Tasmania is in Focus

The Productivity Places Program (PPP) is a joint Commonwealth/ State government funded program which aims to provide 458 existing workers with higher level qualifications (Certificate III level or above).

A total of $20.2 Million has been committed by both governments (Tasmanian $7.2 million and Federal $13 million) to implement the PPP.  Industry/enterprises participating in the PPP are required to contribute 10% of the costs of training.

Skills Tasmania is managing the PPP in Tasmania and will be working closely with registered training organisations (RTO) and national Industry Skills Councils (ISC).  As the ISC for the Resources and Infrastructure sectors SkillsDMC is directly involved in achieving quality training outcomes for: 

•  Drilling
•  Mining
• Civil Construction and
• Quarrying

Skills Tasmania is purchasing training through a competitive tender process (bidders are RTO’s only).

What is the role of SkillsDMC?

SkillsDMC has an important role in developing and delivering the PPP.  The guidelines for the PPP require Skills Tasmania to ensure that places identified by the Industry Skills Council are given priority.  Skills Tasmania will collaborate with SkillsDMC;

• to promote workforce planning and training needs analysis 
•  to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the program, particularly employer satisfaction and quality of  training.

To ensure accurate workforce planning arrangements SkillsDMC has developed two business diagnostic tools, the Future Workforce Manager and Skills Maximiser™.  These tools play a key role in identifying labour and skill shortages and maintaining the priority occupation list. These tools assist SkillsDMC to provide real-time industry data to use as evidence to support publically funded training for our sectors. 

Used in combination the Future Workforce Manager and Skills Maximiser™ enables SkillsDMC to assist companies:

• determine their existing workforce and operational performance
• identify skills gaps in their workforce
• see the trends in workforce movement for their organisation (including attrition and turnover issues)
• assist businesses who operate in the mining, metalliferous, drilling and construction sectors to plan for the future

Skills Tasmania will allocate funding according to:

• Demonstrated need for skills related to economic or social needs
• Regional demands
•  Industries and occupations with potential for growth and/ or productivity improvement
• Training arrangements brokered by SkillsDMC
• Arrangements negotiated by or on behalf of national enterprise

Skills Tasmania will ensure a reasonable balance of training across occupations and industries, with an emphasis on industries and occupations with potential for growth and productivity improvement.

Pilot Phase

To initiate the PPP the Australian and Tasmanian Governments will invest $1.3 million in this pilot phase of the program. The total anticipated enrolment capacity for the pilot phase of PPP (pilot period October – December 2008) is 458.