1. An initiative of the NSW Joint ITABs

2.  NSW Industry Training Advisory Bodies
(ITABs) are autonomous, industry-based
peak bodies that work with all stakeholders
to ensure a viable workforce through
workforce planning, workforce development
and skilling opportunities.

3.  NSW ITABs have a contractual relationship
with the NSW Department of Education and
Communities to provide an independent voice
on skill needs, training and workforce
development issues for the industries each
ITAB represents

4.  NSW ITABs have bi-partite or tri-partite
boards with a mix of employer, peak industry
and union representation maintaining their
industry relevance and overseeing
governance requirements.

5.  ITABs underpin the industry training advisory
process, strengthening and stabilizing the
relationship between industry and
government by providing advice to inform
strategic policy direction, program
development and research.

6. There are eleven NSW ITABs
 Arts, Communications, Finance
Industries & Property Services
 Construction
 Community Services & Health
 Food, Primary Industries &
Racing
 Forestry
 Manufacturing & Engineering
 Public Sector
 Resources & Infrastructure
 Sport & Recreation, Tourism &
Hospitality & Wholesale, Retail
& Personal Services
 Transport & Logistics and
Automotive
 Utilities & Electrotechnology

7.  Made submissions on development of Smart
and Skilled Project
 Provided advice on participants for
consultation workshops around NSW
 Consulted about development of Draft Skills
Lists
 Consulted about priorities for Skills List
 Provided advice regarding prices, fees and
subsidies
 In all of these areas ITABs were only one
source of advice and information

8.  The following presentation was developed by
the Smart and Skilled Policy Team of NSW
DEC.
 All information provided is freely available
through the Smart & Skilled Website.
 At the end of the session those present will
attempt to answer any questions.
 However any questions regarding policy will
need to be directed to the Smart & Skilled
Policy Team

9. Smart and Skilled
Information for employers
November 2014

10. Smart and Skilled is part of COAG reform to increase
productivity & participation
Policy goals
Increase productivity
& participation
National Partnership
NSW 2021 State Plan

11. It is a major reform to the NSW training system
• A student entitlement for entry-level qualifications, where students can
select the approved provider that best meets their needs
• Targeted Priorities for higher-level qualifications and part qualifications
Consumer-driven system
Priority skills •One Skills List to define what qualifications government will subsidise
New prices and fees • Changes to how prices, fees and subsidies are set and loans for higher
qualifications
• Strengthened Quality training quality measures and consumer protection
•Website for students and employers on training, jobs and quality
• Quality information on providers on the Website Better information

12. A staged implementation of reform is underway
Dec 2013
Released:
Quality
Framework
Skills List
Jan 2014
Roll-over
contracts
2014 Skills List
Student
transition
arrangements
May 2014
Released:
2015 prices, fees
and subsidies
2015 Skills List
IPART Final
Report
June 2014
Provider
Application
(closed 8th Aug)
Late 2014
Smart & Skilled
website
Information on
approved
providers and
courses
Jan 2015
Entitlement
with regulated
fees

13. The Entitlement will start from 1 January 2015
The Entitlement:
Covers • Select Foundation Skills courses, full qualifications from
Certificate II to III, apprenticeships and selected new entrant
traineeships
•2015 Skills List defines which qualifications are funded
Is delivered by • TAFE NSW and approved private and community providers
Is consumer-driven • Students can choose the approved provider that best meets
their needs
•Funding will follow the student to the provider of their choice

14. Funding will also be available for Targeted Priorities
What is
covered?
• Purchased training in:
Under Smart and Skilled the NSW
Government will also fund:
• Skills sets and short courses
• Pre-vocational training
 full qualifications from Cert IV to Advanced Diploma
• 2015 Skills List defines funded courses
Who
delivers it?
• Places will be purchased from TAFE NSW and approved
private and community providers
• Student choice will be subject to availability of places

15. There are different eligibility requirements for the
Entitlement and Targeted Priorities
Meets Smart and Skilled
personal eligibility
• be an Australian citizen,
permanent resident or
humanitarian visa holder, or
New Zealand citizen, and
• be aged 15 years or older, and
• no longer be at school, and
• live or work in NSW
To be eligible for the entitlement
students must not have completed a
Certificate IV or above.
Does NOT hold a Certificate IV or
above
Holds a Certificate IV or above
Eligible for the Entitlement
Eligible for Targeted Priorities
NOT eligible for the Entitlement
except apprenticeships and
traineeships
Eligible for Targeted Priorities
Students registered as a NSW apprentice or new entrant trainee are eligible. Existing worker trainees are ineligible.

16. Training prices will be the same for all providers so that
competition is based on quality not price
Current System New System
 Three models of pricing:
 TAFE NSW prices
 regulated prices for contested
apprentices and trainees
 market tendered prices for
contested full and part
qualifications
 One model of pricing based on:
 efficient cost to deliver training
 national standards

17. The price of a qualification paid to providers will be
made up of a government subsidy and a student fee
Student/employer
contribution
Student
fee
Subsidy to
provider
= Qualification
price +
NSW Government
contribution

18. Location loading will support students in remote and
regional areas
Providers may be eligible for additional funding in the form of
loadings to support students in remote and regional areas in
recognition of the higher costs of training delivery:
• 10% price loading for regional students
• 20% price loading for remote students
• Maximum of one location loading per student
• Location loadings are not available for on-line delivery of
training

19. Needs loadings will support students with special needs
Providers may be eligible for additional funding to support
students with special needs in recognition of the higher costs
of learning :
• 15% price loading for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students
• 15% price loading for students with a disability
• 10% price loading for long-term unemployed students
• Maximum of one needs loading per student
• Needs loading is available for on-line delivery of
training

20. Students will contribute to the cost of training and be
charged per qualification instead of annually
Student fees will:
• be set for the whole qualification not as annual fees as at
present
• be lower for lower level qualifications
• vary by industry, recognising that not all costs are the same
• be lower for students doing their first post school
qualification
• be the same for the same qualification regardless of the
training provider chosen.

21. Concession fees will apply to courses up to Certificate IV
Concession fees per qualification level
Qualification level 2015
Foundation course $80
Certificate I $120
Certificate II $160
Certificate III and IV $240
Diploma and
Advanced Diploma
Outreach
52%
No concession
Diploma and
Advanced Diploma
students will have
access to VET FEE-HELP
loans
Fee exemptions will continue for all Aboriginal students, and for students with a
disability for their first course of the calendar year

22. Providers calculate transition fees for continuing students
based on a simple formula
• Training Providers will need to calculate transition fees
• Transition students pay the portion of training that completes
the qualification. The fee is for the remainder of the course,
not an annual fee.
*Nominal hours is the length of the course as determined by the provider

23. Smart and Skilled sets a high quality bar for providers
Industry
engagement
Strong
regulation
Effective
contracting
Selecting the
right providers
Performance
monitoring
Validation of
Teaching assessment
and
leadership
Informed
consumers
Evaluation
Consumer
protection
The Smart and Skilled Quality
Framework is based on nine
quality principles

24. There are stringent rules for marketing strategies to
attract learners
Providers
must:
Providers
cannot:
• Only market their connection to Smart
and Skilled in accordance with the
Operating Guidelines.
• Publish information on all approved
qualifications.
• Make sure that eligible students are
informed about the availability of
subsidised training.
• Suggest that Subsidised Training is
‘free of charge’, discounted or
subsidised by the Provider or a third
party.
• Engage in conduct which encourages
students to choose a Provider based
on price or other inducements for
example:
- Gifts such as iPads
- Incentives to enrol/complete by
a particular date
- Incentives to refer a friend to a
Provider.

25. Employers can expect training providers to comply
with the Smart and Skilled Contract
Fee information
• Providers must develop and implement their own policies in relation to levying and refunding fees
(in accordance with the Fee Administration Policy).
Consumer
Protection
• Providers must develop and implement their own consumer feedback and complaints handling
policies, procedures and systems .
Apprenticeships
& Traineeships
• Providers must develop a Training Plan for the delivery of subsidised training in consultation with
the employer and enrolled student and in a customised manner considering the nature of the
Employer’s business and the enrolled student’s duties within the workplace.
Industry
Engagement
• Providers are expected to engage with industry and employers to ensure that their program of
training and assessment will result in individuals who are equipped to work in the industry.

26. Employers can ask questions when choosing a training
provider
• What do you know about the
provider?
• Do they have training experience
with similar business in your
industry?
• Are they delivering training that
will improve the skills of your
employees and give you a
business advantage?
• Will they help you work out how
the training will make a
difference to the business?
• Can you establish a business-training
provider relationship?
• What do you know about the
trainers?
• Do they have the necessary
qualifications and industry
knowledge and experience for
your business needs?
• Can they deliver training in a
variety of ways to suit the
business and its people?
• Can they adapt training to suit
learner needs?
• Can they adapt training
content to suit the business
practices and operations?

27. Apprentice and trainee eligibility, choice and fees ensure access to
training and recognise their value to the NSW economy
Apprenticeship
and traineeship
access
Still eligible if
holds a
Certificate IV or
above
Apprenticeship
fee is capped at
$2,000
Trainees pay the
same fees as
those studying
their first
qualification,
regardless of
qualifications
already held
Apprenticeship
and traineeship
delivery
Public Providers
Private
Providers
Enterprise
RTOs

28. A new Smart and Skilled website launched late
October 2014: www.smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au
• Intended for students and employers looking for training or a provider
The website
functionality will
feature:
• Course Finder and
Fee Calculator
• Eligibility Checker

29. Course Finder Features
• Students and employers can:
Search for a course across all
regions and approved training
providers
Find a locally-delivered course
Find all courses delivered by an
approved training provider
across all regions or locally.

30. The STS website will remain: www.training.nsw.gov.au
• Contains information for providers and employers, including apprenticeships and
traineeships information
The STS Online secure
portal features:
• Activity Schedules
• Provider Calculator
• eReporting
Smart and Skilled pages
contain:
• Prices and fees
schedules
• NSW Skills List
• NSW Quality
Framework
• Provider contract &
policies

31. There are new governance arrangements for
managing Smart and Skilled
Office of Education (State Training Services)
manages and provides advice on:
– the NSW Skills List
– price and fee arrangements
– consumer information
– Smart and Skilled approved
providers
– Smart and Skilled Quality
Framework
State Training Services Regional Offices:
– manage local provider relationships
– purchase pre-vocational and part
qualifications
– participate in quality performance
and monitoring
– provide information about training.
Smart and Skilled is governed by Government policy and decisions and by advice
of the NSW Skills Board

32. Further information is available via websites and
subscriber updates
Smart and Skilled
• For more information your first point of call is the State Training Services
website http://www.training.nsw.gov.au
• If you have additional enquiries write to Smart and Skilled
Email: SmartandSkilled@det.nsw.edu.au
• Subscribe to Smart and Skilled updates – via Smart and Skilled on the STS
website
Skills and occupations
• MySkills website - http://www.myskills.gov.au/
• Australian Apprenticeships occupations and training -
http://www.aatinfo.com.au/Home

33. An initiative of the NSW Joint ITABs

34. Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Presenter: Andrew Mavrakakis
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

35. Australian apprenticeship harmonisation
Principles
• Nationally consistent arrangements, supporting
compliance, system efficiency and mobility
• Consistent requirements, rules and procedures,
including
oApprenticeship/Traineeship Pathways
oNominal durations
oProbationary periods
o Training plan template.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

36. Apprenticeships and Modern Awards
• Provision for competency based wage
progression
• Conditions of employment and entitlements
including travel costs, payment of training fees,
and attendance at training; and
• A model school-based apprenticeship schedule.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

37. Competency Based Progression
Progression based on competencies achieved
rather than time served.
Stage 1
•nil entry requirement
Stage 2
•25% of units specified in
the training plan or as
specified in the relevant
VTO or 12 months after
commencement*
• *whichever is the earlier
Stage 3
•50% of units specified in
the training plan or as
specified in the relevant
VTO or 12 months after
commencement of Stage
2*
• *whichever is the earlier
Stage 4
•75% of units specified in
the training plan or as
specified in the relevant
VTO or 12 months after
commencement of Stage
3*
• *whichever is the earlier
Completion
•100% of competencies
achieved
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

38. Competency Based Completion (CBC) –
the NSW model
When qualification achieved
• The Commissioner may invite the parties to
consider CBC
• Both parties must consent to CBC
• Consent may be deemed if parties fail to respond
within 21 days
• If the parties disagree, STS will intervene to
resolve an dispute.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

39. Competency Based Completion - update
Automated competency based completions
79%
1% 6%
14%
0%
Supported
Change date
Deemed
Not supported
Parties disagree
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

40. New South Wales Training Plan
communication development engagement
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

41. Nationally agreed principles
• Identify all parties and set out
their rights and responsibilities
• Set out the qualification and
mode of delivery
• Support competency based
progression and completion
• Be flexible and responsive and
meet industry needs.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

42. A Training Plan must
Be developed by the RTO in
consultation with the
employer and the
apprentice/trainee
Comply with the
Vocational Training Order
(VTO)
Be developed after
an apprenticeship
/traineeship has been
established and
approved
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

43. Training Plan requirements
• Specify Units of Competency for the relevant
qualification
• Be customised to the nature of the employer’s
business
• Support and reflect the apprentice’s or
trainee’s workplace activities; and
• Be reviewed and updated as necessary to
reflect the current status of training.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

44. RTO obligations
• The RTO must be satisfied that the workplace
can support the proposed training program and
address any gaps identified
• Develop Training Plan in consultation with the
employer and the apprentice/trainee
• Deliver training and assessment in accordance
with the Training Plan schedule.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

45. RTO obligations (cont.)
• Engage with the employer and
apprentice/trainee and gain employer
endorsement of competence achieved
• Notify STS of any matters that may impact on
the successful completion
• Notify STS within 28 days when
apprentice/trainee is eligible to receive their
qualification
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

46. Employer responsibilities
• Provide work in accordance with the Training
Plan and relevant to the vocation
• Provide appropriate facilities and supervision by
a qualified or experienced worker
• Release apprentice/trainee with pay to
participate in formal training and/or undertake
self-paced learning and assessment tasks
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

47. Employer responsibilities (cont.)
• Liaise with the RTO in relation to participation
and progress
• Engage with the RTO in relation to endorsement
of competence
• Work closely with the RTO to ensure quality
training and assessment outcomes
• Notify STS within 14 days of any matters that
may impact on successful completion
• Discharge all obligations as an employer.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

48. Apprentice/trainee obligations
• Discharge their obligations as an employee
• Acquire the competencies of the vocation
• Obtain the appropriate qualification.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

49. Variations to Training Plans
• A Training Plan may be varied with the consent
of the parties when there is:
• change of vocation or qualification
• change of registered training organisation
• change of mode of delivery
• extension of term.
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

50. State Training Services
Operates from 16 locations across NSW
Contact us on 13 28 11 or 1300 772 104
Presenter: Andrew Mavrakakis
STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

51. An initiative of the NSW Joint ITABs

52. Save $111 on a super early bird conference registration:
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