Our Role
The NSW Food Industry Training Council (NSWFITC) is the independent, government recognised Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB) for Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
Our key and unique functions include:
- Validation and implementation of national Training Packages: NSWFITC is recognised by the NSW State Training Authority, the Board of Vocational Education & Training (BVET), as the endorsing body for newly developed or revised Training Package competency standards that are implemented in each jurisdiction in accordance with local legislative/ regulatory requirements and conditions.
- Vocational Training Orders (VTOs): In accordance with Sections 6 (1), (2), (3), (5) and 10 of the NSW Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, NSWFITC is the recognised body that makes application to the NSW Commissioner for Vocational Training to declare trade and other vocational qualification pathways for our industries. NSWFITC brings together the industrial parties, training providers and other stakeholders for consultation and negotiation.
- NSW Industry Leadership in the Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) Agenda: The Australian Government through DEST acknowledges that vocational education is industry led and industry driven. Our NSWFITC Board and network infrastructure bring enormous industry goodwill, expertise and 'in-kind' contribution to the VTE agenda.
- Resource Development: NSWFITC channels industry intelligence about resource requirements to support Training Package implementation to the Department of Education and Training. The existence of a national register, the National Training Information Service (NTIS), facilitates industry engagement and investment in resource development and continuous improvement.
- The Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB), under Section 6 of the NSW Vocational Education & Training Accreditation (VETA) ACT 1990, accredits vocational courses and registers training providers. Satisfactory carriage of VETAB's seven objects relies heavily on industry input obtained from NSW ITABs to ensure needs and benchmarks are being met. NSWFITC offers ongoing advice to VETAB and associated panels and committees.
- NSW Industry Strategic Training Plans: The development of a National Strategic VTE Plan for an industry requires full consultation at each state/territory level to account for differing industry demographics, profiles and trends. NSWFITC provides detailed strategic business intelligence about critical skilling issues for our industry sectors that is vital input into the national plan.
- Industry Engagement in Training: NSWFITC is valued by enterprises as a key stakeholder at the strategic interface of the VTE agenda - the only representative bipartite (employers and unions) body with no vested interest. NSWFITC is an independent industry voice, trusted to assist enterprises to integrate skill development and training with commercial-in-confidence business plans.