Training provider Gold Seal has backed a rebel broker qualifications committee set up by competitor the Financial Services School (FSS) that aims to rewrite the official industry training package approved by Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA).

Gold Seal MD Sheila Baker – a long-time campaigner for course content that better reflects the broking industry’s training and education needs – says she has been “watching the developments of both this committee and the protracted discussions between the National Insurance Brokers Association and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance for a while”.

She told insuranceNEWS.com.au she will attend the Brisbane-based committee’s next meeting on November 17 to familiarise herself with its activities and consider playing a broader role.

“I don’t want an industry-based discussion without us,” Ms Baker said.

“We wanted to give this committee our extra support as part of our mission to provide brokers with the best possible education to help them be successful.”

Melbourne-based Ms Baker agrees it is unusual for competitors to unite in such a public way.

She says the fact the committee has the support of the Council of Queensland Insurance Brokers was instrumental in her decision to support it.

“I see this committee as a positive move by insurance industry stakeholders, who are actually practising members of the insurance industry, to keep moving the discussion [on broker education] in a more positive direction.”

Ms Baker says she has considered setting up a similar industry-based committee in Melbourne.

“I would like to see brokers have a bigger representation in this discussion.

“I have given some thought to replicating the committee, but I don’t know how much room there is for [another] group looking at these issues.

“What’s important is that all stakeholders have the opportunity to have their say. Everyone from the education providers, industry bodies and regulators need to recognise the environment is changing and we need to better equip brokers to face the realities of business in the future.”

Following the November 17 meeting FSS director and committee convenor Val Phinn proposes preparing a detailed business case for industry skills council IBSA, which designs the courses that registered training organisations such as FSS and Gold Seal offer.

The committee was formed in August. It is chaired by Lyn Rankin (CGU) and includes Elina Burt (Regional Insurance Brokers), David McKinnis (Insight), Scott McCarthy (Ausure Insurance Brokers), Craig Barnden (Ausure), David Duncalfe (CQIB), Tina Wilkinson (Wymark Sirius Insurance Brokers), Andrea Gillespie (Austbrokers CE McDonald), Carl Greenhalgh (LMI Group) and Emma Anthonisz (Insurance Aid General Brokers).