International Fibre Centre The IFC’s Role in Education and Training for the TCF Industries Barry White International Fibre Centre Feb 26, 2004

The IFC’s Role Fundamental role is to support training and education in the fibre and textile industries Receives funding from the Victorian State Government (Victoria has the largest TCF industry in Australia with >50% of employment and value) IFC is a corporation limited by guarantee and is a ‘not for profit’ company

Interntional Fibre Centre website

The Post 2005 TCF Package Minimal reference to education and training PC’s review of TCF assistance

‘ with the growing emphasis on innovation an appropriately skilled workforce and supportive education and training infrastructure are becoming more important to the future international competitiveness of the sector’.

IBISWORLD report on Manufacturing in Australia (2002) ‘technology is now a key driver of the design, production and quality processes of enterprises. This has raised the level of skills required by managers and workers and in turn has placed a greater emphasis on education and training’.

The Post 2005 TCF Package Minimal reference to education and training PC’s review of TCF assistance Fewer, smarter workers with a wider range of skills While the local TCF share of the domestic market is falling, the export share is increasing.

Trends in the TCF Workforce Ageing workforce (….so what?) Negative perceptions of the TCF sector by young people Decreasing critical mass of skills Fewer training providers Failure of training institutions to adapt to changing skill needs Declining interest in training by industry SME’s have less time and resources to devote to training

Workplace Training ‘Workplace delivery is not a sufficient condition for successful training outcome’ Requirements often specialised, training needs specific to job performance (workers not adaptable) Training not firm’s core business Learning is ‘workers responsibility’ If employers want skills, they buy them

LMTA Enterprise Study- barriers to training engagement, 2003

Program Delivery ‘Information is not knowledge‘ Albert Einstein ….….knowledge is the application of information ! Me

Present responses to TCF Training Industry  Machinery or process suppliers  Enterprise funded  IFC  Formal Education  Higher education virtually disappeared  Generic programs via ANTA, LMTA and ITABS  VET sector via TAFE  IFC

Is there a greater role for Government intervention ? Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill….but there would appear to be a greater role for government (ref. TCF Post 2005 Package) Victorian government has the only dedicated TCF training support program IFC established for this purpose

IFC programs Training and Education program (TEP) –Projects proposed by industry –Develop training materials (for wider use) –Mill training, short courses, workshops and seminars –Domestic and international Special Training Partnership (STP) –Specialist domestic and international training –Co-funding from educational, research or industry bodies –Development of specialist short courses for the wool, cotton and technical textiles sectors –Industry technology transfer (eg. OFFM project with AWI) Professional Development program (PDP) –Upgrade skills and knowledge for individuals in the textile industry Special events eg. EMS project –Industry environmental project

Linking, Research, Education & Industry Education Research Industry Research Education Industry

Role of the CSIRO TFT - wool textile training example Australian Wool Textile Training Centre at CSIRO TFT AWI IFC (Victorian State Government) AWTA LtdSheep CRC AFFA (Federal Government) Deakin University

TEP Program Some examples Grampians Wool Industries –Training materials for carbonising plant Victoria Carpets –Specialist training for Card-Monroe hi-speed tufting RMIT Uni. –CAD Centre of Excellence Macquarie Textiles –Interactive CD ROM training for quality assessors and ‘Fred Fibre’ (understanding whole of pipeline processing) TexSkill Ltd –20 accredited specialist short courses Bradmill –Training for new weaving and denim dyeing technologies involving training ex Belgium Rocklea Spinning Mill –Short courses in opening, carding and open-end cotton spinning Nb. There are no specialist programs for technical training in cotton spinning in Australia.

TEP Program Further examples Bruck Textiles Training in polymer finishing technology and cotton finishing Geelong Woolcombers Training materials for waste minimisation and effluent treatment TTNA International specialist training in nonwoven technologies TFIA Industry training materials for salt and brine recovery in dyeing Carpet Institute Seminar for improved insect resist treatments in carpet manufacture CSIRO ‘Farm to Fabric’ training for wool processors Australian Country Spinners Methodology for training in company’s Environmental Management System