• Minister for Defence Industry Chris Pyne announcing the Naval Shipbuilding Institute. The IRC will work with the NSI to develop Australia's shipbuilding workforce. Credit: Chris Pyne via Twitter
    Minister for Defence Industry Chris Pyne announcing the Naval Shipbuilding Institute. The IRC will work with the NSI to develop Australia's shipbuilding workforce. Credit: Chris Pyne via Twitter
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Chair of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) John Pollaers is urging employers, employee representatives and industry experts to have their say on the membership of a new Naval Shipbuilding Industry Reference Committee (IRC).

“The Naval Shipbuilding IRC will be established by the AISC to ensure the vocational education and training (VET) system is meeting the specific skill needs of the industry,” Pollaers said.

“Industry needs to get behind this new IRC to ensure it sets the competency standards in training packages that will build the skilled workforce to deliver the Australian Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan, which includes 12 regionally superior conventional submarines, nine future frigates and 12 offshore patrol vessels.”

The new IRC will complement and work with the Naval Shipbuilding College. The IRC will examine and update training package qualifications and skillsets, consider new approaches to career structuring, and identify opportunities for collaboration across the VET, higher education and industry sectors.

“There is strong demand within the naval shipbuilding industry for workers in traditional trades, as well as workers with higher technical skills attained through a mix of vocational and higher education studies,” Pollaers said.

The Naval Shipbuilding Plan, which was released in 2017, will lead to about 5,200 new shipbuilding jobs and more than double that number in sustainment in less than a decade.

The new IRC membership and structure is currently open for public comment until close of business on Friday, 4 May, and can be accessed here.

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