links between TTCs and the resources and construction sectors, and will enable industry interest group perspectives to be incorporated into the future rollout of the TTC Program.

Recommendation 6.4 – Full recognition of vocational training undertaken in a school context, or as part of a pre-vocational training course

This initiative is being led byDepartment of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).                                                                                            

The Australian Government will establish the National Trade Cadetship Program and will liaise with education authorities and industry representatives to ensure the model operates effectively to provide pathways between school and employment for students wishing to pursue a career in the trades. The scheme will comprise a foundation stream and a pre-apprenticeship stream — both delivered by schools; and a work experience component delivered by group training organisations.

Recommendation 6.5 – Increase senior school students’ participation, attainment and engagement in mathematics and science

This initiative will be led byDepartment of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).                                                                                            

This will be supported by the Australian Curriculum: Science and Mathematics for Foundation to Year 10 and the finalisation of the development of the Australian Curriculum for the Senior Secondary Years in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Science and for Mathematics. The Teach for Australia program will provide career change opportunities for high-calibre, non-teaching graduates from specialised subject areas, including mathematics and science, and place them in schools where they can make the most difference.