Ai Group is contracted to engage with employers and stakeholders in the manufacturingmining and resources industries to provide advice to the Queensland Government about current and emerging industry direction, regional skills needs and training solutions, jobs growth and employment opportunities. This advice informs the Queensland Government’s training and skills priorities and decision making, including program design and investment settings. 

Manufacturing contacts: 

Wayne Lee: wayne.lee@aigroup.com.au 

Lisa Gilbert: Lisa.Gilbert@aigroup.com.au

Mining and resources contact: 

Mel Ireland: Mel.Ireland@aigroup.com.au 

Visit Ai Group's Queensland page for more state-based activity 

Learn more about our Manufacturing Industry Skills Advisers (MISAs)...

Ai Group's MISAs engage with employers, small business and other industry stakeholders to provide high quality, evidence-based industry advice and intelligence about current and emerging industry direction, regional skills needs and training solutions, jobs growth and employment opportunities. This advice will:

  • inform and align DESBT training and skills priorities and decision-making, including program design and investment settings which will implement skilling solutions for industry
  • support and connect with DESBT industry engagement framework priorities including the work of departmental regional officers, Regional Jobs Committees, Jobs Queensland and the Ministerial Skills Roundtable
  • inform and contribute to national vocational education and training (VET) reform agendas and the review and development of training package product
  • support employer, small business and industry's connection and engagement with VET and VET pathways and DESBT programs, initiatives, and events

One of the key strategies we employ to ensure DESBT is receiving current advice from industry is through Industry Reference Groups (IRG) covering five key sectors of the manufacturing industry:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Engineering
  • Food and Beverage
  • Furnishings
  • Meat Processing

Other key sectors of manufacturing are represented on the Advanced Manufacturing IRG. The groups generally meet quarterly via TEAMs and representation includes manufacturers from all of the regions of Queensland. Agenda topics generally include; skilling requirements and initiatives, Training Package updates, review and recommendations of funding allocation and most importantly a quality focus. From IRGs, working parties often evolve to focus on specific projects to provide a solution to specific skilling needs.

If, like our existing IRG members, you want to make a difference please contact one of our friendly Manufacturing Industry Skills Advisers and read on to learn more about the projects we are involved in.

 

Lisa Gilbert

0411 715 510

lisa.gilbert@aigroup.com.au

Food & Beverage processing; Laboratory operations; Meat processing; Printing & graphic arts; Textiles, clothing and footwear

    Wayne Lee

    0419 841 852

    wayne.lee@aigroup.com.au

    Advanced manufacturing; Aeroskills; Aviation engineering; Defence manufacturing; Engineering; Hydrogen processing; Furnishing; Process plant operations; Textiles, clothing, footwear; Sustainability

      Current Projects

      Advanced Manufacturing

      • TCF Funding & Training Project: To develop and implement skilling strategies which will support a growing Textiles industry.

      • Hydrogen Skilling Project: Ensure Queensland educators stand at the cutting edge of hydrogen skill development so that the workforce has access to world-class hydrogen training which will underpin domestic utilisation and export.

      • Degree Apprenticeship:  A pilot that combines a degree in engineering with a Certificate III trade qualification, all delivered as an apprenticeship. Combining theoretical and practical skills gained and applied in the workplace.

      Engineering

      • Advanced Machining Skills Project: Develop the Learning and Assessment materials so that apprentices can acquire advanced machining skills.

      • Skills Shortage Project: Identify engineering occupations which are currently in skills shortage within the regions of Queensland and develop strategies which will attract potential apprentices to be skilled.

      Meat Processing

      • Certificate IV in Meat Processing (Leadership): Working with Industry and DESBT we have requested the qualification be declared a traineeship to be delivered in Queensland.

      Food & Beverage

      • Higher Level Qualifications Funding: Working with Industry and DESBT to identify higher level qualifications requiring funding to address Food and Beverage Manufacturing industry shortage.

      Furnishings

      • Soft Furnishings Skilling Project: To identify and implement potential skilling solutions utilising nationally accredited training for the Soft Furnishings sector in Queensland. This project will also include attraction strategies.

      Completed Projects

      Advanced Manufacturing

      • Lean Manufacturing: Working with Industry and DESBT we changed the priority setting of the Certificate III and IV qualifications so that more workers are eligible for funding to undertake this critical training which will enhance the productivity and the profitability of businesses.

      • Clothing Manufacturing: Working with Industry and DESBT we had the MST30819 Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology (Clothing Technician) qualification declared as a traineeship to be delivered in Queensland and added to the funded training list.

      Meat Processing

      • Certificate IV in Meat Processing  (Quality Assurance): Working with Industry and DESBT we had the qualification declared as a traineeship to be delivered in Queensland and added to the funded training list so that more workers are eligible for funding to undertake this qualification.

      Contact Us

      Get in touch with the Centre for Education & Training to discuss your company’s skills issues and plans, our research and reports, or the members’ network.

      Address: Level 5, 441 St Kilda Rd Melbourne VIC 3004 Australia

      Phone: +61 3 9867 0202

      Email: cet@aigroup.com.au

      To access other Ai Group services: