Tony Dodson - Acting Manager, Training Product Development and Implementation

The Australian Government unveiled its Green Skills plan in October 2009 aimed at incorporating environmental sustainability into all levels of vocational training and therefore industry practices by the end of this year.

In announcing this initiative, Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, in her position as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, said that tackling climate change would create new jobs, transform and save many existing jobs, and produce increasing average incomes for our people.

The Green Skills Agreement was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on 7 December with the key objective of enabling individuals and businesses to contribute to a sustainable, low-carbon economy in their workplaces and communities, and the provision of sustainable jobs, services and advice.

The agreement will achieve this by:

• a review of training packages to embed sustainability knowledge, skills and principles
• embedding skills for sustainability in vocational education and training, within the requirements of the national regulatory framework
• upgrading the skills of VET instructors and teachers to deliver skills for sustainability
• implementing a transition strategy to re-skill vulnerable workers.

The timeline for achieving the first two of these outcomes is December this year. AgriFood Skills Australia is reviewing the extent to which sustainability knowledge, skills and principles are already embedded in training packages with a view to enhancing them by the end of the year. All training packages expected to go forward for endorsement this year already have Green Skills embedded in them and are in varying stages of review for public comment:

• AHC10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package
• Animal Care and Management Training Package
• Food Processing Training Package
• Seafood Industry Training Package

As other AgriFood training packages come under review, Green Skills will be embedded in them, encompassing principles of workforce, economic and social sustainability.