In July 2019, the Queensland Government launched the Skills for Queensland – Great training for quality jobs strategy. The goal of that strategy is to create a workforce that has the skills to ‘meet the current and future needs of the labour market right across the state’.
This is an enormously important task. All industries will have to adapt to swiftly changing marketplaces and uncertain environments, and there is probably no industry that is going to be affected more by these changes than retail.
In an industry that has seen a seismic shift in 2020, it is imperative that those who have businesses in retail or hospitality are able to upskill and compete in the changing landscape. With more reliance on online retail and rapidly improving technology solutions, there are many challenges ahead for retailers.
Recognising the need for a skilled workforce that can meet these challenges is why the government launched the Skills for Queensland strategy, and part of that plan includes designating organisations, and individuals within those organisations, as Industry Skills Advisors.
The job of these advisors is to support the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s (DESBT) industry engagement and provide advice on:
- Current and emerging industry direction, regional skills needs and training solutions, jobs growth and employment opportunities for the vocational education and training (VET) supported workforce;
- Effectiveness and suitability of DESBT’s current VET investment programs;
- Implementation of the Queensland VET Quality Framework; and
- National VET reform agenda and the review and development of training package product.
The Queensland Government has selected the National Retail Association as the Industry Skills Advisory organisation for the Retail and Personal Services industries, as a testament to our high levels of member engagement and our expertise as the peak industry body for retail.
We will now engage with employers, small business and industry stakeholders and, utilising the support and extensive resources of the Association, provide high quality, evidence-based industry advice and intelligence about current and emerging industry direction, regional skills needs and training solutions, job growth and employment opportunities. The advice that the NRA gives DESBT, based on our interactions with industry, will have a major impact on the decisions the government takes, the priorities it sets, and the investments it makes in our industry in the coming years.
What does this mean for you as a member of the NRA or someone working or training in retail? You can help to shape the direction our industry takes. We need your input on what challenges you are facing and what is next for retail.
Our Industry Skills Advisor, Jenni Champion, will be chairing the National Retail Association Industry Reference Group meetings. The Industry Reference Groups, as you may know, cover the breadth of the Retail and Personal Services industries and represent six key areas. These areas are:
- Retail
- Community Pharmacy
- Floristry
- Hairdressing and Barbering
- Beauty Services
- Funeral Services
You can request an invitation to the Industry Reference Group/s, or provide your feedback on the needs of the industry by filling out the form below or clicking HERE.
The feedback received at these meetings and via the online form will provide DESBT with 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.