This page aims to answer basic questions about the ANTA Transition. If you have a more specific question please email antatransition@dest.gov.au
Q. What date will ANTA cease operations?
A. ANTA will operate as normal up until 30 June 2005.
Q. What is happening to ANTA staff?
A. ANTA staff have been given several options. They may either commence work in DEST National Office after 30 June 2005, take a redundancy package, or make their own arrangements.
Q. Who is organising the transition of ANTA functions and knowledge over to DEST?
A. ANTA Transition Branch in VET Group, along with working groups from various areas in the Department, are managing the transition.
Q. What changes have been made within DEST to accommodate ANTA's functions being absorbed, and to ensure that VET gets adequate and dedicated focus within DEST?
A. ANTA will continue to fulfil its statutory responsibilities until 30 June 2005. DEST and ANTA are working together in preparation for the formal transfer of responsibilities from July 2005 and are committed to a smooth transition which is seamless to VET clients.
Q. Under ANTA both industry and unions were involved. How will they be involved under the new arrangements?
A. The Prime Minister’s statement of 22 October 20034 sends a positive signal that the intention is for a national vocational education and training system to continue with industry’s central role to be maintained. DEST will consult broadly during February and March 2005 about the new national training arrangements.
Q. ANTA was a national body helping to ensure that there was a nationally consistent system of training and skills recognition. How will DEST ensure such national consistency continues?
A. A ministerial Council on Vocational Education will be established to ensure continued harmonisation of a national system of standards, assessment and accreditation, supported by a Commonwealth-State Funding Agreement.
While specific arrangements for the council are yet to be determined with State and Territory ministers, the Prime Minister’s statement of 22 October concerning Machinery of Government changes signals strong support for the national system, with industry’s central role to be maintained.
New national governance arrangements will be established to promote national consistency. These arrangements will maintain the central role of industry and cooperative arrangements with States and Territories.
Q. How will funds be allocated to States and Territories with the abolition of ANTA – what changes will be made to processes?
A. Funding to States and Territories previously facilitated through the ANTA agreement will be offered through a new Commonwealth-State Funding Agreement. Details of the agreement are presently under consideration by the Government and will be negotiated with State and Territory ministers in the first half of 2005 for effect from 1 July 2005. The current ANTA Agreement, which was due for renewal for a three year period from 1 January 2005, has been rolled-over for the six months.
Q. Which functions of ANTA will be absorbed by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST)?
A. At this stage all functions undertaken by ANTA will be transferred to DEST. However, consultations with the sector, scheduled to be held in early 2005, may lead to some functions being undertaken by external bodies.
Q. How many job losses will result from the abolition of ANTA?
A. Convention under Machinery of Government changes is for staff to follow function. All ANTA staff will be offered employment in DEST from 1 July 2005 onwards. The decision has been made for ANTA functions to be undertaken in DEST’s National Office in Canberra. ANTA staff who are located in Brisbane and Melbourne and who do not wish to move to DEST will receive a range of support to find other work or their employment may be entitled to a redundancy.
Q. How will the Prime Minister’s announcement impact on NCVER and Industry Skills Councils, who receive substantial amounts of funding from ANTA for their operations?
A. It will be business as usual during the transition period. ANTA will continue to administer the current contracts with NCVER and Industry Skills Councils and we then expect to transfer management to the Department from July 2005. There is a lengthy transition period, so ANTA and DEST should have sufficient time to ensure the transition is a smooth one.
Q. Will there be an advisory board? What will be the industry’s role?
A. The Government announcement does not comment on this detail, which will be worked out during the transition period. The Prime Minister announced that Minister Hardgrave “… will work directly with the Government’s industry partners, private and public training providers and the States and Territories in funding and delivery of vocational education.” We would certainly expect there will be a continued strong role for the industry under the new arrangements.
Q. What will happen to ANTA Board committees such as the NTQC, ADTAC and AITAC?
A. It will be business as usual for all committees during the transition period. In developing the Commonwealth-State Funding Agreement from July onwards, careful consideration will be given to the sort of committee structure that will best support the National Training System. We would expect ANTA secretariat support for the committees to transfer to the Commonwealth along with its other functions.