Skilled sewing machinists are critical to Australia’s furnishing, textile manufacturing and automotive industries. Demand for these skills currently outstrips supply. The Industrial Sewing Skill Set provides entry level skills and an important pathway into work. This project will develop a nationally scalable training model to support its delivery.
Click across the tabs to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.
Consultation and research will be undertaken as part of this project to better understand challenges with sewing machinists training pathways, unpacking the barriers for learners, training providers and industry. Findings will be used to develop a training model to support more consistent and workplace-aligned delivery of the Industrial Sewing Skill Set, strengthening its role as both an entry pathway into employment and a bridge to progression into relevant qualifications.
Women, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) learners, First Nations people and individuals with low foundation skills already form a large part of the sewing machinist workforce. This project recognises their contribution and focuses on uplifting and supporting learners to progress their skills and careers, while strengthening sewing machinist roles as a viable pathway.
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Raak Wallis-King [email protected]
Consultation approach
A Working Group will be formed to guide consultation and development of the training model. Broader stakeholder input will be encouraged at the Broad Consultation and Consensus Gathering stages via workshops, surveys and individual consultations. Input is encouraged from:
We are particularly keen to hear from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people, First Nations peoples, women, and those with low foundation skills.
If you are aware of an organisation or key stakeholders who should be involved, please let us know.
Project scope and design
This project will develop a nationally scalable training model to support delivery of the Industrial Sewing Skill Set. At the completion of the project, the training model will be made available for free use by training providers and industry.
Relevant training pathways
MSTSS00015 Industrial Sewing Skill Set contains the following units, preparing workers for entry level roles:
These units have been used in the delivery of the following qualifications and align with their competency requirements:
Timeline
Project team
Louise Fitzpatrick
Project Manager
TextileWorks
[email protected]
Raak Wallis-King
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
TextileWorks
[email protected]
Background
In 2024-25, the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Workforce Insights Project highlighted the need to build the skills of the existing workforce and attract new entrants to the industry. This project responds to those reccomendations, taking a closer look at building the capacity of the sewing machining workforce.
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TextileWorks, a part of ForestWorks, is providing support for the management of this JSC project as part of their collaborative partnership with Skills Insight. ForestWorks has an enduring and strong connection working with the forestry, timber, paper, fibre and furnishing industries and have been engaged by Skills Insight to deliver this project in partnership.