International Fibre Centre

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International Fibre Centre

• The IFCs Role in Education and Training for the
  TCF Industries
• Barry White
• International Fibre Centre
• Feb 26, 2004

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The IFCs Role

• Fundamental role is to support training and
  education in the fibre and textile industries
• Receives funding from the Victorian State
  Government (Victoria has the largest TCF industry
  in Australia with gt50 of employment and value)
• IFC is a corporation limited by guarantee and is
  a not for profit company

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Interntional Fibre Centre website

• WWW.IFC.NET.AU

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The Post 2005 TCF Package

• Minimal reference to education and training
• PCs review of TCF assistance

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PCs review of TCF assistance

• with the growing emphasis on innovation an
  appropriately skilled workforce and supportive
  education and training infrastructure are
  becoming more important to the future
  international competitiveness of the sector.

6
IBISWORLD report on Manufacturing in Australia
(2002)

• technology is now a key driver of the design,
  production and quality processes of enterprises.
  This has raised the level of skills required by
  managers and workers and in turn has placed a
  greater emphasis on education and training.

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The Post 2005 TCF Package

• Minimal reference to education and training
• PCs review of TCF assistance
• Fewer, smarter workers with a wider range of
  skills
• While the local TCF share of the domestic market
  is falling, the export share is increasing.

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Trends in the TCF Workforce

• Ageing workforce
• (.so what?)
• Negative perceptions of the TCF sector by young
  people
• Decreasing critical mass of skills
• Fewer training providers
• Failure of training institutions to adapt to
  changing skill needs
• Declining interest in training by industry
• SMEs have less time and resources to devote to
  training

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Workplace Training

• Workplace delivery is not a sufficient condition
  for successful training outcome
• Requirements often specialised, training needs
  specific to job performance (workers not
  adaptable)
• Training not firms core business
• Learning is workers responsibility
• If employers want skills, they buy them

10
LMTA Enterprise Study- barriers to training
engagement, 2003
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Program Delivery

• Information is not knowledge
• Albert Einstein
• ..knowledge is the application of information !
• Me

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Present responses to TCF Training

• Industry
• Machinery or process suppliers
• Enterprise funded
• IFC
• Formal Education
• Higher education virtually disappeared
• Generic programs via ANTA, LMTA and ITABS
• VET sector via TAFE
• IFC

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Is there a greater role for Government
intervention ?

• Taxpayers shouldnt foot the bill.but there
  would appear to be a greater role for government
  (ref. TCF Post 2005 Package)
• Victorian government has the only dedicated TCF
  training support program
• IFC established for this purpose

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IFC programs

• Training and Education program (TEP)
• Projects proposed by industry
• Develop training materials (for wider use)
• Mill training, short courses, workshops and
  seminars
• Domestic and international
• Special Training Partnership (STP)
• Specialist domestic and international training
• Co-funding from educational, research or industry
  bodies
• Development of specialist short courses for the
  wool, cotton and technical textiles sectors
• Industry technology transfer (eg. OFFM project
  with AWI)
• Professional Development program (PDP)
• Upgrade skills and knowledge for individuals in
  the textile industry
• Special events eg. EMS project
• Industry environmental project

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Linking, Research, Education Industry
Industry
Research
Industry
Research
Education
Education
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Role of the CSIRO TFT- wool textile training
example
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(No Transcript)
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TEP ProgramSome examples

• Grampians Wool Industries
• Training materials for carbonising plant
• Victoria Carpets
• Specialist training for Card-Monroe hi-speed
  tufting
• RMIT Uni.
• CAD Centre of Excellence
• Macquarie Textiles
• Interactive CD ROM training for quality assessors
  and Fred Fibre (understanding whole of pipeline
  processing)
• TexSkill Ltd
• 20 accredited specialist short courses
• Bradmill
• Training for new weaving and denim dyeing
  technologies involving training ex Belgium
• Rocklea Spinning Mill
• Short courses in opening, carding and open-end
  cotton spinning
• Nb. There are no specialist programs for
  technical training in cotton spinning in
  Australia.

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TEP ProgramFurther examples

• Bruck Textiles
• Training in polymer finishing technology and
  cotton finishing
• Geelong Woolcombers
• Training materials for waste minimisation and
  effluent treatment
• TTNA
• International specialist training in nonwoven
  technologies
• TFIA
• Industry training materials for salt and brine
  recovery in dyeing
• Carpet Institute
• Seminar for improved insect resist treatments in
  carpet manufacture
• CSIRO
• Farm to Fabric training for wool processors
• Australian Country Spinners
• Methodology for training in companys
  Environmental Management System