Expression of Interest to operate as a Skills Service Organisation Attachments A, B and C A. Performance Management Framework for New Arrangements A.1 The framework The performance management framework focuses on assessing the relevance and responsiveness of the new approach to the needs of Australian industry. The quality of training packages, timeliness of delivery and the satisfaction of industry reference committees with their skills service organisation will be measured under the framework. A.2 Components There are three components to the successful performance of the new arrangements for training package development. Firstly, contestability elements built into the new model will drive responsiveness. Secondly, the overall effectiveness of the new arrangements will be assessed by a targeted survey across industry and the sector. Thirdly, the performance of skills service organisations will be assessed through key performance indicators. A.3 The role of contestability Contestability has been introduced into the training package development process to promote efficiency and responsiveness within and across organisations charged with developing these packages. This is also expected to deliver value for money for the VET sector, industry and employers and to generate innovation in the services provided. The Expression of Interest to establish skills service organisations is expected to provide an opportunity for new organisations with different perspectives and approaches to be funded to provide training package development and review services. A clearer role for industry to drive the process through industry reference committees will promote responsiveness to industry in the development of training packages. The capacity for industry reference committees to move to a different skills service organisation will also encourage responsiveness. The move to an activity based funding model and the allocation of work based on demonstrated industry need, also supports contestability and delivers value for money. A.3.1 Performance of new arrangements On an annual basis, the department will conduct targeted surveys or field interviews to assess the overall effectiveness of the new arrangements. The survey will target Australian industry and relevant stakeholders to ascertain views on: the relevance and quality of training packages; the level of satisfaction with the engagement by industry reference committees through their skills service organisation; and the value of additional activities in supporting quality training outcomes. The survey will be developed in consultation with the VET sector. The purpose of the survey is to ensure improvement in the overall operation of the new arrangements and to provide feedback to skills service organisations and industry reference committees about areas for improvement. 1
A.3.2 Skills service organisations key performance indicators The key performance indicators are designed to monitor the delivery of support to industry reference committees by the skills service organisations by measuring their performance against the following key performance indicators. Skills service organisations will be expected to deliver services in a manner which achieves optimum performance when measured against the key performance indicators. The key performance indicators are listed in Table 1. The corresponding benchmarks represent a minimum performance standard. A.3.2.1 Table 1: Key performance indicators and benchmarks-summary Key performance indicators Benchmarks 1. Timeliness - delivery of business cases, training packages, Target: Less than 5% of or additional activities within the time parameters of the commissioned work delivered to commissioning request issued by the Australian Industry the Australian Industry and Skills and Skills Committee Committee outside the agreed timeframe. 2. Quality training packages comply with published policies and standards 3. Satisfaction - industry reference committee satisfaction with the support provided by skills service organisation Target: Fewer than 5% of training package components presented for endorsement are rejected by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee on technical grounds Target: industry reference committee members report satisfaction based on annual response form The source and form of information to be used to measure the key performance indicators will be developed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee in collaboration with skills service organisations and industry reference committees. The department may review the key performance indicators at any time. A.4 Performance instruments The department will monitor the work output of skills service organisations through several instruments and funding agreement compliance. A.4.1 Quality expectations Skills service organisations are required to have appropriate quality assurance processes to ensure that published policies and standards relating to training packages are met. The department may request, at any time, that organisations provide evidence of quality assurance procedures, activities or arrangements. 2
A.4.2 Monitoring The department may, at its discretion, undertake monitoring of skills service organisations with regard, but not limited, to: quality assurance arrangements, procedures and activities conducted; conflict of interest; subcontractors or other joint contracting arrangements; and feedback and complaints handling processes. A.4.3 Release of information The department may make performance information publicly available. A.4.4 Use of performance information Skills service organisation performance against key performance indicators may be used by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee and the department to inform future funding decisions, business allocation and priorities. 3
B. Ownership and Management of Intellectual Property B.1 Intellectual property principles Any intellectual property rights created in the development of training packages and funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education and Training, under the Training Product Development for Australian Industry programme, will vest in the Australian Government. Intellectual property rights under this programme are likely to be created in the following ways: 1. Material related to training package development, including companion volumes, funded by the Australian Government. Intellectual property relating to all of this material will vest in the Australian Government upon creation. 2. Material created to support the operations and services provided by skills service organisations to enable industry reference committees to undertake industry engagement and training package development and renewal. Intellectual property relating to all of this material will vest in the Australian Government upon creation. 3. Material developed to support the implementation of training packages as part of the delivery of additional activities. Intellectual property rights in all of this material, where it has been partially or fully funded by the Australian Government, will vest in the Australian Government upon creation. 4. Material developed to support the implementation of training packages as part of the delivery of additional activities. Intellectual property rights relating to all of this material, where it has been partially or fully funded by the Australian Government, will vest in the Australian Government upon creation. This document does not purport to say anything about the ownership of intellectual property rights in materials which already belong to a party, though the Australian Government may seek appropriate licenses to use such materials. The funding agreement will address the issue of intellectual property rights in further detail. Examples of materials that may be created under this programme are listed in Table 2. 4
B.2 Table 2 Examples of intellectual property Material owned by the Department Any activity under this programme that is funded partially or fully by the department on behalf of the Australian Government. This may include: Training packages* Companion volumes Industry intelligence Draft qualifications and business cases Research in progress including surveys and survey instruments Research and related reports Consultation minutes Issues registers Membership of industry reference committees Full stakeholder contact databases and stakeholder lists Other Material Any activity by the skills service organisation not funded under this programme. This may include: Media brochures Career information website Products developed on a commercial basis Assessment resources/tools including training resources Other implementation documents, professional development and support materials/videos Workforce development tools *Note: Training package refers not only to the completed package that has been endorsed, but to all material created as part of the process of development. These examples are not an exhaustive list of materials, and intellectual property rights that may vest in the Australian Government are not limited to these examples. The department may require the return of material, funded partially or fully by the department on behalf of the Australian Government, at any time during the term of the funding agreement. At the conclusion of the funding agreement, all material created by a skills service organisation, and funded partially or fully during the term of the funding agreement by the Australian Government through this department, must be returned to the department. All material associated with training package development that has been funded by the Australian Government prior to the implementation of the new arrangements, such as training packages and companion volumes, will be made available to skills service organisations for the period they are responsible for the relevant industry reference committee. 5
B.3 National repository The department is expecting to establish a national repository that will have two elements: a publicly accessible website for materials such as training packages, companion volumes, industry intelligence, and assessment and training resources; and information and materials that are not intended to be made public, unless in the context of publishing performance information. This information includes progress reports for all training package deliverables (including any draft qualifications or research in progress), advisory committee membership and other stakeholder details. 6
C. Websites To access the Training Package Products Policy and Standards for Training Packages documents, please click on the following links: http://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/standardsfortrainingpackages.pdf http://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/training20package20products20policy.pdf To access the national register on VET in Australia, please click on the following link: http://training.gov.au For information about this Expression of Interest, information sessions, and how to apply please click on the following link: www.education.gov.au/skills-service-organisations 7