Minutes of Meeting 12 November 2016 10.00am to 2.00 pm Park Royal Hotel, Melbourne Airport Chair Purpose Objective Geoff Bloom Canberra Racing Club; Racing Australia To provide the industry engagement mechanism at the centre of the training package development. To provide a forum for industry to provide feedback on behalf of industry into training package development processes. To ensure that industry has input into Skills Standards and Qualifications via the Industry Reference Committee to ensure Training Packages meet industry needs. Item no 1. Welcome Item Action The Chair welcomed members of the Committee and guests. 2. Attendance Committee Members Geoff Bloom (Chair) Canberra Racing Club; Racing Australia Robyn Bell Racing Queensland Julie Fiedler Horse SA Ron Fleming Racing and Wagering Western Australia Cecelia Huynh Greyhound Racing New South Wales Maurice Logue Racing New South Wales (teleconference) John Sunderland Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Cameron Brown Harness Racing Australia Guests Pauline Halse ISACNT (teleconference) Melisssa Wortman AgriFoods NSW ITAB (teleconference) Julie Hobbs FuturesNow Deb Crompton Skills Alliance Skills Impact Michael Hartman CEO 1
Rosalie Staggard General Manager Operations Evan Cooper Industry Facilitation Manager Apologies Andrew Kelly Harness Racing Australia Melissa Weatherley Racing Victoria 2.1 Identification of Interest It was noted that IRC members did not have to declare interests that had been declared at previous IRC meetings. Ron Fleming declared his role of Vice Chair of Equestrian WA. 3. Minutes of Previous Meeting Minutes of the previous meeting were acknowledged and accepted by the meeting. It was noted that in the previous minutes reference was made to Greyhound Racing using the Certificate IV in Public Service Investigation. This was a proposal rather than something that had actually occurred. Action: Skills Impact to amend the Committee member reports section of the previous minutes of meeting. Motion: That the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted. The above change to be made to the minutes. Moved: Julie Fiedler Seconded: Ron Fleming Carried 3.1 Actions Arising 1. Skills Impact to combine Option 2 and 3 re wording for Greyhound assessment processes. Revised text to be circulated to IRC for feedback with the intent of replacing the current statement in units of competency. Draft text to be sent to Cecilia, Ron and Robyn for review and then distributed to other PRAs for comment and feedback. 2. Skills Impact will consult with greyhound representatives to develop additional information suitable for the Implementation Guide. 3. Andrew Kelly to provide information around the number of insurance claims lodged related to accidents. Action closed Action closed Implementation guide finalised once greyhound racing project is completed. Action closed. 2
4. Skills Impact to communicate to the department as soon as possible their requirements that the SSO focus on improving and having endorsed the racing training package, Certificate II in Horse Care and Horse Breeding qualification rather than consulting with the broader industry on VET wide or the perception of industry wide safety issues. That Skills Impact seek from the department a meeting with the named subcommittee. 5. Committee members to provide feedback on the draft 4-year work plan by Friday 29 July including data for employment and industry enterprises. Action closed. Chair met with department staff. Action closed. 4. IRC Reviews 4.1 Proposed structure for Racing and Breeding IRC The committee considered the future structure for the Racing and Breeding IRC and discussed which committee would be best placed to manage horse related units. It was agreed that the more general horse units of competency along with the Certificate II qualification should reside with the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package. It was agreed that the committee should provide feedback to the AISC on the structure of the Animal Care and Management IRC with the recommendation that there should be three additional positions allocated to the membership: one position should be allocated to a member of the Racing and Breeding IRC, a second position should be allocated to someone with specific experience with horses and the third position allocated to farriers. The committee then discussed the draft Racing and Breeding IRC proposal. It was agreed that: An additional organisational position allocated to Standardbred Breeding be included The Thoroughbred Breeding position should be changed from Expert to Organisation The Equine position should change from Organisation to Expert with the descriptor expanded to include horse welfare and safety Action: Skills Impact, on behalf of the Racing IRC to provide feedback to the department on the structure of the Animal Care and Management IRC. Action: Skills Impact to make the necessary changes to the proposal and process this with the department. 3
All racing positions to be grouped under one heading Racing with the descriptor expanded to include the different codes. All breeding positions to be grouped under one heading Breeding with the descriptor expanded to the different types of breeds Organisational names to be included in the structure. Motion: The committee supports the Racing and Breeding IRC proposal with the above changes made to the final document. Moved: Geoff Bloom Seconded: Ron Fleming Carried 4.2 Nomination process for refreshed committee Skills Impact provided an overview of the nomination process. It is expected that when the proposed Racing and Breeding IRC structure is forwarded to the department it will take a couple of weeks for the department to review. Once reviewed the structure will be posted on the AISC website at aisc.net.au. Skills Impact will advise IRC members that the structure is now available for public consultation. Generally the department allows two weeks for feedback. Once the structure has been finalised the department will call for nominations. Skills Impact will advise IRC members when this occurs. Nominations have generally been left open for two to three weeks. There are two different types of nomination forms: an organisation form and an expert form. In addition there is a privacy form that needs to be submitted. Action: Skills Impact to notify IRC members when the proposed structure has been opened for public consultation. Action: Skills Impact to notify IRC members when the nominations are being called for. Once nominations have been received the department will check all applicants and finalise the membership. Nominees will be advised if they have been successful or not. Once all nominees have been notified by the department Skills impact will be advised of the new IRC membership. 4
5. Business Cases 5.1 Equine Safety in Training The Business Case for Safety in Equine Training was submitted to the department and will be considered at the AISC meeting to be held on 17 November. It is expected that the proposal will be approved. Once approved a Technical Advisory Committee will be formed to oversee the project. Membership will possibly be between 12 to 15 members drawn from all IRC that have a responsibility for training packages affected by the project. The IRC nominated the following members to represent the Racing IRC on the Equine Safety Training Technical Advisory Committee: John Sunderland Robyn Bell Cameron Brown (Harness Racing Australia) Ron Flemming Julie Fiedler Action: IRC concerns to be included in the discussion paper and be continually considered during the project. It was also suggested that positions should be allocted to the following areas: Natalie Walsh, Learning and Development Manager, Godolphin Meat industry x 1 for feedlots General cattle managment Animal Behaviourist (Welfare) x 1 Action: IRC members to forward any additional names that they consider suitable to Skills Impact. Feedback received so far indicates that the issue is predominately about inexperienced people in training environments coming in contact with horses and is not specific to the racing industry. It was noted that Pony Club Australia has their own courses and consideration needs to be given to their relevance to this project. The committee discussed potential risks related to the project. The committee noted care needed to be taken to ensure that the changes made to the training package did not make it too onerous or costly for RTOs to deliver and State Training Authorities to fund. 5
It is also important to note the differences between institutional training and on-the-job training provided by industry. It is essential that the design of the training package enables training to occur in the workplace. Committee stated that safety is of the highest importance to the industry with injuries generally occurring with highly experienced riders who are tracking and performing track work rather than with the inexperienced worker. Low level of injury with the inexperienced worker appears to be due to comprehensive inductions and training in the workplace. Consideration as given to how companion volumes could be used as a vehicle to provide comprehensive information on safety. These documents are designed specifically for training providers. 5.2 Greyhound Skills Impact reported that the Business Case for Greyhounds has been submitted to the department for AISC consideration at their next meeting. The committee discussed potential TAC members. The business case listed the following: Greyhound Racing NSW - Cecilia Huynh, Manager Welfare and Education Projects Racing and Wagering Western Australia Ron Fleming, Manager Racing Industry Training Racing Queensland Robyn Bell, Education Manager Greyhounds TasRacing - Peter Wesley Manager Code Development Greyhound Racing South Australia - Dr Jane McNicholl - On-track Veterinarian an Education Officer Australian Greyhound Veterinarians - Dr Ray Ferguson, Secretary and member of social interest group of Australian Veterinarians Association. Dr Elizabeth Arnott - former CVO of GRNSW Action: Committee members were asked to advise Cecilia of any concerns regarding this list of potential TAC members. At the time of submitting the business case Greyhound Racing Victoria had not responded. The committee will be formed in December with the first meeting held by the end of January/early February. 6
6. Work Plans The Racing Work Plan was submitted to the department in September for consideration by the AISC at the 17 November meeting. Skills Impact advised that preparation for developing the 2017 Work Plan has commenced. To assist with the first stage of desk top research, committee members were asked to forward any relevant reports or research papers to Skills Impact. Action: Committee members to forward any relevant reports or research papers to Skills Impact. 7. Reports 7.1 Committee Members Western Australian committee representatives advised that due to funding changes there were no public providers delivering racing in either WA or SA. It was also noted that ACT greyhound racing are not going to be funded as a result of NSW decisions. Issues regarding the inclusion of TAEASS502 in the Cert IV - 7.2 Skills Impact No business to report. 8. Other Business Committee discussed the need for good quality national resources and assessment tools to support training and assessing in the racing industries. Action: Next meeting agenda item to discuss the development of a business case to develop resources and assessment tools to support greyhound qualifications. 9. Next Meeting A teleconference will be held in approximately four weeks time. Date and time to be confirmed. The teleconference will include an update on the 2016 Work Plan, and Business Cases, and development of 2017 Work Plan. 7