Issue: The NSW Food Industry Training Council (NSWFITC) was concerned about the lack of resources available to support workforce development in the Food Industry, which is vital to Australia in terms of profitability, investment, exports and jobs growth.

Solution: Redlaunch designed FoodHub as a collaborative, free repository of high quality industry-specific information and learning resources. The wiki vision is that collective wisdom will enable FoodHub to become a valuable tool for all workplace supervisors and vocational trainers and assessors across the food industry.

Visit Food Hub at www.foodhub.com.au

Background - COAG commitment to VET quality

In February 2006, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to review the AQTF Standards. The COAG decision requires that the AQTF standards be reviewed and amended to place a stronger focus on quality skills outcomes (by December 2006), and that an outcomes-based auditing model for RTOs be developed to support the new standards (to be introduced by July 2007).

Revised Quality Assurance Arrangements for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)

The draft Revised AQTF Standards for Registered Training Organisations (2007) place a greater emphasis on quality skills outcomes from RTOs. However, the standards also identify requirements essential for the effective operation of a national VET system and the protection of consumers. The standards are supported by a set of enforceable conditions between the Registration Body and the RTO to cover off obligations that apply to all RTOs and are not generally subject to continuous improvement processes by the RTO.

The draft revised AQTF standards presents the standards together with a guide to clarify the interpretation of the standards. You can download the general powerpoint presentation as well the consultation draft in either word or pdf format from the panel below.

NSW VETAB has prepared a video podcast (18mins 49 secs) overviewing the new arrangements:

• QuickTime/iTunes/iPod compatible format >> (640x480px - Approx 45.4MB)
• 3G Mobile compatible format >> (176x144px - Approx 10.2MB)
• MS Windows Media Player compatible format >> (640x480px - Approx 26.4MB)
• MP3 Audio Player compatible format >> (Audio Only - Approx 12.9MB)