Last year's skill ecosystem evaluation recommended:

The capacity to develop and support the ecosystem projects would be substantially improved by establishing a small national expert panel that could bring together a depth of experience from across the key stakeholder areas.

In November, a national advisory group of experts convened to provide advice and feedback to the new skill ecosystem projects.

Members include experts in the following areas:

• vocational education and training
• workplace relations
• industry development
• regional development; and
• organisational change.

So far Advisory Group members have reviewed and discussed concept statements from all projects, and then participated in feedback sessions with project leaders.

Naomi Dinnen, from EE-Oz Training Standards, noted that although some of her colleagues are surprised at the active project management approach used with skill ecosystem projects, she considers the processes and structures to be 'a very helpful exercise for us all - both as an industry and in terms of our own development as project managers'.

Industry facts and figures are collected and analysed in IBSA's new Innovation and Skills Report, Innovation and Business.

Over the last two years, most of Australia's 10 national Industry Skills Councils have produced similar profile reports on the industries they cover.

The business-innovation group contrasts with other service industries in that technology plays the key role in creating new market opportunities and growth, and in driving training. Workforce upskilling is required every time new technologies are introduced, and the IBSA report notes:

staff must have the technological skills to exploit opportunities in pod- casting, SMS and digital broadcasting...Skills in business management, ICT and creativity/innovation will also be in demand so companies can establish effective e-business systems (p 37).

The report also points out that increasingly these industries export services (eg education) and provide services off shore (as with customer support and data processing). The skill implications range from the requirement for staff to understand many complex regulatory regimes, to the need for broad cultural and linguistic skills. Given excalating insurance costs, risk management is highlighted as a key area - and a current driver of industry training.

In response to industry trends, the report argues for an integrated VET framework that recognises the convergence and 'spillage' across business services occupations. IBSA is also boosting the regulatory content in training packages, and linking competencies to international standards to better serve the global industries it covers.

At the Ozebus Job Centre, 'you can advertise jobs, find jobs and get the latest resources and information for recruitment tasks and human resources management'. Unlike professional on-line recruitment agencies, no charges apply.

This looks like being part of a new trend in industry membership services. Another example is the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association's (AIMIA)online job centre. where you can find and advertise for digital content producers and specialists. AIMIA is a partner in the MEGA skill ecosystem project.