1. 1 COAG Plumbing Occupations Action Group COAG Skills Recognition Action Group

2. COAG 2

3. 3 COAG Council of Australian Governments TAS NSW QLD NTSA ACT VIC WA C’wealth

4. 4 COAG Skills Agenda Skills Shortages BETTER SKILLS INFORMATION MORE RAPID SKILLING Apprenticeship duration Enabling school-based apprenticeships New entry and exit points in training Better skills recognition OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS IMPROVING WORKFORCE MOBILITY STRENGTHENING REGIONS New collaborative initiative IMPROVING TRAINING QUALITY EXAMINING NEXT STAGES OF REFORM

5. COAG 5 Improving Workforce Mobility Workers’ mobility is restricted by licensing differences between jurisdictions This is despite –a longstanding Mutual Recognition Agreement and supporting legislation across jurisdictions –a national vocational education and training (VET) system

6. COAG 6 Restrictions on Mobility Mobility Restricted by –Inconsistent use of the VET system by jurisdictional regulators –Partially regulated occupations –Significant differences in the licensing arrangements between jurisdictions Duplication of skill requirements between licensing and national qualifications systems

7. COAG 7 COAG Decision Governments will cooperate to develop more effective mutual recognition arrangements across jurisdictions for occupational licenses This will be achieved through –Licence rationalisation and harmonisation –Removal of duplication of skills requirements Focus is on occupational licenses –Does not include pure business licenses

8. 8 Removing Duplication Training Packages CustomerProductSupplier Industry Regulators Assessment Process Skill & Knowledge Requirements Training Delivery Controls VET Sector Assessment Process Competency Standards Registration & Audit Licence Responsibilities

9. 9 Regulatory Requirements Training Package Industry Required Competencies Training Package Development Mapping Competency BasedRegulatory Requirements Industry Required Competencies Training Package

10. COAG 10 Recognition of Overseas Skills COAG Agreement also involves recognition of overseas qualifications –Streamlined system to be developed –Will use the national skill standards determined through the mutual recognition initiative –Will result in “single” assessment of skills

11. COAG 11 Implementation Governance –The COAG Skills Recognition Steering Committee –Occupation Action Groups Timetable –Action Groups to develop Action Plans by August 06 –Ministerial Agreement on Action Plans by September 06 –Full implementation by 30 June 07

12. 12 Quality

13. COAG 13 Baseline Report Purpose is to –Outline COAG initiative –Describe current licensing environment –Describe current status of Training Package –Identify current regulator use of Training Package

14. COAG 14 Licensing Large number of licenses –93 across 8 jurisdictions –Most jurisdictions have single regulatory body Broadly common licensing model –Contractor licences  Can contract directly with public  Operates unsupervised –Trade  Cannot contract with public  Operate under supervision of contractor

15. 15 Broad Licence Classes

16. COAG 16 Licensing Variations Key licensing variations –Number of licence types/classes –Personal versus entity licensing –Restricted licensing options

17. COAG 17 Licensing Eligibility Trade licenses involve –Competency based eligibility requirements –Experience requirements Contractor licenses involve –Competency based eligibility requirements –Non-competency based eligibility requirements –Experience requirements

18. COAG 18 Mutual Recognition Incomplete information on approaches by jurisdictions under Mutual Recognition arrangements Status of Mutual Recognition of license types/classes between jurisdictions needs to be clarified

19. COAG 19 Regulator use of VET system Plumbing and Services Training Package has been endorsed Significant progress achieved through NPRF National agreement on inclusion of regulator requirements in Training Package –Implementation strategies –National training and assessment resources Implementation stage underway

20. COAG 20 Issues for Action Group Validating baseline information Solution for improving mutual recognition –Model for licence rationalisation and harmonisation –Removal of duplication of skills requirements Validation/communication of outcomes Implementation plan Managing risks –Stakeholder –Legislative and industrial –New system / old system –Equivalence and multiple pathways

21. COAG 21 Open Discussion

22. 22 ? Questions