Work in Progress
Training skilled workers: Lessons from the oil and gas industry
Summary
- Item:
- 10234
- Title:
- Training skilled workers: Lessons from the oil and gas industry
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR3016
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 30 June 2003
- Contact:
- Alf Standen
- phone: +61 8 9299 6930
- email: trainas@iinet.net.au
Purpose
To investigate how the hydrocarbon industry meets the ongoing training needs of workers in this industry which is sophisticated, specialised and subject to fluctuating economic cycles.
Approach
Interviews with 4 large and 4 small hydrocarbon industry organisations and data analysis
Research questions
1. How might the enterprises in this industry improve the training they provide to existing workers: what models will work for them? what decisions and decision-cycles need to be addressed (including financial)? How will this benefit the workers?
2. What can enterprises in other industries (e.g., mining, metals and engineering, building and construction, and such emerging industries such as aero skills and photonics) learn from the experiences of the hydrocarbons industry in furthering the skills of their workforces?
3. In what ways can the VET sector contribute to improving the on-going skill development of workers in very demanding industries ? perhaps by the establishment of long-term relationships between public RTOs and private enterprise, perhaps through policy adjustments. The task is to examine the 'perhaps's'.
Methodology
This study involves conducting in-depth interviews with 8 enterprises within this industry (4 major employers and 4 smaller firms). Interviews will be conducted with:
* Operations managers
* Health/safety environment managers
* Human resource managers
The study will also involve collecting data on training of 100-150 workers across the industry so as to chart the skill development journey of various workers.
This data will be sourced from companies in the industry.
Organisations
Alf Standen:
Over 30 years experience in the Vocational Education and Training sector, the last 10 years as a private consultant. Has worked on 5 national Training Packages for the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Oil refining industries in which Alf was the lead consultant for hydrocarbons. Former research officer to the WA Industrial Training Advisory Council and Manager Policy and Planning to the WA State Employment and Skills Development Authority.
Alf has had substantial State training authority experience in the development and expansion of VET training opportunities for apprentices and Trainees and was the WA representative to the national working parties on CBT and competency standards. He has been involved in a wide variety of VET projects including with Jane Figgis projects on underpinning knowledge in Training Packages, youth in transition, and training in labour hire companies.
Jane Figgis:
With a background in chemistry Jane served for three years on the inaugural National Community Advisory Panel for the Australian Chemical Industries Council. The brief was to oversee the development of codes of practice in the industry. Since the formation of AAAJ Consulting Group in 1998, she has worked on a number of significant projects in the VET sector including managing the ANTA Blue Sky project in 2002 which gave her a broad and privileged view of training providers and sector leadership.
