Workplace reform is firmly on the agenda with the Minerals Council of Australia welcoming the latest reform outcomes from the Council of Australian Governments' meeting in Canberra and the State Government launching a Skills Formation Taskforce .
Workplace reform is firmly on the agenda with the Minerals Council of Australia welcoming the latest reform outcomes from the Council of Australian Governments' meeting in Canberra and the State Government launching a Skills Formation Taskforce .
Workplace reform is firmly on the agenda with the Minerals Council of Australia welcoming the latest reform outcomes from the Council of Australian Governments' meeting in Canberra and the State Government launching a Skills Formation Taskforce .
The reforms have particular relevance to Western Australia as the state's economy strives to stay on top of a resources driven boom.
Reform outcomes include initiatives on apprenticeships, training and skills recognition designed to achieve greater flexibility and portability in the workforce, particularly in remote and regional Australia.
As part of this a more flexible and responsive training system based on demonstrated competency standards rather than set time-based approaches was agreed upon.
Issues with red-tape were also addressed, with a consistent national system of economic regulation for infrastructure, and plans to reduce the regulatory burden imposed by all levels of government rubber stamped.
MCA chief executive Mitchell Hooke said that it was a significant and positive development that the Australian, State and Territory Governments had agreed to work together on a broad national reform agenda designed to lift the nation's productivity and workforce participation.
"We welcome the commitment to make progress towards national consistency and look forward to working with the Australian and State Governments on implementing the details of the COAG initiatives," he said.
The national reforms discussed at CoAG comes at the same time as the State Government is taking its own steps to make changes to Western Australia's training system.
Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich established the Skills Formation Taskforce to invite input from employers and workers to help overcome skills shortages and strengthen the state's training system.
The taskforce, chaired by Clive Brown, will hold its first public forum in Geraldton today, and will be the first of 10 forums to be held across the state.
"We need to reform our apprenticeship and traineeship system but we must do it with the support of employers and workers," Ms Ravlich said.
"That is why we are holding these forums to give all the major stakeholders a voice in these important changes.
"WA's apprenticeship and traineeship numbers outstrip the national average, however, with the state forecast to continue growing rapidly, we need to ensure that everyone is equipped to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities being generated."