2. NSW Building Commission’s iCert program

To create a meaningful comparison between MYSKILLSmanager and the NSW Building Commission’s iCert program, let’s examine in terms of purpose, features, approach to compliance, and impact on skill recognition standards.

1. Purpose and Objectives

MYSKILLSmanager:

• Primary Focus: MYSKILLSmanager is designed to address skill gaps, standardise performance measures, and support workforce development through job role-specific SkillCodes and evidence-based performance evaluation.
• Objective: To empower organisations to engage their workforce in skill development, create a transparent performance management system, and support regulatory and safety compliance through data-driven insights.

NSW Building Commission iCert Program:

• Primary Focus: iCert is a certification system developed to enforce compliance within the building and construction industry in NSW, particularly with building safety and performance standards.
• Objective: Ensures that all stakeholders, including builders, engineers, and inspectors, meet set requirements and demonstrate accountability in adhering to building codes and regulations.

2. Features and Processes

MYSKILLSmanager:

• Workforce Development Tool: Employs a Skills Matrix and JobCodes that map out essential skills across performance levels, which are critical for building a high-performance workforce.
• Evidence Excellence Feature: A unique functionality that assists in gathering verifiable, real-time evidence to meet compliance and safety standards.
• Customisable Skills Framework: Allows organisations to integrate specific skills and performance metrics directly related to job roles, contributing to a tailored skill development process.
• Integration with WHS Standards: MYSKILLSmanager places strong emphasis on Work Health and Safety (WHS) compliance, assisting organisations in building a culture of safety through evidence-based performance.

NSW Building Commission iCert Program:

• Certification and Accreditation: iCert provides a structured pathway for certifying professionals and buildings within the NSW building industry, ensuring standards compliance.
• Audits and Inspections: Regular inspections and audits are core features, with the program providing certifications only to those who demonstrate adherence to quality and safety standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: The system is closely tied to NSW’s legal and regulatory requirements, enforcing stringent protocols for accountability and safety.
• Digital Verification: iCert leverages a digital platform for verifying certifications, which helps to maintain a high level of oversight on compliance.

3. Approach to Compliance and Accountability

MYSKILLSmanager:

• Proactive, Skill-Centric Compliance: By emphasising skill mastery and job-specific competencies, MYSKILLSmanager supports continuous skill development, helping employees meet and exceed compliance standards naturally.
• Evidence-Based Approach: The platform’s Evidence Excellence feature directly supports WHS compliance by providing documented evidence of skills and performance, valuable in meeting compliance checks and audits.
• Transparent Evaluation: The integration of transparent performance metrics allows organisations to track and validate skill levels and readiness for compliance without a purely punitive or external audit approach.

NSW Building Commission iCert Program:

• Strict Compliance Focus: iCert has a primary objective of ensuring that buildings and practitioners comply with NSW standards, aiming to protect public safety and reduce building risks through certifications.
• Enforcement-Oriented: The program often takes a more regulatory enforcement stance, with the use of certifications and penalties for non-compliance.
• Oversight: iCert prioritises public accountability, ensuring all industry professionals are held to regulatory standards for safety and quality. This oversight is supported by routine inspections and audits to reinforce compliance.

4. Impact on Skill Recognition and Workforce Standards

MYSKILLSmanager:

• Workforce Empowerment and Development: With its focus on skill mastery and tailored growth paths, MYSKILLSmanager helps individuals and organisations recognise and build skills effectively, fostering a culture of high performance.
• Adaptability to Various Industries: MYSKILLSmanager is not limited to construction but is applicable across multiple sectors, allowing broad skill recognition and workforce development.
• Real-Time Skill Validation: By enabling continuous tracking and validation of skills, MYSKILLSmanager creates an agile workforce that can more readily respond to industry changes and compliance needs.

NSW Building Commission iCert Program:

• Standardisation of Building Skills: iCert ensures that all certified professionals meet the NSW building standards, creating uniformity in safety and quality within the industry.
• Industry-Specific Recognition: Certification through iCert provides specific recognition and credentials within the building industry, which aids in public trust and standardises expertise.
• Limited to Construction Compliance: While the impact on skill recognition is significant within construction, iCert’s influence does not extend beyond building and safety compliance, limiting its applicability across different sectors and supply chains.

5. Summary Comparison Table

Summary.

MYSKILLSmanager is tailored for proactive skill and workforce development with an evidence-backed approach that supports WHS compliance and multi-industry adaptability with the capability to develop performance cultures. 

The iCert Program is focused on ensuring regulatory compliance specifically within the NSW construction industry, utilising certification and inspection as primary tools for accountability. The platforms complement each other, with MYSKILLSmanager suitable for building broader workforce competencies, and iCert ensuring adherence to specific safety standards in construction.