Skills Impact is the national Skills Service Organisation (SSO) for industries based on grown and renewable resources, including Supporting the baking Industry. They have been appointed by the Australian Government to support Industry Reference Committees develop current training packages, skills standards and qualifications.

Put simply, Skills Impact will work with the baking industry to accurately describe and document the intricate skills requirements of job roles and activities in the baking industry. These are documented under skills standards and qualifications for use by registered training organisations in their training and assessment.

Throughout 2017, Skills Impact will be working on a range of projects, including Retail Baking, to update to the current standards and will be looking for industry feedback along the way. Feedback from industry is fundamental to ensuring draft skills standards and qualifications accurately describe the skills requirements of a specific job role or task. Consultation with industry also brings to light emerging workforce development needs and any skills gaps, where a skills standard or qualification may need to be drafted.

The Food Beverage and Pharmaceutical Industry Reference Committee (IRC) maintains responsibility for ensuring industry is the key driver behind all skills development across the various industry sectors within their jurisdiction, including Retail Baking. As part the overall support provided to the IRC, Skills Impact facilitates project specific Technical Advisory Committees (TACs), drawing on industry expertise in defining skill requirements through the development of occupational standards referred to as units of competency (UoC) and related skills sets and qualifications to support the ongoing development of workers.

In 2015, the Retail Baking UoCs and qualifications were not submitted for endorsement as industry considered them to be insufficient in meeting the needs of industry and ensuring quality skill outcomes for new entrants. In October 2016, a Retail baking TAC met to identify factors preventing the current UoCs and qualifications from being submitted for endorsement and to determine the best way to progress. A key view from the meeting was that the existing UoCs do not sufficiently articulate the requirements for assessment and need to be more rigorous to ensure students graduate with the level of competency required of a skilled baker. The TAC recommended that a business case be submitted to the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) for a full review of all units and qualifications and the potential development skill sets to support industry in achieving greater skill development of new staff. The AISC provides industry a formal, expanded role in policy direction and decision-making for the vocational education and training sector, overseeing the process for development and approval of accredited training managing development priorities through a national schedule.

Skills Impact is waiting for the outcome of the business case submission with the expectation the review of all Retail Baking-related training package components will be approved to proceed early in 2017. If approved, the project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017. During the process, input will be sought from industry including the review of draft UoCs and qualifications prior to submission for endorsement.

Should any industry stakeholder wish to submit any comments, suggestions or raise an issue they believe should be considered during the review and development process, they are encouraged to submit their input via the Skills Impact feedback form at http://www.skillsimpact.com.au/contact/.

Skills Impact relies on your feedback to ensure skills standards and qualifications for the baking industry remain accurate and reflect current practices. To subscribe to news alerts about consultations for the Supporting the baking industry, click ‘subscribe’ on the skills Impact website – www.skillsimpact.com.au.