Annual Report 1996-97

Sub-programme 3.2: Australian National Training Authority

Objectives

To support the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) to develop and maintain, in conjunction with the States and Territories, a national education and training system which has nationally agreed objectives, strategies and planning processes.

Resources

Outlays	Actual	Budget	Actual
	1995-96	1996-97	1996-97
	$m	$m	$m
Programme costs	869	954	956
Running costs	1	1	1
Subtotal	870	954	957
Adjustments	0	0	0
Total	870	954	957
Revenue	0	0	0
Staff years	9	9	8

Description

The sub-programme provided funding to the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA). ANTA is an independent statutory authority which supports a national vocational education and training system by:

• providing funding to States and Territories for general recurrent and infrastructure purposes;
• administering National Projects and National Programmes; and
• encouraging national cooperation in all aspects of vocational education and training policy and delivery.

ANTA reports separately to Parliament on its operations and produces an Annual National Report which provides comprehensive information on the performance of the national vocational education and training system.

The sub-programme has four components. These are set out below with a summary of the major programme activities.

Commonwealth funding for the national vocational education system is appropriated by the Vocational Education and Training Funding Act 1992. These funds are provided to ANTA for allocation to the States and Territories, and organisations in the case of some National Projects.

Funding is provided for:

• training delivered by public and private vocational education and training providers;
• national projects that will benefit the vocational education and training sector as a whole;
• adult literacy training; and
• infrastructure projects.

Major activities in 1996-97 included work on implementation of New Apprenticeships, a revised ANTA Agreement, and a new national strategy, together with administration of National Projects, and the establishment of the new National Training Framework.

National Projects develop and promote the national vocational education and training system according to priorities and broad objectives agreed by Ministers.

In 1996 and 1997 National Projects were funded under broad streams relating to the following categories of outcomes for the vocational education and training system:

• national vocational education and training system development, for example, User Choice pilots and marketing;
• research and evaluation, for example, Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys, and support for the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research;
• training market development, for example, support for flexible delivery methods;
• provider development, for example, the Best Practice in Vocational Education and Training Recognition Scheme; and
• communications and training market support, for example, the ANTA National Conference and Australian Training Awards promotion.

In 1996-97 the ANTA National Programmes (with an allocation of $73.9 m) included:

• Training Package Development, with 27 new and 35 continuing projects funded to produce national training packages integrating competency standards linked to Australian Qualification Framework qualifications and assessment guidelines; learning strategies and materials and professional development materials;
• Group Training Schemes, providing organisational support to approximately 90 group training companies to employ apprentices and trainees in smaller companies that do not have the capacity to train in their own right;
• Organisation Support Grants for Industry Training Advisory Bodies, funding these industry-based bodies, incorporated as companies or associations, to coordinate and increase the quantity and quality of training in all sectors of industry and commerce;
• Equity Development and Training Innovation, funding measures such as Adult and Community Education projects, which focus on access and equity and assist the development of more effective approaches to, and delivery of, training; and
• Funding to implement the Australian Vocational Training System, supporting measures to convert apprenticeship and traineeship programmes to competency-based training.

The operating budget of $11.8m in 1996-97 provided for the administrative costs of running the ANTA office and operation of the ANTA Board, including payroll, travel and accommodation.

The Australian Student Traineeship Foundation (ASTF) is an independent industry-led body (with an allocation in 1996-97 of $9.9m), responsible for supporting the expansion and enhancement of joint school and industry programmes. These programmes:

• provide students in senior secondary schools with the opportunity to gain vocational competencies before they graduate from school;
• increase both the numbers and quality of vocational education programmes; and
• support applications for work placement coordinators which are submitted by local school and industry programmes, with the programme being allocated an additional $7.5m specifically for these positions.

In 1997-98, the ASTF will be re-focussing its activities to:

• encourage greater industry leadership in school and industry programmes;
• encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises to provide workplace learning opportunities for secondary students; and
• extend its activities to include students in Years 9 and 10, particularly those of school leaving age.

Performance Information and Outcomes

In May 1997 the ANTA Ministerial Council endorsed a detailed policy framework for the implementation of New Apprenticeships. The resolutions adopted by the Council related to user choice, the National Training Framework, regulatory arrangements, resourcing issues, national principles for Group Training, New Apprenticeships in schools, management information needs and access and equity. ANTA consulted extensively with the States, Territories, the Commonwealth and industry throughout the development process.

A review of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Agreement in 1995, undertaken by the Council of Australian Governments, was completed in February 1996. A revised ANTA Agreement is expected to come into effect from 1998.

ANTA is developing, in consultation with the States, Territories, the Commonwealth and industry, the National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 1998-2003 for consideration by the ANTA Ministerial Council. This will supersede the first national strategy, Towards a Skilled Australia, which was released in 1994.

A new National Training Framework will be implemented in 1998. The Framework will provide streamlined, quality assurance arrangements, so that training products and services better meet the needs of clients. It will lead to nationally recognised registration of training organisations, mutual recognition of training across Australia, and more flexible delivery of training.

The Foundation goal of 15 000 senior secondary student places in workplace learning programmes by the end of 1996 was exceeded, with more than 19 000 students in quality school and industry programmes supported with ASTF grants by the end of the school year.

Major Publications and Periodicals

Develop, Clarify Improve and Justify - an evaluation plan for adult literacy, numeracy and ESL (reprint), DEETYA, Canberra, 1996

Integrated Research Strategy Adult Literacy Report (reprint), DEETYA, Canberra, 1996

Langwij Comes to School (reprint), DEETYA, Canberra, 1997

More Than Money Can Say, the impact of ESL and Literacy Training in the Australian Workplace, DEETYA, Canberra, 1996

To Write? Too Right, DEETYA, Canberra, February 1997

WELL Application Kit and Guidelines, DEETYA, Canberra, 1997

WELL information pamphlet, DEETYA, Canberra, 1997

Literacy Now (bimonthly

Open Letter (half yearly)