Business SKills Victoria Annual Report 2007 - 2008

BSV continued to provide services to Skills Victoria and conduct national project work in 2007/2008. BSV is well placed to contribute to the Victorian Skills Reform and to the Rudd Government’s ‘Skilling Australia’ policy. BSV has built sound relationships with Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC), Innovation Business Skills Australia (IBSA) and the Government Skills Australia (GSA). BSV continues being entrepreneurial and was successful in utilising networks for project opportunities (government and industry). This will put BSV in good stead for Victoria's skill reform, with the emphasis on working with industry for workforce solutions.

The role of the Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB) is complex, working with government, industry associations, employers, unions and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The Boards’ composition is tripartite which provides significant opportunity for discussion of strategic training issues involving key stakeholders. In accordance with Victorian requirements of the State ITABs, BSV provides advice on a range of issues including industry needs and curriculum development and Training Package and Australian Apprenticeship implementation.

BSV contributes to Victoria's skill shortage debate through the industry needs report to Skills Victoria. The object of this is to provide speculative and qualitative information on this issue to add balance to Skills Victoria 'Industry Priority Reports', which present statistical information on industry and training trends.

ITABs provide a quality service to a widespread stakeholder group. Activities include workshops and seminars, liaison with and providing advice to regulators, regional consultations, information services, advisory services, brokering of RTOs and industry, and promotion of the National Training Framework (NTF).

The BSV Board has been quite stable in 2007/2008 apart from Jeff Burns who resigned due to changes in his employment. He was replaced by Geoff Pawsey, who is already proving to be an asset to the Board. 2007/2008 has been Brian Curtin's last year as Chair (The Chair position is no more than 3 years in duration according to BSV's constitution). The Board would like to thank Brian for his extensive contributions over the last 3 years. Fortunately Brian’s expertise will not be lost to BSV, he will remain on the Board.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Major Focus
   • Communicating with industry
   • Participating in networks
   • Research and Projects
   • Policy development
   • Running the business
3. The 2007/08 Board