History

In 2009 Verve celebrated its 21st birthday and enjoyed our greatest ever SpArt (sports and arts) Training Awards at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

This year also marked an expanded focus for Verve as we set about significantly growing our role as an Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB). Verve has begun a new focus on workforce development and the implementation of training in skills needs areas. Whilst Verve’s core role continues to centre on providing strategic high level advice to government on the skills and knowledge requirements of the culture and recreation sectors, we are proud to say that we have been able to successfully broker relationships between industry and training providers to ensure a continued demand for training and professional development in the culture and recreation sectors.

In honour of over two decades of operation, we are happy to present some milestones in Verve’s history---from our beginnings as the Victorian Arts Industry Training Council to our current role serving as the ITAB for both the culture and recreation sectors in Victoria.

March 1988  Approval for the Victorian Arts Industry Training Council (VAITC) granted and funding received through h the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations

June 1988  Appointment of first Executive Director, Linda Marson and office established within the Australian Film Studios in Broadmeadows

1989 Commencement of Commonwealth Government’s Training Reform Agenda and beginning of rollout of Competency Standards Nationally

May 1989  The VAITC becomes the Victoria Arts Entertainment Industry Training Board LTD (VAEITB), is incorporated and the offices move to Drummond St, Carlton

1991 The organisation becomes Arts Training Victoria

1994  Appointment of new Executive Officer Susan Gaylor

1995 Sport and recreation added to industry coverage and additional funding sought. Arts Training Victoria renamed Arts and Recreation Training Victoria

2001  Appointment of Robyn Jackson as Executive Officer

2001  Establishment of the Victorian Learning and Employment Skills Commission, VLESC, the Victorian Qualifications Authority, VQA and the Local Victorian Learning and Employment Networks, LLENS

May 2002  Federal funding ceases to State and Territory ITAB’s but ARTV continues to support the National Training Framework, working cooperatively with national industry training advisory bodies, Sport and Recreation Training Victoria and CREATE Australia

September 2003  Cindy Tschernitz commences as CEO

April 2004  Launch of Verve – Knowledge and Skills (formerly Arts Recreation and Training)

June 2004 First SpArt held in the form of a two day conference and Awards celebrating the sports and arts

2004  Launch of the Service Skills Australia (an amalgamation of Sport and Recreation, Tourism, Hospitality, Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services) and CREATE moves under the umbrella of Innovation Business Skills Australia IBSA (an amalgamation of Business, Financial Services, Information and Communication Technologies, Printing and Media, Arts and Culture and Education).

July 2004  Verve secures tender to manage “Ready Event Go!” Commonwealth Games Training Initiative

June 2008  Genevieve Wearne appointed as CEO

September 2008 Victorian Government launches "Securing Jobs for Our Future: Skills for Victoria" a major skills reform initiative.

April 2009 Verve becomes a service provider under the Victorian government’s Skills for Growth: Workforce Development program.

June 2008 Fifth Annual SpArt event held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.