Vocational Education and Training Advisory Group (VETAG)
VETAG is a high level advisory group established to give strategic advice to the Chief Executive of the Department of Education and Training on VET priorities and strategies.
What is the role of the Vocational Education Training Advisory Group (VETAG)?
The role of VETAG is to provide expert, independent and strategic advice to the Chief Executive, in her role under the Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003, enabling the Department to determine its annual VET priorities and advise the Minister for Education and Training. VETAG is asked to evaluate industry information and weigh up competing demands in order to assist the Chief Executive determine annual ACT VET priorities.
Who are the members of VETAG?
VETAG is not a representative body. Members are invited by the Chief Executive to join VETAG on account of their broad and differing areas of experience and expertise across the VET sector, and their capacity to provide independent expert advice. Current VETAG members are:
- Ms Rosemary Follett (Chair)
- Mr John Miller (Master Builders Association)
- Ms Janet Davy (Deputy Chief Executive, ACT Department of Education and Training)
- Ms Kim Sattler (Unions ACT)
- Ms Rebecca Cross (Department of Education, Science and Training)
- Mr Chris Peters (ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
- Mr Llewellyn Reynders (The ACT Council of Social Service Inc (ACTCOSS))
- Mr Barry Telford (Adult and Community Education and Department of Veterans’ Affairs)
- Ms Pam Davoren (Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Minister’s Department)
- Ms Jocelyn Vasey (ex-officio - Director Training and Tertiary Education, ACT Department of Education and Training)
The Chief Executive appoints the Chair of VETAG and membership of VETAG is reviewed by the Chief Executive at least every two years.
How does VETAG operate?
Members of VETAG are selected on the basis of having the necessary skills and experience to discharge their responsibilities.
VETAG is provided with advice from industry, community and VET industry stakeholders via a range of strategies. Advice and consultation with stakeholder groups, including industry, community groups and the VET industry, are conducted by the Department through:
- contracted annual forums and workshops
- regular liaison via individual meetings
- involvement in committees, reference groups and working parties (e.g. Interagency Transition Committee for People with a Disability, Board of Senior Secondary Studies, ACT Accreditation and Registration Council, Australian School Based Apprenticeships Reference Group).
VETAG meets formally as a group at least three times per year – in May, July and September – to link to the Department’s VET planning cycle.
Members of VETAG are also invited to participate in various forums and meetings with key stakeholders and are provided with information from a variety of stakeholders including:
- Indigenous people
- people with a disability
- Adult and Community Education (ACE)
- mature aged workers
- Registered Training Organisations (both public and private, including ACT schools and colleges)
- business and industry employers
- ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) and Transitions, Careers and Vocational Learning Section of the Department
- ACT Accreditation and Registration Council
- VET clients – students and employees
- advocates for VET clients – parents and unions.
VETAG is tasked with providing robust and independent advice to the Chief Executive. VETAG’s strategic advice considers the broader VET picture, including the identification of gaps and areas of duplication where present.
VETAG makes recommendations to the Chief Executive about strategic directions, priorities, policies and proposals for system-wide initiatives related to VET.
