Brett Michael Email & Phone Number

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

This executive role (EO3) is responsible for leading and motivating a team of approximately 30 policy staff to deliver high-quality and timely advice to the Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education and other areas within the Department on Victoria’s tertiary education sector. This includes responsibility for Skills First policy, Victorian higher education policy and engagement with Victorian Vice-Chancellors, overseeing the Victorian training and skills budget, and advocating for Victoria's interests in Commonwealth-State relations on tertiary education.

Leading a team of three staff, the key focus of the team was to provide advice to the Victorian Government regarding a potential referral of VET regulatory powers to the Commonwealth. This high profile and at times contentious project involved me leading three key streams of work: provide advice to the Minister for Training and Skills, negotiation with the Commonwealth on areas of improvement in national VET regulatory settings in exchange of referral of powers, and overseeing the drafting of a referral Bill and consequential amendments to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.

Melbourne, Australia

The National Reform Team was responsible for the interface between the VET market in Victoria and national skills policy and regulation. This includes supporting the Victorian Minister for Training and Skills, the DET Secretary and DET Deputy Secretary to participate in meetings with their Commonwealth and other State/Territory colleagues. The team also undertakes projects on strategic policy issues that have national importance and application.

The National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) was a committee of the former COAG Standing Council on Tertiary Education Skills and Employment (SCOTESE) that provided independent, expert advice on the national standards for the regulation of VET and endorsed Training Packages. The functions of the NSSC were previously undertaken by the former National Quality Council. As Director of the team that provided secretariat and policy support to the NSSC, and previously the NQC, I was responsible for working closely with the General Manger to develop and ensure the effective delivery of the NSSC Strategic Plan and annual NSSC Work Plan; implement effective governance arrangements for the NSSC; provide ongoing support and advice to the Chair and members of the NSSC; and develop and provide policy advice to the NSSC on the national standards for VET. I also acted as General Manager on three occasions of approximately 1 month each time.

Melbourne, Australia

KPMG’s National Health and Human Services Practice provides consultancy and policy advice and support to government and non-profit organisations within the Vocational Education and Training, international education, early childhood education and care, disability, health and primary care, community services and aged care sectors. Whilst at KPMG I worked on approximately 30 different projects across a diverse range of policy areas. Specific tasks I undertook varied depending on the subject matter and type of project, but generally involved: managing consultations with key stakeholders (including senior government representatives, peak and industry bodies, service providers and service users); undertaking financial and data analysis; developing, executing and analysing surveys; literature reviews of qualitative evidence, reports and documents; and writing reports and material for a variety of audiences and purposes.