Skills@Work is compiled and distributed by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry. All articles are submitted by the originating organisation and are published with their approval.

If you would like to provide feedback on this newsletter, please email skillsatwork@industry.gov.au.
 

NOVEMBER 2014 EDITION

• WHAT'S HAPPENING
• TRAINING PACKAGES NEWS
• FACES OF EXCELLENCE
• UPCOMING EVENTS
• RESOURCES
• USEFUL LINKS
• CONTRIBUTIONS

WHAT'S HAPPENING

On 15 October, Minister Macfarlane released a discussion paper for the Youth Pilot Programmes, Training for Employment Scholarships and Youth Employment Pathways.

The programmes represent a new way of addressing youth unemployment and delivering skilled employees to regional businesses, and are identified as a key plank of the Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda.

Businesses, training providers, community organisations and other groups are being encouraged to provide input. Feedback will inform the final programme guidelines and delivery model.

Consultations are open until 14 November 2014.

The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry, invites you join him for an exciting and unique Skills Mission to India incorporating the following two key events:

Monday 10 November - Conference of Indian Industry (CII) Global Skills Summit
Tuesday 11 November - 3rd India Australia Skills Conference: Skills for Better Business

This is a unique opportunity to discuss the benefits of an industry-led training system in a global skilled labour market and to break into the vast Indian training sector.

Why attend?

GAIN understanding of training in India
GATHER insight into globalised skilled workforce challenges from India’s perspective
GROW Indian networks through supported opportunities and by hearing about successful training models.

Who will benefit?

TRAINING PROVIDERS looking to understand and enter the Indian market
INDUSTRY wishing to operate in India
GOVERNMENT representatives seeking to keep abreast of international skills policy.

Register today to receive your official letter of invitation to facilitate your Indian visa.

Registration is free and easy for Australian delegates. For more details and to register, visit the conference website.

Sydney bakery manager Morgan Clementson and section waiter Jessica Martin will share their skills on the world stage at the 3rd India Australia Skills Conference, Skills For Better Business.

The Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors will be part of the Australian Skills Team taking part in a range of activities including a skills showcase during the conference, held in Mumbai from 10 to 11 November.

Morgan (pictured, above left), the 31-year-old bakery manager at Grain Organic Bakery in Sydney, says the opportunity to share her skills and experience will complement her recent Australian Overseas Foundation scholarship.

“I can safely say that I made the right choice at 27 to change my career and life by undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship,” Morgan said.

“I cannot wait to represent Australia at an international event!”

Morgan was runner-up in the 2013 Australian Apprentice of the Year category at the Australian Training Awards.

Jessica (pictured, above right) will be attending the conference for the second time in two years – continuing an impressive string of recent achievements including a silver medal at the 2013 WorldSkills International Competition in Germany.

The 23-year-old works at Sydney’s Rockpool – owned by fellow Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador and celebrity chef Neil Perry.

Other members of the Australian Skills Team are Fiona French, 2012 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year (pictured, above centre), and Joshua Mason, chef and 2014 WorldSkills National Competition gold medalist for Cookery.

The conference will also feature addresses by Minister for Industry, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, and Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills Australia, Mark Callaghan.

Eighty one of Australia’s best apprentices, trainees, VET teacher/trainers, vocational students, businesses, schools and registered training organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to skilling Australia have been recognised as finalists for the 2014 Australian Training Awards.

The finalists are competing for a national title via a rigorous judging process, with the winners to be announced at the Australian Training Awards presentation dinner event in Adelaide on 21 November. The recipient of the preeminent award of the VET sector, the Lifetime Achievement Award, will also be announced at the event.

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

Profiles of all finalists are now available on the Australian Training Awards website.

The 2014 finalists are:

Individuals

National Leadership Award (direct entry)
Michelle Weaver (Queensland)
Kate Dempsey (Victoria)
Patrick Gavaghan (Victoria)

Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award (direct entry)
Jocylyn Cross (Tasmania)
Jillian Ashley (New South Wales)
Freya Merrick dos Santos (Victoria)

VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award
Carmen Gumley (Tasmania)
Nikki Higgins (Northern Territory)
Judith McDonald (Australian Capital Territory)
Steven Atkins (New South Wales)
Karni Liddell (Queensland)
Julie Wray-McCann (Victoria)
Kathryn Schache (Western Australia)
Rosemary Coulter (South Australia)

Vocational Student of the Year Award
Alison Rogers (Tasmania)
Aimee Williams (Northern Territory)
Rebecca Lyons Wright (Australian Capital Territory)
David Bridge (New South Wales)
Rachel Dudok (Queensland)
Christopher Avery (Victoria)
Genaro Paul Auriemma (Western Australia)
Jack Kay (South Australia)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award
Christopher Medcraft (Tasmania)
Yupunu Fiona Marika (Northern Territory)
Sally Moylan (Australian Capital Territory)
Jameela Kye Smith (New South Wales)
Annalina Kepper (Queensland)
Miranda Borlini (Victoria)
Regina Richardson (Western Australia)
Ashley Edwards (South Australia)

Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year Award
Caitlyn Webb (Tasmania)
Bradley Malby (Northern Territory)
Mark den Hartog (Australian Capital Territory)
Joshua Lodge (New South Wales)
Ashleigh Taylor (Queensland)
Aziz Raonaq (Victoria)
Emma Hay (Western Australia)
Jacquelin Gray (South Australia)

Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year Award
Bradley Fairlie (Tasmania)
Liam May (Northern Territory)
Eylish Perry (Australian Capital Territory)
Savannah de Oliveira (New South Wales)
Gemma Hartwig (Queensland)
Caitlin Maher (Victoria)
Taylor Wood (Western Australia)
Ross Maxwell (South Australia)

Australian Apprentice of the Year Award
Richard Wilkinson (Tasmania)
Shawn Du Venage (Northern Territory)
Jessica Baczynski (Australian Capital Territory)
Mark Hardy (New South Wales)
Peter Newbold (Queensland)
Melinda Lethbridge (Victoria)
Geoffrey Franklin (Western Australia)
William Ducrou (South Australia)

Business

Australian Apprenticeships – Employer Award (direct entry)
Just Better Care Canberra (Australian Capital Territory)
TNT Express (New South Wales)
Bechtel (Queensland)

Disability Training Initiative Award (direct entry)
Brite Institute (Victoria)
Train 2 Learn (Victoria)
Activ Pathways (Western Australia)

Small Employer of the Year Award
Arafura Tree Services (Northern Territory)
TRAKKA Pty Ltd (New South Wales)
Kyabra Limited Hours Child Care Centre (Queensland)

Employer of the Year Award
Westpac Banking Corporation (Victoria)
Main Roads WA (Western Australia)
Adelaide Casino (South Australia)

Industry Collaboration Award
Barangaroo Skills Exchange (BSX) (New South Wales)
Oothungs (Sisters) in Mining Program (Queensland)
AgriFood Skills Australia National Regional Initiative - Eyre Peninsula (South Australia)

Registered Training Organisations

School Pathways to VET Award (direct entry)
TAFE NSW – South Western Sydney Institute (New South Wales)
St Columban's College (Queensland)
Bendigo Senior Secondary College (Victoria)

Small Training Provider of the Year Award
Seafood Training (Tasmania) Pty Ltd (Tasmania)
Marr Mooditj Training Inc (Western Australia)
Hospitality Group Training Inc. (South Australia)

International Training Provider of the Year Award
Charlton Brown (Queensland)
William Angliss Institute of TAFE (Victoria)
Central Institute of Technology (Western Australia)

Large Training Provider of the Year Award
TasTAFE (Tasmania)
TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute (New South Wales)
Chisholm Institute (Victoria)

For more information about the Australian Training Awards, visit the website, phone 13 28 46 or email the Australian Training Awards team. Follow the Australian Training Awards on Twitter @AusTrainAwards and hashtag #ATA2014.
 

On 15 October 2014 Minister Macfarlane announced that the Unique Student Identifier (USI) Registry System had been activated to enable training organisations and re-enrolling students to create and verify USIs.

The Minister said that millions of Australians can now apply for a USI and look forward to being able to access an online record of their vocational education and training attainments and qualifications throughout their life.

Over time this scheme will also make it easier for training providers and Australian businesses to share training information and more efficiently manage their interactions with governments and regulators.

By contributing to a more complete and accurate picture of training activity in Australia the USI will help to ensure training delivers the skills that Australian industry needs to boost economic growth, productivity and competitiveness.

As part of the Government’s VET Reform agenda the USI will contribute to the continued development of a transparent, flexible, high quality national training system that is responsive to the needs of Australian businesses.

Opening access to the USI Registry System now provides an opportunity for training organisations to establish access arrangements for the USI Registry System and bed down business processes prior to formal commencement of the scheme in January 2015.

Allowing access now also provides an option for training organisations to complete the USI processes for continuing students and reduce associated workloads in early 2015.

Minister Macfarlane’s announcement of the activation follows a series of presentations to raise awareness at major private and public training organisations’ conferences over the last two months.

A series of webinars is in progress for training organisations and other key stakeholders.

Acting Student Identifiers Registrar, Jason Coutts, is encouraging training organisations to start preparing for the USI now.

Activation of the USI Registry System is supported by a new USI website providing comprehensive information for training providers and others users. It includes access to a User Guide, information videos and factsheets which training organisations can use to build awareness and provide guidance for their students and staff.

For more information visit the website, call 13 38 73 or send an email.

The Australian Government is providing scholarships of up to $5250 to individuals to undertake an approved adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) practitioner qualification through the LLN Practitioner Scholarships Programme.

LLN practitioners play a vital role working with people to improve their low LLN skills, supporting their transition to further education and/or employment.

The LLN Practitioner Scholarships Programme supports individuals who wish to gain an adult LLN qualification and work as an adult LLN specialist and is targeted at:

• new entrants (individuals with no prior qualifications as teachers or trainers)
• existing vocational trainers
• individuals with prior relevant training, such as generalist school teachers.

Indigenous Australians and Australians living in regional and remote areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications for Round Five are now open and close on 12 November 2014. Applications are invited from eligible individuals interested in undertaking an approved course in adult LLN, commencing in 2015.

To access more information about the LLN Practitioner Scholarships Programme, including programme guidelines and a link to the online application form, please visit the programme's website.

Applications must be received by midnight Wednesday 12 November 2014 (AEDT).

Read about how Julie Richards is working towards her goal of becoming an adult LLN educator by winning an LLN Practitioner Scholarship.

Close to celebrating its third birthday, the Australian Government’s Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors Programme continues to successfully raise awareness about the benefits of Australian Apprenticeships through sharing the inspiring career journeys of more than 130 Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors across the nation.

Highlights of 2014 include:

• The launch of the Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador Column feature, launched by Gold Logie winner Scott Cam (pictured, right), who talked about the important role Australian Apprentices play on The Block.
• Jessica Taggart and Joel Schwarz representing Australia at the 2nd APEC Youth Skills Camp in China.
• Melbourne Storm premiership player Bryan Norrie (electrician) and Fiona Lawrie (motor mechanic) appearing on the front cover of June’s The Tradie Magazine.
• NRL legend Alan Tongue (motor mechanic) being interviewed by SBS News as part of National Skills Week, and speaking in Karratha about the challenges of undertaking an apprenticeship in regional areas.
• Jessica Martin (section waiter) gaining employment at a restaurant owned by celebrity chef and Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador Neil Perry.
• Morgan Clementson (baker) and Emma Stevenson (electrician) featuring in The Australian.
• Business owner and Australian Apprentice of the Year Patrick Janes (metal fabricator) sharing his success story at National Manufacturing Week. Patrick was also interviewed by Win News, was a speaker at the Victorian launch of National Skills Week and featured in the Herald Sun.
• Rachel Dudok presenting at the Women In Aviation / Aerospace Australia National Summit in Melbourne.
• Russell Routledge and Rachel Dudok speaking at the national launch of National Skills Week in Brisbane.
• Warrnambool business owner Clayton Harrington (carpenter) winning a Housing Industry Australia award for a housing renovation over more than 800 entries.
• Autism teacher assistant Jessica Benge and baker Morgan Clementson receiving Australian Overseas Foundation scholarships.
• Joshua Toomey (electrical linesworker) appearing in Foxtel’s Who We Are: Brave New Clan documentary during NAIDOC Week.
• More than 70 000 views of Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador related content including news items, success stories and video content, and growing.

Keep an eye out for the new interactive Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors map, where you will be able to request an Ambassador to speak at your event and give your audience a real-world perspective on Australian Apprenticeships.

For more information, keep an eye on the Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador Facebook page and @AusApprentice Twitter account or visit the Australian Apprenticeships website.

‘Foundation skills’ refer to English language, literacy and numeracy skills (e.g., listening, speaking, reading, writing, digital literacy and use of mathematical ideas) and employability skills (e.g., collaboration, problem solving, self-management, and information and communication technology (ICT) skills).

Building the capacity of those who deliver foundation skills is a key component of the National Foundation Skills Strategy for Adults.

But to do this we need to know more about who is delivering foundation skills. What skills and expertise do you bring with you? What professional development have you had? What skills would you like to develop further?

NCVER is conducting a short survey as part of the National Foundation Skills Strategy Project (Element 1). It’s a starting point in learning more about those who are teaching or helping people develop their foundation skills, either in a paid or voluntary capacity.

Head to the online survey to participate.

If you would like further information about the project, or about what’s involved in the survey, email Michelle Circelli at NCVER.

Free feedback on learner's core skills - participate in trials of the new Foundation Skills Assessment Tool (FSAT)

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is developing the free and comprehensive Foundation Skills Assessment Tool (FSAT) for the Department of Industry. Trials of FSAT have now commenced. ACER has received many expressions of interest in participating in the FSAT trials, which will support it in ensuring that the final assessments will be valid, reliable and fair. However, more participants and learners are still needed to undertake the trial assessments, and new skill areas including Listening and Learning and some Core Skill for Work have just been released. The trials will continue for a few more months, and providers receive reports of their learner's performance.

If you are interested in taking part in the trials, please register online.

2015 National Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference - call for papers

ACER invites contributions for the 4th National Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference (NALLNAC) on the theme Equipping for the future: Assess, train, learn. Taking place in Adelaide on 14 and 15 May 2015, the conference addresses key issues surrounding adult and youth literacy and numeracy assessment, teaching and learning. Interested presenters working in adult LLN and foundation skills across all areas of vocational education and training are invited to submit a conference presentation or workshop addressing key issues arising from your teaching and assessment practices, contexts, issues or research.

The call for presentations is now open until 12 December 2014.

Visit the NALLNAC website for further information.

Need support in your role? Join Velg’s VET mentoring programmes!

Velg Training is excited to announce the launch of the largest VET mentoring programme in Australia.

A recent Velg survey revealed a significant number of respondents would like to be involved in a professional mentoring programme and Velg Training is uniquely placed to provide such a programme to educate, inspire and empower the VET community.

A suite of eight programmes is available to support the varying roles within RTOs including managers, administrators and trainers and assessors. Ongoing professional development is vital to maintain skill, knowledge and expertise relevant to the VET sector. These mentoring programmes will allow knowledge to be communicated and built upon over the 2015 calendar year to enhance continuous improvement processes whilst maintaining individual currency.

For more information on individual programmes, please visit Velg's website or send an email. Places are limited and this programme is first in, best dressed!

Launch of ACSF mapping tool

The first of a series of companion guides to support delivery and assessment of AgriFood training packages has been released. It is important for training providers to be able to clearly define and identify the foundation skills that are integrated into job tasks described by units of competency so they can be addressed as part of delivery and assessment and give workers the skills to carry out their jobs efficiently and effectively.

Using the Australian Core Skills Framework to Address Foundation Skills within Training and Assessment provides tools and tips for mapping AgriFood units of competency against the Australian Core Skills Framework. The guide provides information to trainers, assessors and instructional designers about how to identify the core skills critical to vocational competence within an AgriFood unit. It includes information about the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) mapping project and how trainers and assessors can use that information to support the development of foundation skills within vocational practice.

The guide and a number of sample mapping activities can be downloaded from AgriFood's website.

Review of MTM11 Australian Meat Industry training package

A review is currently underway of the MTM11 Australian Meat Industry training package in accordance with the requirement to transition to the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) Standards for Training Packages. Development work is being undertaken by the National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council Limited (MINTRAC), and the first group of units and qualifications is now available for consultation.

Materials available for review include meat processing qualifications from AQF level 2 through to 6, plus higher level agribusiness qualifications and associated units of competency.

Consultation materials and further information on the project are available from AgriFood's website. If you would like to receive consultation materials, please email AgriFood. You can also join the online community and sign up to receive MTM training package alerts when new materials are released.

CPSISC 2015-16 Environmental Scan - stakeholder survey - win an iPad!

CPSISC needs your help as an industry stakeholder in answering key skill and training issues affecting industry participants, with all survey respondents going in the draw to win an iPad!

You may pass the survey on to as many colleagues within the industry as you wish.

The survey is available through Survey Monkey.

Final survey responses are due by cob 21 November 2014.

Respondent details must be completed, or you can email CPSISC to register prior to close of business on 22 November 2013 to go in the draw for the iPad. The winner will be notified by email and their details will be published in a future CPSISC newsletter.

To become a CPSISC Stakeholder, please register your details online.

A message from CPSISC’s Policy and Research Director, Grant Daly

"Early indicators suggest that we will achieve close to our desired participation rates for this year’s stakeholder survey. CPSISC has endeavoured to solicit a much stronger representation by industry for this year’s survey in addition to the consistently strong participation by public and private RTOs.

"The respondents to date, for the main part, represent a wide spectrum of stakeholders within industry with public and private RTOs to date recording approximately 60 per cent of the responses."

To contact Grant, please send him an email.

IBSA takes popular NSW environmental management and sustainability qualification to national audience

IBSA is in the process of expanding the highly successful NSW Certificate IV in Environmental Management and Sustainability for national accreditation. Given the popularity of the NSW program, the qualification will form a valuable addition to the Business Services training package. More

IBSA’s Printing and Graphic Arts Vendor Mapping project joins the dots for printing industry training

The printing and graphic arts industry is driven by technology and innovation. Keeping up to speed with many different technologies, and maintaining coherent and consistent training nationwide, provide an ongoing challenge. IBSA’s Printing and Graphic Arts Vendor Mapping project is mapping vendor training to nationally recognised qualifications. More

NWDF Future Print Project a new future for Australian print businesses

The Future Print NWDF project is a joint initiative of the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), cofunded by print businesses and the Australian Government, from July 2014 to June 2017.

The project will develop the skills and capabilities of owners, new and existing workers and managers in the print and related communications, creative and information sectors to respond effectively to the significant economic, demographic and technology changes in the industry. More

SIH – Hairdressing training package review

Service Skills Australia (SSA) would like to thank the 120 salon owners and employees who participated in the hairdressing industry forums conducted nationally throughout September and October. SSA is appreciative of the valuable feedback and comments received from industry at the forums. In addition, there were over 300 responses to the online survey that informed SSA of the current practices, skills and knowledge needed to work in the hairdressing industry.

This information will contribute to a report which will inform updates to the national hairdressing qualifications.

For more information, please visit SSA's website or email Lina Robinson.

SIS – Sport Fitness and Recreation update

Community Recreation

Feedback is now open for the validation draft of the SIS Community Recreation training package components.

To review and provide feedback on the content, please visit SSA’s feedback register and access the project titled SIS Community Recreation Training Package Components.

Feedback on the validation draft closes Sunday 30 November 2014.

Cross-sector units

The validation draft of the SIS Cross-sector training package components will be open for feedback at the end of October. Please visit the project page for more details.

Fitness

The validation draft of the SIS Fitness training package components will be ready for feedback in November. Additional content consultations have been necessary for specialised areas and as a result the Validation draft has been slightly delayed.

SSA plans to leave the draft open for feedback until the end of January to ensure all stakeholders are able to provide comment.

Skills@Work congratulates the players of the South Sydney Rabbitohs on their victory in the grand final of the National Rugby League 2014 competition!

Did you know that the NRL’s LeagueWise programme encourages all players in the league to prepare for careers off the field through training for, or participating in, their desired industry? With the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, the Trade Up with NRL programme engages mentors across the 15 NRL clubs to help players identify training and career pathways, with particular focus on trades in areas of identified skills shortage.

This months’ Faces of Excellence profiles four of the many current and former NRL players who are benefitting from involvement in the VET sector.

Jason Clark: Carpenter
Certificate III in Carpentry
Plays for South Sydney Rabbitohs

South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 2014 premiership player and Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador Jason Clark’s decision to undertake an Australian Apprenticeship in carpentry was influenced by his love for the outdoors.

The 24-year-old completed Year 12 while playing with the Rabbitohs’ junior sides before deciding to prepare for a career after football by undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship.

“A carpentry apprenticeship was a natural fit for me as someone who loves being outside and working with their hands,” Jason said.

Continue reading Jason’s story.

Chris Armit: Horticulturalist
Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
Played for Parramatta Eels, Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers

Chris Armit may no longer be playing at ANZ Stadium but his involvement at Sydney Olympic Park continues thanks to his Australian Apprenticeship in turf management.

The Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador retired from rugby league in 2012 after a decorated career of 158 games with the Parramatta Eels, Canterbury Bulldogs and the Penrith Panthers.

The former-prop is completing a Certificate III in Sports Turf Management with TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute and is a casual member of the ground staff at ANZ Stadium.

“Completing an apprenticeship gave me a sense of direction and a career path to follow after playing footy finished,” Chris said.

Continue reading Chris’ story.

Steve Lavers
Electrician and business owner
Played for Balmain Tigers

Former Balmain Tigers great Steve Lavers says employing Australian Apprentices can boost profits.

The Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador played 93 matches with Balmain between 1975 and 1982, was a New South Wales representative in 1976 and has been a board member and a director with Wests Tigers.

After completing his rugby league career, Steve completed an Australian Apprenticeship to become a qualified electrician and was the owner of Steve Lavers Electrical.

“My business was better for employing apprentices,” Steve said.

“Hiring apprentices not only boosted the capability of my business but it ensured we were prepared to face the industry’s future challenges.”

Steve is a member of one of the judging panels for the Australian Training Awards in 2014.

Continue reading Steve’s story.

Anthony Quinn: Electrician
Certificate III in Electrotechnology
Plays for Newcastle Knights

With more than 200 first-grade games and try scoring heroics in grand finals, State of Origin and World Club Challenge matches to his name, Anthony Quinn would have been forgiven for thinking completing his Australian Apprenticeship was a low priority.

The 30-year-old started his Australian Apprenticeship in 2001 while playing with the Newcastle Knights and continued his trade when he moved to Victoria to play with the Melbourne Storm in 2007.

Anthony completed his qualification – a Certificate III in Electrotechnology – some 13 years later, upon his return to the Newcastle Knights in 2013.

“Once you have your qualification, you have security, career options and the ability to earn a similar wage to footballers,” the Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador said.

Continue reading Anthony’s story.

Dates throughout November 2014

The Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service's websites provide practical and easy to use resources and information about Australian Apprenticeships.

Information sessions are provided regularly to help people get the most out of the Service’s websites, for example by highlighting the huge range of sample job and training descriptions, and the industry based job pathway charts and practice aptitude quizzes available on the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website. The one hour sessions are provided free of charge.

The sessions benefit people in a broad range of job roles including careers advisers and staff involved in the promotion and administration of apprenticeships and traineeships in organisations such as Australian Apprenticeships Centres, registered training organisations, group training organisations and employment services providers.

The sessions will be delivered in the following locations, with other cities to be added soon.

• Darwin – 5 November 2014
• Frankston – 11 November 2014
• Geelong – 11 November 2014
• Adelaide – 19 November 2014
• Shepparton – 26 November 2014
• Albury/Wodonga – 27 November 2014
• Wagga Wagga – 28 November 2014

For more details and to register, please visit the Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service's website.

4 November 2014, webinar
3 December 2014, Canberra

The Australian Government’s Department of Education will be conducting training sessions for approved VET FEE-HELP providers throughout 2014. This training is suitable for both recently approved and existing providers wishing to refresh their knowledge.

Details and schedules of dates and venues are available on the Department of Education's website.

6 November 2014, Adelaide
7 November 2014, Perth

CPSISC is once again holding a round of free e-learning professional development workshops for RTOs in its sector, to demonstrate the latest products and techniques available within the VET sector. The workshops will provide interactive forums to demonstrate and discuss the latest technologies and best practice being used by RTOs to implement training packages in the construction and property services industries.

Workshops run from 9.30 am – 4.00 pm.

For more information, and to download a registration flyer, visit the CPSISC website.

12–14 November 2014, Hobart

The conference theme of Jobs, Careers and Communities recognises the important contribution that group training makes to individuals and communities across the country.

Join the group training network in Hobart to explore and discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead.

For programme information and registration, please visit the conference's website.

21 November 2014, Adelaide

The Australian Training Awards presentation dinner event will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, on Friday 21 November 2014.

Registrations are now open through the website.

18-20 March 2015, Melbourne

The Australian Workplace Practitioners’ Network (AWPN) invites you to attend the 2015 AWPN National Conference to be held at the Jasper Hotel in Melbourne. The theme for the conference is Refresh Rebrand Re-engage: Foundation Skills at Work.

The conference will focus on how policy makers, VET professionals and industry can work together to build the highly skilled and innovative workforce needed to compete in global markets. What are the new Australian Government policies and programs and how do they work? How can we work together to ensure industry has the skilled and productive workforce it needs? How can we best support an industry-led, sophisticated and flexible VET system?

Topics for the 2015 conference will include:

• new Australian Government policies and programs
• foundation skills strengthening - creative approaches to addressing the foundation skills needs of existing workers
• employer perspectives on workforce development and foundation skills strengthening
• researching foundation skills policy and practice
• models for developing practitioner skills and knowledge
• professional opportunities and challenges of practitioners

Who should attend?

Foundation skills strengthening is a shared responsibility, whether you are an experienced LLN specialist, a recently qualified vocational trainer or a workplace supervisor.

Newcomers to the field will gain much from the event. Welcome are:

• new and experienced LLN specialists
• new and experienced vocational trainers and assessors
• training managers
• resource developers
• employers and employer groups
• Industry Skills Councils
• industry peak bodies
• unions
• government
• policy makers.

For further information and registration, please visit the conference website.

Visit the NSW State Training Services website to view upcoming events and professional development for New South Wales training providers in 2014.

On behalf of the Australian WELL Practitioners Network/Foundation Skills network, IBSA has compiled into a single repository all the free foundation skills resources developed by each of the Industry Skills Councils to support VET practitioners. IBSA hopes you find it useful, and looks forward to receiving feedback.

Please visit the website for more information and to access the resources.

New videos have been released!

Ideas That Work has released seven new language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) videos for the What Works for LLN training and professional development video library. These new videos contain practical LLN tips and good practice examples to help build vocational trainers’ and assessors’ capacity to support learners with LLN needs.

There are now 25 What Works videos available to view or download for free from the new What Works for LLN website.

The What Works videos are grouped into three series:

1. Introduction to LLN series (the original nine videos)
2. Practical LLN tips for trainers and assessors series (nine NEW videos)
3. Introduction to workplace LLN series (new videos coming in 2014).

These LLN videos can be used for:

• your own professional development as a VET practitioner or workplace trainer
• supporting the delivery of LLN specific units such as TAELLN401A / TAELLN411 ‘Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills’
• LLN professional development for RTOs and their non-training staff
• learners undertaking qualifications such as TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Downloading the What Works for LLN videos:

• You can go straight to the What Works library or target your video search by selecting one of the search categories on the home page.
• The 25 videos can be downloaded individually or you can select the ‘Download entire series’ button to download all the videos in that series.
• The seven new videos can be downloaded as a ‘Series’ in about 10 minutes as MP4 files. Just click ‘Download entire series’ or any ‘Download video’ button and sign up to download individual videos or the new ‘Practical LLN tips for trainers and assessors series 2.’

These videos were funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry.

To view or download a copy of these free What Works for LLN resources, please visit the website.

The VET Commons ready-made plugin is live and ready to use:

• Simply add an activity or resource in your Moodle course
• Select Ready-made Content and Add
• Search VET Commons, preview resources and add them to your course.

What’s so good about VET Commons?

• Easy access to free and paid ready-to-use content directly from your Moodle course
• Source, search, locate and match content without the technical stress
• Over 10 000 free images and learning objects
• Digital content for your specific needs, including:

1. images
2. videos
3. audio
4. case studies
5. presentations
6. quizzes
7. assessments
8. eBooks, and more

• Option to purchase just what you need – the chapter or the book
• Save even more with an annual subscription.

Make your life easier!

Cengage Learning partners with VET Commons

Cengage Learning has partnered with eWorks to offer PDFs of its top ten vocational titles through the VET Commons ready-made plugin:

• Electrical Principles (PDF, 5.0 MB)
• Professional Beauty Therapy (PDF, 22.0 MB)
• Professional Chef (PDF, 5.0 MB)
• Bookkeeping & Accounting Essentials (PDF, 4.5 MB)
• Essential Clinical Skills for Enrolled / Div. 2 Nurses (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings (PDF, 16.5 MB)
• Automotive Air Conditioning (PDF, 3.0 MB)
• WHS: A Management Guide (PDF, 2.0 MB)
• MGMT2 (PDF, 6.0 MB)
• MKTG2 (PDF, 7.0 MB)

The Cengage team prides itself on speaking the same language as teachers, making content easy for you and your students to understand. Pick and choose what you need or sign up for an annual subscription and save on copyright licences.

Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, software and services company for the academic, professional and library markets worldwide. Cengage develops quality content specifically for your courses and especially for your sector. Access its content today through the VET Commons ready-made plugin.

Stay in touch with current research, policy and practice across a broad range of areas affecting the VET sector in Australia and internationally.

FREE ACCESS

Produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, VOCEDplus is a free online resource offering international coverage of issues as well as an Australian focus. It currently holds over 57,000 entries, many providing instant access to full text via your desktop, with around 400 new titles added each month. Where possible, NCVER will supply items as requested according to its Conditions of Use.

You can search VOCEDplus using basic or advanced search or browse options. Topics covered include:

• teaching and learning in the tertiary sector
• assessment
• professional development for practitioners
• labour market trends
• the relationships between education and work
• skills and workforce development needs
• pathways between VET and higher education
• education industry partnerships in education and training
• social inclusion.

FIND OUT WHAT'S NEW

Subscribe to new titles or Twitter on the home page for automated notifications.

Subscribe to VOCEDplus Highlights.

Subscribe to specific RSS feeds wherever you see the ‘Subscribe’ symbol above.

‘Purpose build’ feeds on your own topics, e.g. a feed on practitioners in VET can be set up in your browser using the following steps:

1. From the Home Page click on Advanced Search
2. Add the words practitioners to the top search box
3. Click on the drop down menu and select the Title field
4. Click on Search
5. Click on Providers of education and training in the Subject facet box on the left of the results page
6. Click on your browser’s RSS icon and subscribe to the feed.
7. VOCEDplus services.

Expert reference service – for details visit the Client Service Charter or Ask a Librarian.

Citation tool – My Selection acts like a shopping cart, select records from search results or full record pages, email or save records in formats (e.g. author-date citation modelled on the Harvard style; tagged format for import into EndNote).

Value added products – these include:

• current and archived NCVER statistics via Statistical Resources
• user guides
• subject guides
• VET online glossary
• special collections, e.g. National landmark reports and Pathways support for practitioners.

To find out more, visit VOCEDplus.

Government Skills Australia (GSA) has completed a range foundation skills resources to support the development of learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy in work and training contexts. The resources include:

• industry-specific foundation skills brochures outlining current policy initiatives and the key foundation skill demands within that industry at a range of employment levels e.g. low–mid–high level ‘core’ skills demands across a range of work roles
• a suite of 11 short videos highlighting the need for specific core skills across a range of industries e.g. reading procedures and instructions in the workplace, oral communication skills for workplace meetings and numeracy skills for creating tables, graphs and charts
• a professional development resource comprising a facilitator guide to outline a background to foundation skills initiatives, strategies to address foundation skills issues in a range of work and training contexts and industry-specific foundation skills data on the foundation skills demands of units of competency.

Please visit the website to download the resources or email a request for a printed copy.

Government Skills Australia (GSA) has developed Meeting the Foundation Skills Demands of Training and Work as a professional development resource to raise awareness of foundation skills issues amongst workers and learners in the Australian context. Its primary aim is to support the key messages outlined in a range of foundation skills documents developed by GSA to support the newly endorsed foundation skills training package.

The guide is accompanied by short videos that build awareness of the language, literacy and numeracy or ‘core’ skill demands of tasks embedded in work roles within the government and community safety industries.

Vocational course developers, trainers and assessors are provided with information about how to identify the foundation skills embedded in both work and training contexts. They are easily disguised in a variety of tasks and roles so often go unnoticed. It also offers some strategies to develop an understanding of what foundation skills are, where they can be found and how they can be addressed in practical terms.

You can view and download the resource from GSA's website.

Teachers and trainers who are new to e-learning, or those already using e-learning content developed through the National VET E-learning Strategy, are set to benefit from the newly launched National VET Content website.

This new site brings together thousands of freely available learning objects from the following national collections: Flexible Learning Toolboxes, Generic Skills, E-learning Innovations, Industry Integration of E-learning, and the National Digital Learning Resources Network.

You can find out more by visiting the Flexible Learning website.

MSA’s Putting the Jigsaw Together numeracy resources and the Making the Connections workshop for vocational education and training (VET) trainers have proved to be extremely popular. Over 900 RTOs, individual trainers and educators nationally have accessed the resources since their release.

Putting the Jigsaw Together is designed as a series of tool kits to support VET trainers with practical strategies to assist apprentices to develop their numeracy skills. Making the Connections is a two day workshop providing the key concepts of language, literacy and numeracy and foundation skills in VET training. Identifying core skills in a unit of competency and working with the Australian Core Skills Framework is included in the resource.

These resources are now available for FREE download at MSA's website. For further information contact Kathy Higgs, MSA Foundation Skills Project Officer, on 02 9955 5500 or via email.

Are you looking for new ways to engage with adult learners? Perhaps you are interested in finding out more about Australia’s adult community education (ACE) sector? If so, the Tap Into Learning Today (TILT) website is for you.

The TILT website is Australia’s national communication strategy for ACE.

TILT provides information and resources for the ACE sector. It enables ACE providers to promote their services and engage adult learners in their communities. Through the website, providers can find resources and strategies to access potential learners, including templates for promotional materials and information about funding and professional development opportunities.

TILT also provides an avenue for individuals to find learning opportunities in areas such as community engagement and foundation skills. Links to key contacts, and the ability to locate ACE providers in their local areas are provided to direct individuals to the support they need.

The TILT Community Calendar is a great way to find out about ACE-related events. While you are there, check out some of the case studies and success stories of ACE projects in Australia through AceTV.

To find out more about TILT please visit the website.

Numeracy in Practice is a free professional development resource to support the development of practitioner numeracy proficiency skills and numeracy training skills including:

• overcoming maths anxiety
• building numeracy proficiency skills
• building specialist adult numeracy teaching skills
• building knowledge of numeracy in the workplace context.

This resource has been developed in response to the NCVER report Seeking the N in LLN. This report found that there may be a need to increase the capacity of the VET workforce to meet the numeracy skills needs of existing workers.

Numeracy in Practice includes:

• a Numeracy in Practice guide with professional development activities
• a numeracy proficiency assessment tool
• six ‘snapshots’ exploring different workplace numeracy skills.

Numeracy in Focus is a free professional development resource to build practitioner workplace numeracy awareness including:

• identifying maths anxiety
• understanding the importance of numeracy
• raising awareness of numeracy in the workplace context
• raising awareness of workplace numeracy in the VET sector.

Numeracy is an important core skill. All practitioners must be up to date and confident in their own numeracy skills, their numeracy training skills and their understanding of typical workplace numeracy activities.

This resource is designed to be used by practitioners who:

• have basic numeracy skills but need to update in respect to changing technology and numeracy practices
• have basic numeracy skills but need to contextualise to the world of work
• have numeracy skills but need to increase their numeracy confidence
• are reluctant to assess and teach numeracy skills in the workplace
• are not sure if their numeracy skills are sufficient to complete the Graduate Certificate in Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice.

These resources were developed by Oggi Consulting and funded by the Australian Government.

For more information on these resources, email Tina Berghella at Oggi Consulting.

CPSISC received funding under the Australian Government’s Clean Energy and Other Skills Package. This Commonwealth funding has allowed CPSISC to undertake a series of interlinked projects to support VET and other higher education providers to build the skills, knowledge and capability to deliver clean energy services, products and advice to the Australian community and businesses.

The project has seen the development of a suite of resources to support the professional development needs of RTOs. The free downloadable resources also support the delivery and assessment of four new ‘Energy Efficiency’ units of competency recently endorsed and included in the CPC08 (Version 9) Construction, Plumbing and Services training package and the CPP07 (Version 14) Property Services training package.

These free energy efficiency resources available for download include:

• Energy efficiency - fact sheets
• Learner and assessment guides to support delivery and assessment of energy efficiency
• Energy efficiency - RTO professional development kit (contains a professional development kit and PowerPoint presentation for RTOs).

To download a copy of these free resources, please visit CPSISC's website.

Australian Apprenticeships - provides quick and easy access to information regarding Australian Apprenticeships, including Australian Apprenticeships programs, employer incentives and support for apprentices during their apprenticeships.

Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service and Australian Apprenticeships Pathways - provide apprenticeships and traineeships information and resources.

Australian Training Awards - the peak, national awards for the vocational education and training sector, recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia.

business.gov.au - offers businesses simple, practical and convenient access to all the government information, programmes and services they need to make running their business and skilling their employees easier.

Industry Skills Councils - bringing together industry, educators and governments, and uniting them on a common industry-led agenda for action on skills and workforce development.

LiteracyNet - information about Australian adult literacy activities and links to a range of additional program, professional development, resource and research sites (including training programs).

MySkills.gov.au - provides information about vocational education and training to future and current students, jobseekers and employers to help them make informed choices about training.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) - a not for profit company responsible for collecting, managing, analysing, evaluating and communicating research statistics about vocational education and training.

National Skills Week - provides a platform to highlight the opportunities and career pathways available through vocational education and training.

StudyAssist.gov.au - one stop shop for information on government assistance while studying. Students can use the website to determine their options for financing their tertiary study. The course search function allows students to look for courses offered by approved VET FEE-HELP providers.

training.gov.au - the official national register of information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations, developed for experienced training sector users.

WorldSkills Australia - working to promote and build a skills culture by inspiring young people, celebrating skills excellence and providing opportunities to showcase trade and skill talent through competitions held on a regional, national and international level.

CONTRIBUTIONS, FEEDBACK AND SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS

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@industry.gov.au. The next edition will be published in December 2014. Submissions are due by 18 November 2014.