The Western Australian Food and Beverage Industry Training Council Inc. is an industry training advisory body providing training advice and Vocational Education Training (VET) support services to industry.

The Council's focus is on food and beverage manufacturing and processing, working closely with industry and Government to building competitive training products and career paths.

The Council works closely with employers and employees in a variety of organisations, including Government and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

Being an 'Incorporated Association', the Council operates under a Constitution and is a 'not for profit' organisation.

The Council is governed by its Committee of Management. The Council comprises both employer and employee representatives from the food and beverage industry.

Importantly, the Council is the leading food and beverage VET representative organisation in Western Australia, and is the designated Food and Beverage processing industry training advisory body in Western Australia.

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The Council's purpose is to enhance the success of the food and beverage industry in Western Australia by enabling the continued development of its most valued resource,
our people.

The Council operates in a diverse business environment ranging from Government advice through to food and beverage enterprise and individual learners. The Council's role is to represents its stakeholders on a fair and equitable basis.

The Council's Constitution defines key principles about the conduct of the Council to ensure it remains a 'not for profit' Association.

Grants and funded contracts provided to the Council are primarily received from the Western Australian Department of Education and Training.

Based on submissions to the Department comprising an operations plan and expenditure forecasts, the Council receives Funding to deliver industry advisory services (as defined by the Western Australian Department of Education and Training and the State Training Board).

Other grants from the Department are applied dependent on new initiatives, performance and Vocational Education and Training (VET) priorities. Funding opportunities are also available from the Commonwealth and other State Department sectors.

To support related initiatives and projects, the Council constantly seeks industry based funding.

Industry Reference Groups (IRGs) are established with the role of developing, reviewing, validating and giving endorsement to industry about competency standards.

IRGs are subcommittees of the Council and are based on ANZSIC (Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification) and provide advice to the Committee of Management on issues related to the sector represents (e.g. Wine, Meat Retail etc.).

The Department of Education and Training provides advice to the Minister and is responsible for implementing VET policy in Western Australia.

The Council represents both employers and employees directly or indirectly associated with VET and the food and beverage industry.

The Council represents its members through Industry Reference Groups (IRGs) that support the development, review, validation and endorsement of competency standards for each ANZSIC (Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification) Group.

ANZSIC Groups related to the Council specifically cover food and beverage manufacturing and processing.

The food and beverage sectors are:

022 Horticulture and Fruit Growing (specifically grape growing and vineyard operations)
211 Meat and Meat Product Manufacturing
212 Dairy Product Manufacturing
213 Fruit and Vegetable Processing
214 Oil and Fat Manufacturing
215 Flour Mill and Cereal Food Manufacturing
216 Bakery Product Manufacturing
217 Other Food Manufacturing
218 Beverage and Malt Manufacturing
219 Tobacco Product Manufacturing (currently no manufacturing in Western Australia)
254 Other Chemical Product Manufacturing (specifically pharmaceutical product manufacturing 512 Specialised Food Retailing (specifically retail meat, baking and pastry cooking)

For more details about ANZSIC and the sectors, please refer to the table on Industry Reference Groups.

In carrying out its role, the Council liaises with organisations that include:
- Associations, other related Industry Training Councils (ITCs) and Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs);
- Companies (public organisations);
- Interest Groups and Organisations promoting education training in the food and beverage industry;
- Unions (employee representatives);
- Educational Institutions (i.e., TAFE, Universities and Schools).
- Resistered Training Organisations (RTOs)
- Statutory Bodies

IRGs are subcommittees of the Council and operate under a Core Charter. IRGs are charged with the responsibility to validate and endorse competency standards against each ANZSIC Group industry sector. IRGs are a direct industry point of contact for State and Commonwealth government agencies.

In the delivery of its Operational Plan The Council brings together IRGs to direct industry training needs and identifies priority skills areas. Such direction (in the form of policy and strategies) is outlined within Industry Training Plans and the State Training Strategy.

The Western Australian Food and Beverage Industry Training Council Inc. is a primarily Government funded association incorporated within the Associations Incorporation Act 1987.

The Association is governed by its Constitution and is administered by a Committee of Management consisting of employer and employee representatives from the Western Australian food and beverage industry.

The Constitution provides the framework for planning, business operations and charter for the Council. The Constitution also provides governance for the Committee of Management and Members.

The Constitution provides for standing subcommittees for each identified sector of the Western Australian food and beverage industry.

The standing subcommittees within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) area are generally referred to as Industry Reference Groups (IRGs).

The Council's Constitution can be viewed by downloading this document. Please note that the Constitution is currently being updated and the updated version will be available soon.

The Constitution, funding obligations, associated operational performance requirements and related accountabilities govern the Council. The funding received from the Department of Education and Training provides for the Council to represent industry in Vocational Education and Training (VET) in a factual and nondiscriminatory manner and provision of independent advice to government.

The Council is not able to participate in business arrangements that cause a 'conflict of interest' to its funded operations.

The Council's accountabilities are managed by the Executive Officer, Ms Leonie McQuilkin.

The Council's operations are enabled by funding administered by the Western Australian Department of Education and Training. Funding is also available on a project by project basis from the Department and other departments within the State.

Further funding is received from the Commonwealth Government via the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) and the National Food Industry Training Council (NFITC).

The Council and the members of the Committee of Management are responsible for actively promoting learning and development within the food and beverage industry.

The focus is on Vocational Education and Training (VET) ranging from Structured Work Place Learning for high school students to Associate Diploma courses in TAFE Colleges.

A key function of the Council is promoting equity and access in VET for the food and beverage industry. This is fostered within the framework of the Industry Reference Groups (IRGs) for each sector.

The Council operates within its governance framework and core funding arrangements. It is accountable to industry and government for providing value for money to the food and beverage industry.

The Council has the authority to give VET advice and to represent the Western Australian food and beverage industry in areas of learning and development. The Council gives advice to industry and Government at national and international forums.

The Western Australian Food and Beverage Industry Training Council is governed by a Constitution that is managed by a Committee of Management (or Board).

The members of the Board are voluntary employee (union) and employer (food and beverage company) representatives, who are champions of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in their sector.

The Committee of Management has 2 Office Bearer positions that are held on a voluntary basis. The persons and organisations they represent are listed below;

Chair: Bevan LONG - Human Resources Solutions International
Vice Chair: Priscilla DREGHORN - Bakewell Foods
Secretary: Graeme HAYNES - Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union.

The members of the Committee of Management meets approximately four (4) times each year to ensure the Council and its representatives are operating within its Constitution.

To achieve the many functions and projects from within the operations plan, the Council have appointed an operations committee called The Executive.

The Executive manages the many functions and projects that are undertaken by the Council as contained within the operations plan. The Executive is empowered by the Committee of Management and the constitution to implement the Council's Operations Plan.

Chair: Bevan LONG - Human Resources Solutions International
Priscilla DREGHORN - Bakewell Foods
Graeme HAYNES - Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union.
 

How Do I become a member of the ITC?

If you are involved in the Food and Beverage industry in Western Australia or involved in vocational education and training in the food and beverage industry in WA you may be eligible for membership to the Council. To apply for membership download the PDF application form and mail to the Council. There is a membership application fee of $5.00 inclusive of GST

1. Provide a leadership role in industry and VET systems linkages, by:

- Promotion of new VET initiatives and developments to industry.
- Provision of feedback to system and training organisations.
- Provision of feedback to training organisations on industry issues.
- Promotion of employment based training opportunities to industry.

Build new VET initiatives, promote and develop in conjunction with the National Food ITC, Government, Training Organisations and Industry.

Strengthen the Worth and Relevance of Industry Reference Groups.

Strengthen the Linkage with the Western Australian Department of Training Strategies.

Decentralise delivery services of the Food and Beverage ITC and target key locations. Build initial linkages with industry and organisations in the South West corridor of Western Australia.

Strengthen the presence, focus and delivery of the Western Australian Food and Beverage ITC.

2. Facilitate industry input on quality assurance and recognition, arrangements in regard to:

- The implementation of the Australian Recognition Framework.
- The development of training packages and training product.

Build and maintain alignment with the Australian Recognition Framework.

Promote the development of improved competency standards and endorse.

Facilitate the delivery of effective Industry Training Plans.