The ForestWorks NSW Forestry ITAB is funded by the NSW
Government Department of Education and Training (DET
NSW) to provide a range of information and advice to the
government and advice to the forest, wood, paper and timber
products industry and the light manufacturing industry with
regard to training and skill development.
The ITAB is managed by ForestWorks, however the direction and industry input comes from the NSW ITAB Steering Committee, made up of up to 16 industry enterprises and associations and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) representatives. Sharmily Mukherjee is the NSW Branch Manager.
In the past year, the ForestWorks NSW ITAB:
managed the ForestWorks NSW ITAB Steering Committee
provided feedback to DET NSW on the implementation of recommendations endorsed by New South Wales Board of Vocational Education and Training for the strategic analysis of user choice in New South Wales
provided reports to DET NSW on industry skills development and training priorities in New South Wales
provided advice to NSW DET on industry sector demand for Diploma traineeship and policy development and resource implications relating to Diploma traineeship qualifications
compiled a submission of a variation to Vocational Training Orders (VTO) to DET NSW
consulted with ForestsNSW and the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission regarding lowering age restrictions in the Forests NSW forest operators licence policy
participated in career expos/forums/days and career advisors meetings
participated in the industry focus group meetings on options to strengthen vocational education curriculum pathways
participated in discussion with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) regarding the implementation of National Indigenous Forestry Strategy (NIFS) in New South Wales
established successful industry partnerships, one employer taking on two school based trainees with others looking for suitable candidates
endorsed a short course at TAFE NSW to meet the demand within the Sawdoctoring for Metals - Service Centre sector
organised a Strategic Skills Forum in conjunction with other industry ITABs in New South Wales
scheduled a workshop in Tumut to review the currently available resources and identify gaps in conjunction with TAFE NSW
participated in the DET NSW organised forum to facilitate the relationship between the ITABs and the NSW State Training Services (STS) centres.
