As the Australian vocational education landscape evolves, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) must stay informed about critical changes within training packages. Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) is spearheading several projects in 2025 to ensure the relevance and quality of training programs. This blog will explore these initiatives, their implications for RTOs, and how they can prepare for upcoming changes.
Why Service and Creative Skills Australia is Important for RTOs
Service and Creative Skills Australia of the Jobs and Skills Councils reviews and updates training packages within the Creative Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, and Hospitality industries. By ensuring that training programs align with industry demands, Service and Creative Skills Australia helps maintain the credibility and effectiveness of vocational education across Australia. These updates are crucial for RTOs as they impact course offerings, compliance, and student outcomes.
Training Packages Reviewed by Service and Creative Skills Australia
Service and Creative Skills Australia oversees several key training packages that impact various industries:
CUA – Creative Arts and Culture
This training package includes music, screen and media, performing arts, and visual arts qualifications. Given the fast-paced nature of creative industries, frequent updates ensure that training remains aligned with industry standards.
SHB – Hairdressing and Beauty Services
This training package covers beauty therapy, hairdressing, and barbering, and it is critical for personal services professionals. Changes ensure that students learn the latest techniques and comply with industry regulations.
SIR – Retail Services
Retail training qualifications must reflect the latest customer service trends, digital transformation, and management practices in the retail industry.
SIT – Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality
As Australia’s largest employment sector, this training package supports accommodation, food services, event management, and travel professionals.
The Importance of Training Package Reviews and Updates
Regular training package reviews ensure that qualifications:
- Remain aligned with industry expectations and regulations
- Address technological advancements and emerging job roles
- Remove outdated or redundant content
- Enhance employability outcomes for graduates
- Maintain compliance with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) requirements
These reviews from Service and Creative Skills Australia mean RTOs must update course materials, reassess their delivery strategies, and sometimes seek reaccreditation for modified qualifications.
2025 Projects by Service and Creative Skills Australia
JSCs such as HumanAbility, Service and Creative Australia, Skills Insight, Future Skills Organisation, Powering Skills Organisation, Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance, Industry Skills Australia, Public Skills Australia, and BuildSkills Australia are continuously rolling out projects that aim at improving the Australian workforce.
Service and Creative Skills Australia has identified two significant projects that will be completed in 2025. Both are focused on auditing and updating outdated units of competency.
CUA – Creative Arts and Culture: Unit Currency Audit Project
Objective: Service and Creative Skills Australia addresses the high volume of superseded or deleted units within Creative Arts and Culture qualifications and skill sets.
Key Findings:
- A review conducted on 54 qualifications and 56 skill sets
- Identified 174 superseded and 9 deleted units of competency
- The audit will assess whether these units should be updated, removed, or replaced
Scope:
- A total of 183 units of competency from the CUA Creative Arts and Culture Training Package will be reviewed. Those units are included in the following qualifications:
| Qualifications |
|---|
| CUA10220 Certificate I in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts |
| CUA10320 Certificate I in Visual Arts |
| CUA20220 Certificate II in Creative Industries |
| CUA20320 Certificate II in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts Industry Work |
| CUA20420 Certificate II in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts |
| CUA20520 Certificate II in Information and Cultural Services |
| CUA20720 Certificate II in Visual Arts |
| CUA30220 Certificate III in Community Dance, Theatre and Events |
| CUA30320 Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching |
| CUA30420 Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services |
| CUA30520 Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts |
| CUA30620 Certificate III in Arts and Cultural Administration |
| CUA30920 Certificate III in Music |
| CUA31020 Certificate III in Screen and Media |
| CUA31120 Certificate III in Visual Arts |
| CUA40118 Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing |
| CUA40120 Certificate IV in Dance |
| CUA40220 Certificate IV in Community Culture |
| CUA40320 Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management |
| CUA40420 Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services |
| CUA40620 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts |
| CUA40720 Certificate IV in Design |
| CUA40820 Certificate IV in Arts and Cultural Administration |
| CUA40920 Certificate IV in Music |
| CUA41120 Certificate IV in Photography and Digital Imaging |
| CUA41220 Certificate IV in Screen and Media |
| CUA41320 Certificate IV in Visual Arts |
| CUA50118 Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing |
| CUA50320 Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management |
| CUA50420 Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services |
| CUA50620 Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts Industry Work |
| CUA50720 Diploma of Graphic Design |
| CUA50820 Diploma of Music |
| CUA50920 Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging |
| CUA51020 Diploma of Screen and Media |
| CUA51120 Diploma of Visual Arts |
| CUA51220 Diploma of Ceramics |
| CUA51320 Diploma of Arts and Health |
| CUA51420 Diploma of Arts and Cultural Management |
| CUA60220 Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services |
| CUA60320 Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design |
| CUA60420 Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development |
| CUA60520 Advanced Diploma of Music |
| CUA60620 Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media |
| CUA60720 Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts |
To see the full list of units of competency being reviewed under these qualifications, click here.
SHB, SFL, SIF, SIT, SIR – Unit Currency Audit Project
Objective: Service and Creative Skills Australia ensures that training packages for hairdressing and beauty, floristry, funeral services, retail, tourism, and hospitality remain current and relevant.
Key Findings:
- Upon completing the audit and review, SaCSA has identified that 209 units of competency have been superseded, while an additional 28 units have been deleted. However, these units are still included in 33 current SHB Hairdressing and Beauty, SFL Floristry, SIF Funeral Services, SIT Tourism, Travel and Hospitality, and SIR Retail Services qualifications.
To see the full lists of units of competency under review, please click on the respective training packages:
- Unit Currency Audits: Hairdressing and Beauty Services(SHB)
- Unit Currency Audits: Floristry (SFL)
- Unit Currency Audits: Funeral Services(SIF)
- Unit Currency Audits: Tourism, Travel and Hospitality (SIT)
- Unit Currency Audits: Retail Services (SIR)
SaCSA has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the superseded units of competency, examining the changes made to the Elements, Performance Criteria, and Assessment Conditions across different releases.
Following this audit and analysis, SaCSA recommends the following next steps:
- For units classified as superseded, equivalent, these should be replaced with their current release.
- For units classified as superseded, non-equivalent, or deleted, targeted industry consultation will be carried out to determine the most appropriate replacement unit.
What These Updates Mean for RTOs in Australia
With these Service and Creative Skills Australia training package audits set to conclude this 2025, RTOs must prepare for changes. Key considerations include:
- Curriculum Updates: RTOs must revise their training materials to reflect updated units of competency. This may involve:
- Replacing superseded units with equivalent, updated units
- Removing deleted units and adjusting course structures
- Ensuring compliance with new qualification requirements
- Trainer and Assessor Readiness: Trainers may need professional development to align with the latest industry practices in the revised training packages.
- Compliance and Accreditation Adjustments: RTOs must ensure that all modifications meet ASQA compliance standards. This may include updating their scope of registration if required.
- Student Impact and Transition Plans: RTOs must develop transition plans for current students affected by changes, ensuring they can complete their qualifications without disruption.
Conclusion
The 2025 projects led by Service and Creative Skills Australia will be vital in keeping vocational education relevant and aligned with industry needs. RTOs must proactively prepare for these updates to maintain compliance, deliver quality training, and support student success. By staying ahead of these changes, RTOs can ensure they remain at the forefront of vocational education excellence in Australia.
