Description
The findings of a cultural industries skills audit undertaken in 2008 in Katherine, Northern Territory, are explored. The case study focusses in particular on the practical challenges and implications of auditing skills in a diverse industry sector and considers the usefulness of such an audit in preparing an industry for predicted change. This paper is the result of a 2008 NCVER New Researcher Award.
Summary
About the research
One of the main research objectives of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is to build the research capacity of the vocational education and training (VET) sector. To assist this objective, NCVER has developed a program whereby new researchers are sponsored to attend its annual ‘No Frills’ conference. Four new researchers were supported toattend the 2008 conference in Launceston. One of these awards went to Catherine Curry. This paper is based on her presentation at the conference.
The cultural industries have the potential to contribute in significant ways to income-generation and to the sustainability of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Successful Indigenous arts and crafts industries in the regions have been shown to reduce the flow of migration to the cities by offering jobs and business prospects at a local level.
To this end, the Department of Employment, Education and Training in the Northern Territory commissioned a skills audit of the local cultural industries in the Katherine region.
The paper describes the skills audit process and offers some suggestions for the use of skills audits in similar contexts.
Key messages
- The cultural industries in the Katherine region are rich and diverse and, with the development of the proposed Katherine Cultural Precinct, have the potential to benefit the local community, both economically and socially.
- The skills audit showed that the skill sets of arts practitioners were strong, but that high-level managers will be required to support the development of the Katherine Cultural Precinct. Business skills, which are currently lacking in the community, will also be required to run a multipurpose cultural centre.
- A detailed training and employment plan should be developed as a matter of priority to meet the gaps identified by the skills audit.
Tom Karmel
Managing Director, NCVER