Industry has a strong voice in Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system through a national system of industry advisory arrangements.
Since the national VET system was formed, a range of industry advisory bodies have been the key conduits of advice and information between the VET system and industry. They provided a way for industry needs to be identified, communicated, and serviced and they have had primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of Training Packages.
In 2003, the ANTA Board decided to take a new approach to exchanging advice and information with industry to support a future-oriented focus on wealth creating and evolving industries.
Under the new approach, a new communication channel with industry is being created through the establishment of 10 new 'Industry Skills Councils', which have progressively replaced the existing industry advisory bodies.
The Industry Skills Councils have two key roles:
- providing accurate industry intelligence to the VET sector about current and future skill needs and training requirements, and
- supporting the development, implementation and continuous improvement of quality nationally recognised training products and services, including Training Packages.
All ten of the councils have been declared.