Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee

Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee
Name	Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee
Jurisdiction	Australia
Formed	2015
Parent	Australian Industry and Skills Committee
Headquarters	Canberra

Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee

The Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee is an Australian advisory body linked to vocational Australian Skills Quality Authority reforms and the Australian Industry and Skills Committee. It contributes to national Training Package development, liaises with employers such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB Group, Eaton Corporation, and supports workforce policy aligned with agencies like the Department of Education (Australia), Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and regulator frameworks exemplified by the National Skills Commission and the Australian Quality Framework. The committee's outputs influence registered training organisations including TAFE NSW, Box Hill Institute, TAFE Queensland, South Metropolitan TAFE, and private providers like Kangan Institute.

Overview

The committee advises on electrotechnology qualifications spanning trades such as Electrician (Australia), Instrumentation Technician, Cable Joiner, Electrical Fitter and sectors represented by firms like Cochlear Limited, BHP, Rio Tinto, WorleyParsons and Woodside Energy. It sits within a national policy architecture involving the Australian Industry Group, Business Council of Australia, and peak bodies such as Master Electricians Australia, Electrical Trades Union of Australia, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Energy Networks Australia. The committee's remit intersects with standards referenced by international bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission, International Labour Organization, and trade instruments influenced by agreements like the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement.

Roles and Functions

Primary functions include advising on Training Package review timelines, endorsing new competency standards, and guiding skills forecasts used by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research and the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency. It evaluates technology trends including renewable energy deployment in projects by ARENA, Snowy Hydro, AGL Energy, and Origin Energy, and informs regulatory compliance related to Australian Standards administered by Standards Australia. The committee supports pathways to higher education providers like University of Technology Sydney, RMIT University, Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology and research institutes such as CSIRO.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises employer representatives from Transgrid, Ausgrid, Energex, Jemena, training organisation delegates from TAFE Western Australia, Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, union nominees from Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, and independent experts including representatives of Engineers Australia and industry consultants formerly affiliated with KPMG or Deloitte. Governance follows appointment processes coordinated with the Australian Industry and Skills Committee and oversight related to policy frameworks of the Commonwealth of Australia and state authorities like the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Meetings engage stakeholders such as Clean Energy Council, Smart Energy Council, and employer networks exemplified by Master Builders Australia.

Standards and Training Packages

The committee has influenced units of competency within Training Packages such as the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package and endorsed qualifications aligning with occupational profiles codified by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. It collaborates with technical working groups drawing on expertise from corporations like Schlumberger, TechnipFMC, Honeywell, and General Electric to integrate topics like energy storage systems, solar photovoltaic installation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and industrial automation controls. Revisions incorporate safety standards referencing Safe Work Australia codes and industry codes from bodies including the Victorian WorkCover Authority.

Industry and Government Engagement

The committee facilitates engagement between ministers such as the Minister for Skills and Training (Australia), state counterparts like the Minister for Education (Victoria), and funding agencies including the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Program and state training funds. It liaises with peak research and industry organisations such as Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Infrastructure Australia, CSIRO Energy, Electricity Supply Association of Australia and international partners like SkillsFuture Singapore and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Consultation rounds involve employer clusters from sectors represented by Fortescue Metals Group, BlueScope Steel, Telstra, and transport operators like Sydney Trains.

Impact and Developments

Outcomes attributed to the committee include revised competency frameworks adopted by TAFE NSW and uptake in apprenticeship pathways promoted by Group Training Australia and Australian Apprenticeships Pathways. Its work has supported industry responses to electrification trends driven by Tesla, Inc. products, offshore renewable projects by Equinor, and grid modernisation programmes implemented by TransGrid and Powerlink Queensland. Ongoing developments address skills for emerging technologies championed by CSIRO's Data61, regulatory adjustments following reports from the Productivity Commission, and workforce strategies advanced by the National Skills Commission.

Category:Australian vocational education and training