New Arrangements for Australian Training Products and AEShareNet - Joint Statement

The Boards of Australian Training Products and AEShareNet met on 7 October 2005 in Melbourne to discuss the new ministerial company which will be formed next year to bring together the functions of the two companies.

Both Boards welcomed the initiative and agreed that the new company has considerable potential for providing more integrated and improved services to the training sector.

Ministers for Vocational and Technical Education, who are also the owners of Australian Training Products and AEShareNet, have agreed that a new company be formed to provide an online 'one-stop-shop' or single entry point for users to identify and acquire training materials, read copyright requirements and enter licences for the use of that material. It will also advise the Ministerial Council on data and interoperability standards.

The new company is expected to be operational by 1 March, 2006. An Action Group has been formed to look at arrangements for the new company.

The Boards of Australian Training Products and AEShareNet have agreed to work together to ensure a smooth transition to the new company, while ensuring continuity of quality service to the sector in the meantime. The Boards also look forward to discussing the future arrangements with the Action Group during the course of their work.

Australian Training Products is a national not-for-profit publisher and distributor of endorsed Training Packages and VET support materials. Owned by Ministers, it has been in operation since 1994.

AEShareNet, formed in 2000, is a Ministerial company providing services to the vocational education and training sector. Its role is to encourage the availability of quality teaching and learning materials by increasing understanding and professionalism in copyright matters, and to operate a discovery and copyright licensing service encompassing the entire sector.

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