November 2017

• A message from Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews MP
• What’s happening
• Industry news
• Faces of excellence
• Upcoming events
• Resources 
• Useful links

Skillaroos excel at WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi

It was great to see Australian apprentices and trainees excel at the 44th WorldSkills International Competition, held in Abu Dhabi last month. Our Australian Skillaroos team brought home four medals across a number of disciplines, which is a great result.

Worldskills is the largest celebration of skills training in the world, with this year’s event involving more than 1,200 competitors from 59 countries, competing across 51 different skills categories.

At this year’s competition, participants showcased their skills in a wide range of fields, from 3D digital game art to hairdressing, welding and more. 

There is no doubt that Australia’s VET system is world class and our Skillaroos have demonstrated this again with their fantastic efforts in Abu Dhabi.  

I’d like to congratulate all our competitors and particularly acknowledge NSW’s Bradley Ingham and South Australia’s Ryan Grieger who brought home silver medals for industrial mechanical millwright and for carpentry respectively.

Congratulations also to NSW’s Lily Campbell who earned a bronze for beauty therapy, and Victoria’s Trystan Sammut for his bronze in bricklaying.

While Gaby Ware, from the New South Wales mid north coast, was recognised as Best in Nation for Australia and awarded a Medallion for Excellence for her performance in the hairdressing skills category.

As many students begin to contemplate life after school, the performance of the Skillaroos provides inspiration by showing those students, and all of us, what can be achieved through a skills-based career.

There is an increasing global demand for skilled workers and young Australians today are well placed to take advantage of this demand. VET graduates have the advantage of being trained to be work ready with 78 per cent employed after completing their qualification. 

Worldskills is a wonderful event which showcases the immense array of career choices available through vocational education and training (VET). And as our 18 Skillaroos competitors recently experienced, a skill or trade can take you around the world.
So congratulations again to our Skillaroos team – our competitors, as well as mentors and officials. You are great ambassadors for our VET sector and our country.

The next WorldSkills international competition will be held in Kazan, Russia in 2019, followed by Shanghai, China in 2021.

For more information about Australia’s Skillaroos and Worldskills, visit www.worldskills.org.au/

The Hon Karen Andrews MP
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills 

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING

The following individuals, businesses and registered training organisations have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to vocational education and training (VET) in Australia being named as finalists for the 2017 Australian Training Awards on to be presented on Thursday 23 November in Canberra.

Individual categories

Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award:

Phoenix Crowther: Certificate III in Individual Support, Australian Capital Territory
Mark Doughty: Certificate III in Horticulture – Parks and Gardens, New South Wales
Kate Gornall: Certificate III in Business, Northern Territory
Bryce Riethmuller: Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retail Butcher), Queensland
Max Miegel: Certificate III in Agriculture, South Australia
Constance Perry: Certificate II in Retail Services, Tasmania
Bethany Simpson: Certificate III in Business Administration, Victoria
Benjamin Rowe: Certificate II in Automotive and Servicing Technology, Western Australia

Vocational Student of the Year Award:

Alycia Bencic: Certificate II in Hospitality, Australian Capital Territory
Liam Muldoon: Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis, New South Wales 
Patrick Rivers: Graduate Certificate in Community Services Practice (Statutory Child Protection) / Graduate Certificate in Community Services Practice (Client Assessment & Case Management), Northern Territory
Rachael Turner: Certificate IV in Building and Construction, Queensland
Rachelle Boyle: Advanced Diploma of Event Management, South Australia
Colin Curlewis: Certificate IV in Building and Construction, Tasmania
Louise Nicholas: Diploma of Conservation and Land Management, Victoria
Kyle Morgan: Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology / Diploma of Laboratory Technology Western Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award:

Abe Archibald: Certificate III in Business, Australian Capital Territory
Donald Dundas: Certificate III in Plumbing, New South Wales
Karen Rogers: Certificate IV in Visual Arts, Northern Territory
Ethan Atkinson: Certificate III in Tourism, Queensland
Angelina Odevilas: Certificate III in Data and Voice Communications, South Australia
Michelle Maynard: Certificate IV in Project Management Practice, Tasmania
Tracy Mollison: Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Victoria
Kim Dick: Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Western Australia

Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year Award:

Taila Simsons: Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, Australian Capital Territory
Madison Coelli: Certificate IV in Business Services – Business Administration, New South Wales
Teah McCallum: Certificate III in Business, Northern Territory
Katie Emmert: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, Queensland
Sandy Beaton: Certificate III in Business Administration, South Australia
Emily Nixon: Certificate III in Business, Tasmania
Dustin Cross: Certificate IV in Agriculture, Victoria
Claire McLeary: Certificate IV in Meat Processing (Meat Safety), Western Australia

Australian Apprentice of the Year Award:

Tiffany Davies: Certificate III in Retail Baking (Combined), Australian Capital Territory
Jordan Cahill: Certificate III in Landscape Construction, New South Wales
Thomas Moulds: Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician, Northern Territory
Gemma Hartwig: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (Maintenance - Diesel Fitting), Queensland
Laura Pivovaroff: Certificate III in Jewellery Manufacture, South Australia
Ashton Brown: Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology, Tasmania
Jeremy Connell: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade, Victoria
Jamie Stewart: Certificate III in Carpentry, Western Australia

VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award:

Phillip Sealy: Pro Leaders Academy Pty Ltd, Australian Capital Territory
Darek Figa: TAFE NSW - Ultimo Campus, New South Wales
Fiona Plunkett: Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory
Ricki-lee Bernhardt-Tupin: Kawana Waters State College, Queensland
Michael Jenkinson: Christies Beach High School, South Australia
Matt Eyles: Tasmanian Secondary College Hobart College, Tasmania
Susan Morris: Box Hill Institute, Victoria
Jane Goodfellow: North Metropolitan TAFE, Western Australia

Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award:

Alison Mc William: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Northern Territory
Marianne Slade: STEPS Group Australia, Queensland
Kathrin Colgan: Chisholm Institute, Victoria

Business categories

Small Employer of the Year Award:

Canberra Connections, Australian Capital Territory
Tradesmen on Time, Queensland
Little Land Preschool & Early Learning Centre, New South Wales

Medium Employer of the Year Award:

JBS Devonport, Tasmania 
Vikings Group, Australian Capital Territory
Darwalla Group, Queensland

Large Employer of the Year Award:

McDonald's Australia (WA), Western Australia
Treasury Wine Estate Bilyara Packing Centre, South Australia
Hutchinson Builders, Queensland

Australian Apprenticeships - Employer Award:

Crown Resorts, Victoria
The Star Entertainment Group, New South Wales
SA Power Networks, South Australia

Industry Collaboration Award:

Futuretech, Victoria
EQIP Gladstone Incorporated, Queensland
MFA Jobs 4 Murraylands, South Australia

Registered Training Organisation categories

Small Training Provider of the Year Award:

Avidity Training and Development, Tasmania
St Columban's College, Queensland
Department of Justice—Auswest Specialist Education and Training Services, Western Australia

Large Training Provider of the Year Award:

The Gordon Institute of TAFE, Victoria
Canberra Institute of Technology, Australian Capital Territory
Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory

International Training Provider of the Year Award:

Charlton Brown, Queensland
Holmesglen Institute, Victoria
Box Hill Institute, Victoria

School Pathways to VET Award:

St Columban's College, Queensland
Catholic Trade Training Centresa—Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, New South Wales
Southern Tasmanian Catholic Colleges Trade Training Centre, Tasmania

The Lifetime Achievement Award and National Achievement Award recipients will also be announced at the event.

Details of the Australian Training Awards presentation dinner event are as follows:

Date:              Thursday 23 November 2017
Location:       National Convention Centre, Canberra
Time:             6:15 pm for a 7:00 pm start

Register here to book your tickets.

The Awards are the culmination of state and territory training awards, with training award winners from each state and territory eligible to compete in aligned categories at the national level. There are seven award categories that are available by entering the Australian Training Awards directly.

For more information, visit the Australian Training Awards website.

For real time updates, you can find the Awards on:
Facebook    Twitter    Linkedin    YouTube

Article provided by Australian Government Department of Education and Training

54.4% of Australian employers used the VET system in the last two years

• 23.5% of employers had apprentices and trainees
• 82.2% of employers were satisfied that nationally recognised training (which is not part of an apprenticeship or traineeship) provides employees with the skills they require for the job.

These facts and more can be found in Employers’ Use and Views of the VET System 2017, which was published by the NCVER last week. The survey, which is conducted every second year, asks over 8000 Australian employers about the ways they meet their skill needs and the effectiveness of these strategies. This year marks the seventh time the survey has been conducted.

If you are interested in the views of employers who use nationally recognised training or who employ apprentices and trainees this is the most up-to-date data available.
Products include a report as well as data tables for users who want more detail.

The survey is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

 

A 2017 report released by Year 13 and Youth Sense titled After The ATAR: Understanding How Gen Z Transition into Further Education and Employment has revealed insights into young Australians and their perspectives on the ATAR, vocational education and training (VET), university and employment.

Year 13 and Youth Sense saw over 7300 responses to questions regarding the ATAR, parents and career advisors, VET, employment and education and how their post-school trajectory made them feel.

The research indicated that while VET provides necessary skills for the advancement of society, significant issues have developed in the attraction and retention of students. The VET system is also heavily misunderstood by youth and their influencers. Many young people are unaware of the breadth of subjects and courses offered by both TAFEs and registered training organisations (RTOs).

Specifically, Year 13’s research revealed the following findings relating to VET:

• 29 per cent  of youth state that apprenticeships were ‘not talked about at all’ in school
• Only 33 per cent of young people see apprenticeships and university degrees as equal
• 49 per cent of youth believe a degree is the best means to a higher income

However, on a more positive note, when asked how they feel about their training, the top four responses from VET students were positive, with excited (57 per cent), happy (51 per cent), satisfied (30 per cent) and inspired (30 per cent) being the most popular when describing their engagement with VET.

To receive a copy of the report, visit the Youth Sense website.

Article provided by Year 13

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Standards Project has now moved to the 'consultation' stage, which means draft qualifications and units of competency are now available for your review and feedback.

They have been re-written to incorporate the skills required to apply Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles and procedures. Feedback is being sought on whether the draft qualifications and units reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described.

The draft documents will be available on the Skills Impact website for input and feedback until 30 November. To provide your feedback, please visit the Skills Impact website.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Standards Project has now moved to the 'consultation' stage, which means draft qualifications and units of competency are now available for your review and feedback.

They have been re-written to incorporate the skills required to apply Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) principles and procedures. Feedback is being sought on whether the draft qualifications and units reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described.

The draft documents will be available on the Skills Impact website for input and feedback until 30 November. To provide your feedback, please visit the Skills Impact website.

The Apiculture (Bees) Project has now moved to the 'consultation' stage, which means the draft qualification, skill set and units of competency are now available for your review and feedback.

The Certificate III in Beekeeping, skill set and units have been revised to address skills that relate to biosecurity, pollination and business management. Feedback is being sought on whether the draft documents accurately describe all job functions and that they reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry.

The qualification, skill set and units will be available on the Skills Impact website for input and feedback until 10 December 2017.

Join Skills Impact to discuss the current and future job and workforce needs of the agriculture industry on National Agriculture Day at its Ag Futures Job Forum on 21 November in Canberra. The forum will focus on industry drivers and their impact on the skills needs of workers at all levels.

Feedback from the event will help Skills Impact to update the Industry Reference Committee Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work. This is the key document that informs the government of priority skill needs and seeks funding for projects to review and develop qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. To see an example of current projects that received funding out of last year’s IRC Skills Forecast, click here.

Feedback from the event will also inform Skills Impact’s submission to the Senate inquiry into the Future of Work and the Future of Workers, to ensure the inquiry receives information about future jobs in the agriculture and related sectors.

For more information about the Ag Futures Job Forum, visit the Skills Impact website.

In April 2017, the Australian Industry & Skills Committee (AISC) approved a case for change proposed by the Property Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) to review the Security Operations Certificate I, II and III qualifications.

An activity order for this project was issued by the Department of Education and Training to Artibus Innovation to undertake the review on behalf of the Property IRC. The project scope included a full review and update of the security operations qualifications and included native units.

A technical advisory group (TAG), chaired by John Fleming from ASIAL, has been established by the IRC to oversee the project and provide technical input. The TAG includes representatives from employers, industry, RTOs and regulators.

The project has focused on occupational analysis as a basis for rebuilding the qualification and unit structure to align with current and emerging work practices and to support a more consistent regulatory approach. The TAG has recommended the deletion of the Certificate I.

The TAG has also undertaken a full redevelopment of the Certificate II as a licensing qualification, a redevelopment to the Certificate III to provide a professional development pathway and to house higher skill licensing endorsements (fire arms, batons & cuffs, canine, control room and cash in transit). An additional Certificate III has also be developed for Close Personal Protection.

Industry consultation has included meetings with key regulators (individually and through the Security Industry Regulators Forum (SIRF), presentations at industry briefings organised by ASIAL and direct consultation with key stakeholders.

Feedback can be provided at a package, qualification, skill set and unit level, and survey forms are located at the following links:
• Certificate II units
• Certificate III units
• Qualifications and skill sets

The Australian Government Department of Education and Training will host its annual Skills Forum ahead of the Australian Training Awards in Canberra on 23 November.

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews MP will address the Skills Forum.

The Skills Forum aims to bring together State and Territory Government representatives, Australian Training Awards finalists, peak industry bodies, and VET strategic external stakeholders to hear from the Department regarding new skills initiatives and the current and future challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

This year, the Skills Forum will also serve as an exclusive introduction to an Australian Government initiative to implement a long term, sustained communications approach to elevate the status of VET in Australia.

If you would like to attend the Skills Forum, please RSVP by COB, Friday 17 November 2017 with your name, organisation and contact details to vetinfostrategy@education.gov.au 

Key details:

When: Thursday, 23 November 2017, from 11:00am–12:30pm

Where: Ground Level, Theatre Function Room, The Australian Government Department of Education and Training, 50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City

Access: Delegates can enter the building from Marcus Clarke St side of the building, rather than the main entrance—pull up banners directing delegates will be visible.

A light lunch will be served after the event.

 

Find information about upcoming VET related events, including conferences, career expos, workshops and other activities by visiting the Calendar of Events.

FACES OF EXCELLENCE

National Agriculture Day will be celebrated across Australia on 21 November 2017.
Australia’s agricultural industry has always played an important role in our success as a nation. This is an exciting industry to commence a career – and vocational education and training offers numerous qualifications in this field.  The stories of Chris Henbery, Seafood Training Tasmania and Alistair Keller are testament to the great opportunities available in the agricultural industry.

 

Chris Henbery had spent much of his working life as a banker in London. Immigrating to Australia in 2011 with his Australian wife and young son, Chris took the opportunity to change careers and follow his passion for horticulture.

Seafood Training Tasmania is the largest training provider to Tasmania’s seafood industry. Since commencing operations in 1986 as the Fishing Industry Training Board, the small training provider has grown to offer 18 nationally recognised courses to more than 600 students annually. In 2014, it was awarded the Small Training Provider of the Year Award at the Australian Training Awards.

The sixth generation of his family to undertake a career on the land, at 18, South Australian Alistair Keller completed an Australian School-based Apprenticeship in Agriculture.

Be inspired by individual student stories
Engage with the VET alumnus
Discover how award winning employers are using VET to improve their business
Find out about the best Registered Training Organisations in your state or territory

VET Alumni members comprises of Australia’s best VET students, businesses, teachers and registered training organisations. They know first-hand the value in investing in VET as either a career, to grow their business or to enhance their training services. Visit VET Alumni to find out more.

Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors know first-hand the value in investing in an apprenticeship or traineeship. Their inspirational stories prove that Australian Apprenticeships can provide skills for a secure future, and a rewarding career.

Australia now has over 250 Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors working in many different occupations, of many different ages and backgrounds and from most parts of Australia.

If you want to encourage others to think about an Australian Apprenticeship as a career choice at your next conference or event, visit the Ambassadors Map on the Australian Apprenticeships website.

You’ll be able to see who is located nearby, read their success story and send a booking request*.

For more information visit the success stories page of the Australian Apprenticeships website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

*28 days’ notice is required to book an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador.

Article provided by Australian Government Department of Education and Training

Have you got a problem with your training?

Call the National Training Complaints Hotline on 13 38 73 and select option 4.

A referral service for the training sector.

Email for more information.

A selection of VET related useful links and resources at your fingertips.

CONTRIBUTIONS

If you would like to provide feedback, supply an article for inclusion in the next edition or join our list of subscribers, please email skillsatwork@education.gov.au. The next edition will be published in December 2017. Submissions are due by Friday 20 November 2017.

The views expressed in articles contained in this newsletter, submitted by individuals or organisations external to the Department of Education and Training or the Australian Government, are the views of the individuals or organisations offering those views and do not represent the views of the Department of Education and Training or the Australian Government. This information is presented by the department for the purpose of disseminating information to subscribers. The department does not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of material contained in this newsletter. The department is not liable for any loss resulting from any action taken or reliance made by you on any information or material included in this newsletter (including, without limitation, third party information).

The department does not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material on any linked site. You should exercise your own independent skill and judgement before you rely on the material on any linked site.

Links to other websites are inserted for convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service. You obtain access to linked websites at your own risk and the department accepts no responsibility for any interference, loss, damage or disruption to your own computer system which arises in connection with your use of any linked website. You must take your own precautions to ensure that the process which you employ to obtain access to this website does not expose you to the risk of viruses, malicious computer code or other forms of interference which may damage your own computer system.