JULY 2014 EDITION

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

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Minister for Industry outlines his vision for VET reform

On 25 June 2014, Minister for Industry, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP, outlined his vision for a more accessible and responsive national training system that gives businesses the skilled workers they need now, and into the future.

Minister Macfarlane was the keynote speaker at the National Skills Summit, hosted by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In his address, Minister Macfarlane focussed on the need to improve training and employment outcomes for students, with a reform agenda aimed at creating a truly industry-led national vocational education and training (VET) system.

Minister Macfarlane said he wanted to make sure reforms to VET considered the system as a whole, recognising the diverse and dynamic market in which training providers operate. He reiterated the need to build a strong and streamlined framework in which a quality system would support consumers to make informed choices.

“If we get VET reform right we can make an enormous contribution to a better Australia – a more dynamic, more competitive and more productive Australia,” Minister Macfarlane said.

New provider and regulator standards for comment

The Minister also released the new draft provider and regulator standards for consultation. This addresses one of the three priority actions agreed by Australian, state and territory skills ministers at the COAG Industry and Skills Council meeting on 3 April 2014, to re-examine the draft training provider and regulator standards produced by the former office of the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC).

The new draft standards take into account a range of stakeholder views including issues raised during the broader VET reform consultation process undertaken in early 2014 and “will support quality and provide clarity around marketing of training courses, subcontracting arrangements and compliance,” Mr Macfarlane said.

The new draft training provider and regulator standards are available here and comments are welcome via email to vettaskforce@industry.gov.au by Wednesday 23 July 2014.

Feedback on the new draft training provider and regulator standards can also be provided via a series of webinars planned in July. To find out how you can become involved, visit the events page of the VET reform website.

ASQA process review

Minister Macfarlane also released the independent review of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) commissioned by the former ministerial council.

“The process review makes a number of really useful findings for how improvements can be made to the way ASQA operates that are consistent with what we are hearing from the VET reform process…We are looking at ways to make these things happen. Ultimately you will see an approach to regulation that is much better targeted to the circumstances of individual RTOs,” Minister Macfarlane said.

For more information, and to view the report, visit the publications and documents section of the VET reform website.

No new fees and less red tape for training providers

The Minister also confirmed the national training regulator, the ASQA, will not raise its fees in 2014–15, easing the financial burden on registered training organisations over the coming year.  The Minister noted that for the foreseeable future ASQA’s fees will not rise and indicated he would be reviewing the regulator’s operating funding to ensure it can support the reform agenda.

From 1 July 2014, ASQA will remove the requirement for a financial viability assessment to be undertaken as part of the re-registration process for existing RTOs. A financial viability assessment will still be required for organisations seeking to be initially registered as an RTO, or in exceptional circumstances where serious financial viability concerns about an existing RTO have been raised.

VET in schools

Assistant Minister for Education the Hon. Sussan Ley MP also spoke at the summit with a particular focus on VET in schools.

To read a copy of the Minister for Industry’s speech, and the corresponding media release, visit the Minister for Industry’s media page.

For more information about VET reform, please visit the VET reform website, email the VET Reform Taskforce at vettaskforce@industry.gov.au or call 13 38 73.

A quick update on the Unique Student Identifier initiative

On Thursday 19 June 2014, the Student Identifiers Bill 2014 successfully passed through the Australian Senate, The Unique Student Identifier (USI) scheme will commence on 1 January 2015.

The USI team will be working hard over the coming months with training providers and key stakeholders, to assist with preparations for the implementation of the USI.

For more information visit the Unique Student Identifier website or email the USI Taskforce.

What can be learned from China’s approach to skills?

Australia was represented at the 2nd APEC Youth Skills Camp in Beijing, China, in late May by Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors Joel Schwarz and Jessica Taggart.

Joel and Jessica were joined by fellow Australian Training Awards finalists Madeline Wells, Henry Kemp and Jacky Cheng.

The purpose of the youth camp was to:

• strengthen understanding and friendship among APEC youth
• facilitate exchange and cooperation in APEC vocational training and skills development
• improve the attractiveness of vocational training to APEC youth and promote the development of APEC youth skills.

The group participated in a mix of cultural activities (including visiting the Great Wall and a Shaolin temple), visits to vocational training schools and the China WorldSkills training facility and group activities.

The Australian contingent shared their key take-aways from the trip:

Joel Schwarz: “The Chinese are fanatical on the quality of their training. They truly do strive for perfection in their vocations. The feeling of ‘living to work’ is really evident to me, based on what I saw.”

Jessica Taggart: “China’s VET system/sector is exceptional, and incorporates many different aspects. It was so great to have the opportunity to experience it first-hand and see the many talents and broader skill sets that come under China’s vocational training, including martial arts such as kung fu.”

Henry Kemp: “I believe the Chinese have quite high standards held to their vocational education, and the students conduct themselves professionally. Australia can certainly learn from their professionalism. A number of camp participants from other APEC communities asked me about my vocational training and were impressed by my stories of Australia’s vocational system and standards.”

Madeline Wells: “I admire how the Chinese incorporate so much of their culture into the schools. The students are willing to learn and understand so much. They commit to their goals and mottos, and consistently put in their all. They have great role models with good values. The schools are so welcoming and hospitable, and they look at all aspects on how to succeed and showcase their skills, talents and knowledge.”

Jacky Cheng: “China’s rich cultural history creates and offers diversity in its current various vocations. Creative industries (visual arts, performance arts, arts and crafts, martial arts, music, tea making and kitchen operations such as intricate dough sculptures, food carving etc) are highly respected and valued, and maintain their importance in upholding the nation’s pride. Opportunities are offered to younger leaners to expand and continue to learn and practice China’s traditional skills, such as constructing handmade bronze vases etc.

“The Australian VET sector could certainly adopt some of the methodology and pedagogy that I observed along with, most importantly, the value the Chinese place on vocational education and training. We are so lucky to be involved in VET as it upholds the best of both worlds - knowledge skills and hands-on skills. My perspective of learning is to never stop learning! We should continue to strive to improve and adopt different teaching and learning approaches by comparing and contrasting the different member economies and through fostering and strengthening our APEC relationships.”

Images (L-R) Henry at the Great Wall of China; making model Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 cars in the team challenge (L-R Jacky, Joel, Madeline, Jessica and Henry); Madeline at the Beijing Olympic Stadium.

After three challenging days of competition, WorldSkills Australia is pleased to announce the results of the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Refrigeration Competition which was held in Melbourne in May.

Congratulations to all of the competitors! Their remarkable skills saw them representing their regions against Australia’s best young refrigeration mechanics, a huge accomplishment in itself.

WorldSkills Australia would also like to thank all of the judges and all of the sponsors and supporters, team leaders and volunteers who came together to make the National Refrigeration Competition such a great success.

The medallists of the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Refrigeration Competition are:

GOLD: Beau Kupris, Sydney West
SILVER: Jordan Wallworth, Melbourne
BRONZE: Mark Young, Tasmania

For his gold medal win, Beau was also awarded a trip to Europe to visit the Chillventa Refrigeration Expo in Nuremberg, Germany, courtesy of the LU-VE Group.

Jordan received a state of the art Fluke multimetre for his silver medal and Mark was awarded a Fluke clamp metre for taking out the bronze.

You can view and download images from the competition and the presentation ceremony at WorldSkills Australia’s Flickr site.

2014 WSA National Refrigeration Competition medallists (L-R) Jordan Wallworth, Beau Kurpis and Mark Young.

Refugee Week celebrations in Darwin took place in June with Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador Jane Alia leading the party.

Jane is also an ambassador for Refugee Week, which ran from 15 to 21 June and included World Refugee Day on 20 June.

Refugee Week Ambassadors are individuals who are either from a refugee background or who have an interest in and understanding of refugee and migrant issues in Australia.

Jane arrived in Australia as a refugee when she was a teenager.

“I believe my past has really shaped me to be the young person I am today,” Jane said.

“It is a great honour to be a Refugee Week Ambassador and I’m looking forward to joining with the local community to increase understanding of refugee and migrant issues.”

Jane became an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador after winning the Northern Territory School-based Apprentice of the Year in 2012 and going on to be a finalist at the Australian Training Awards.

The 20-year-old completed a Certificate III in Dental Assisting, a qualification she started in secondary school.

To read the full story, visit the Australian Apprenticeships website.

The Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Vocational Education and Training is awarded annually to an employee within the VET sector or training leaders in business or industry. It allows the recipient to spend three to four months in the United States of America undertaking research and study into current vocational education and training policy or practice.

Applications for the 2015 scholarship are now open. The scholarship is valued at up to
AUD$33 000 and must be commenced between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016. Preference will be given to those applicants with a record of achievement. Applications close on 1 August 2014. Information on the scholarship, eligibility and application process is on the Fulbright Commission’s website.

The 2014 scholarship winner, Raymond Cadmore, will study at the Forsyth Community Technical College in North Carolina in the second half of 2014. His studies will focus on the drivers of new and emerging technologies in the US’ VET curriculum, with particular focus on the way industry, government and vocational educators engage with each other and with future training needs. Mr Cadmore was profiled in the April edition of this newsletter.

The Australian American Fulbright Commission was established in 1949. It is the Australian arm of the Fulbright Program, which was established by US Senator J William Fulbright in 1946. Senator Fulbright believed that these scholarships could assist in building and maintaining world peace following World War II. The Fulbright Program has 325 000 alumni across the world.

Alexandra Reeve is the latest Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador to share their insight in a column for the Australian Apprenticeships website.

Alexandra, a 22-year-old trainee in the office for the Victorian Government Minister for Education, shares the process she undertook to start her traineeship.

The road to Alexandra’s employment included difficulty deciding on a career path at secondary school and attempting several university courses before discovering her traineeship and her enjoyment of earning while learning.

In the latest Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador column, Alexandra says “If you are in secondary school and still don’t know what you want to do, or you’re a concerned parent, perhaps my experience might be helpful.”

To read Alexandra’s post, visit the Australian Apprenticeships website.

Vocational education and training (VET) practitioners will benefit from new advice about the use of HTML5 for structuring and presenting material on the internet.

This year marks the first time that E-standards for Training has officially recommended the use of HTML5 for e-learning content developers.

The recommendation to use HTML5 doctype and semantic elements comes with the proviso that fall-backs are put in place for the recommended browsers that lack support for those elements.

The E-standards for Training HTML5: Q&A for Developers  explains how to implement such fall-backs, and provides guidance on how to start using other recent web technologies, including CSS3 and the new JavaScript APIs.

HTML5 is a mark-up language for structuring and presenting content on the internet. The core aims of HTML5 are to provide support for the latest multimedia, while keeping the language readable by humans and consistently understood by computers and devices.

The E-standards Expert Group advises that there is significant potential for HTML5 to facilitate development of e-learning content, and that HTML5 has advantages which include greater accessibility support on various platforms, and enabling content such as video and audio to be played in a browser without requiring additional proprietary software.

The E-standards for Training HTML5 review: Q&A for Developers was developed by the New Generation Technologies business activity, on behalf of the National VET E-learning Strategy.

The business activity researches potential technologies, standards and specifications in order to recommend and support implementation of those applicable to the VET sector.

For more information please visit the E-standards website and follow on Twitter.

AITD National Training Excellence Awards

The Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) National Training Excellence Awards recognise achievement in training, learning and development and organisational development.

Nominations are now open for the 2014 National Training Excellence Awards. There are categories related to e-learning, innovation, blended learning, organisational effectiveness, learning resources and more. Information about the Awards categories, criteria and nomination process can be found on AITD’s website.

Nominations must be received by Friday 25 July 2014.

Editor's note: Please be aware that these awards are NOT the Australian Government's Australian Training Awards, which recognise excellence in nationally recognised training.

Special offer for new members!

Until 31 July 2014, the AITD will waive the $35 joining fee for new individual members. This means new members will only pay the $275 annual fee to be part of the leading association for training, learning and development professionals. Visit the AITD website for more information. Conditions apply.

The Department of Education will be conducting training sessions for approved VET FEE-HELP providers throughout 2014. This training is suitable for recently approved providers, as well as existing providers that wish to refresh their knowledge. For more details and schedules of dates and venues please visit the department’s website.

The Australian agrifood industry has huge opportunities in the future, but is Australia ready? What do we need to do to maximise our potential?

These are the questions addressed by the 2014 environmental scan of the agrifood industry, Lucky by Design, which was launched on 23 June 2014 by Senator Richard Colbeck in Canberra. The annual scan is the flagship publication for the AgriFood Skills Australia Industry Skills Council.

The 2014 scan identifies four key priorities for the agrifood industry:

1. Building world-class business management capability
2. Attracting a new generation of motivated, skilled and smart workers
3. Increasing industry adoption rates of new technologies and research outcomes
4. Utilising the skills of existing workers and lifting retention rates.

AgriFood’s environmental scan is based on real-time industry views and evidence from across the country, aiming to give readers a clear understanding of the key factors shaping agrifood workforce development.

The 2014 environmental scan can be downloaded from AgriFood's website.

On 7 April 2014 the Construction & Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) officially launched the E-learning Web Portal at its Industry Leaders Forum. The aim of the Portal is to support the construction and property services industries to implement high quality e-learning solutions. It is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all things e-learning and brings together the best from the myriad of information and expertise that is available throughout the web.

The Portal collates best practice and examples for CPSISC’s stakeholders, and contains:

• Learning bytes - a repository of learning objects for RTO cooperative members that can be used to complement delivery and assessment strategies
• Web apps - access to recommended web applications designed to support training and assessment
• Quality and standards - links to key websites and the latest information to ensure your e-learning practices comply with quality standards
• Good e-practice - links, guidance and tools to help implement quality e-learning within training and assessment processes. This area of the portal will give you access to everything you need to know about e-learning and how it can be used.

The E-Learning Web Portal can also be accessed from the CPSISC home page.

Government Skills Australia (GSA) has launched a new website, the Australian Water Occupations Framework (AWOF). The AWOF defines 28 water occupations linked to vocational qualifications in the water industry and details their core functions, tasks, skills and knowledge.

GSA is the national Industry Skills Council for the government and community safety sectors, representing the vocational education and training and workforce interests of the correctional services, local government, public safety, public sector and water industries.

The AWOF is a high level guide for employers and the vocational education and training sector in the water industry. It provides a guide to qualifications contained within the national Water training package (NWP) that addresses skills for the occupation.

The AWOF was developed from the need for national consensus on common roles, to list alternative titles and guide their need for training. The water industry aims to improve national workforce planning and national representation of the industry by adoption of the framework.

Work on the AWOF commenced in January 2013, with high level consultation to determine functional groups based on occupations. The functional groups have guided the work with the assistance of technical reference groups.

The benefits of the AWOF for the water industry include:

• Defines and clarifies roles within the water industry nationally
• Assists with building the case for expansion and improved representation in the ANZSCO codes and for data collection
• Recognises the skills required of individuals responsible for the provision of drinking water and treatment of sewage in Australian communities
• Highlights gaps for further development and improvement of the national water training package.

For further information visit the AWOF or email Sue Peisley, Industry Liaison Officer at Government Skills Australia.

The Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) has commissioned a report to research new roles and functions of allied health assistants, health service assistants, clinical coders, aged care workers, home and community care workers, disability workers and mental health workers. The report, New Roles in Community Services and Health Scoping Report, along with a summary document and recommendations, is now available on CS&HISC's website.

The 2014 IBSA VET practitioners’ conference, held in Melbourne on 7 May 2014, examined how practitioners of the future can improve outcomes for learners. All presenters were experts in the areas they spoke on and represented VET teachers, academics, teacher educators, educational technologists and leaders in the sector. The conference provided insight into what is required of VET practitioners today and into the future.

Even with the range of speakers, there were two key themes that emerged from all 12 presentations. The first was the need for practitioners to be aware of current and emerging technologies to maximise student outcomes and learning on the go (mobile learning). The second was the need for VET teachers with strong pedagogical / androgogical / heutagogical skills and knowledge or, more simply, strong teaching, learning and assessment skills and knowledge.

The conference was a call for VET practitioners to be identified as teaching professionals; people who understand their learners, the learning context and the technologies that engage students and will promote anywhere / anytime learning.

You can find more information on the conference on IBSA's website.

Further to the development of the iNotice app (see Skills@Work, May 2014 edition) NSW Community Services and Health ITAB has now released a free professional development programme for use by aged care community work services. iNotice will assist to heighten awareness of a variety of signs and symptoms that may be linked to a person’s medication management. It will support existing aged care community workers to work effectively with a heightened awareness of safe medication management within their current scope of practice. It also provides their coordinators with additional knowledge and skills for information sharing with all of the client’s care team, such as nurses, GPs and pharmacists.

The programme is now available on the NSW Community Services and Health ITAB's website or through the WorkPlace Skills virtual learning environment.

The July issue of CS&HISCs monthly newsletter, cs&h matters, will be its 100th issue. To celebrate, CS&HISC is running a special promotion for its readers and Twitter followers.  Details are now available on CS&HISC's website.

Continuous Improvement Project: Pest and Weed Management

AgriFood Skills Australia is currently reviewing the Pest and Weed Management qualifications framework and units of competency within the AHC10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management training package.

This project has been initiated as a result of submissions to the Continuous Improvement Register indicating that the current qualifications framework is not consistent with job roles currently performed in industry.

A project plan, including outcomes from the scoping phase and the validated job role statements, is available. Preliminary work on rewriting current units has begun, with consultation on draft materials including a review of the framework for pest and weed management qualifications to be conducted in the coming months. Project materials can be downloaded from the AgriFood website.

Senior Deckhand and Skipper skill sets

Senior Deckhand and Skipper skill sets for the SFI11 Seafood Industry training package have been endorsed and published as an ISC upgrade on training.gov.au.

As part of its workforce planning, the southern rock lobster industry has identified a need for its workforce to gain skills in all aspects of catching, handling, caring for and preparing for export rock lobsters. The skills required cover WHS, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and food safety. The Senior Deckhand and Skipper skill sets will assist the southern rock lobster industry to raise its international competitiveness through the majority of industry workers completing a certification program based on current units of competency.

Meat Industry MTM11 training package

The transition to the Standards for Training Packages has commenced for the Meat Industry MTM11 training package. The project will occur in seven stages:

1. Scoping
2. Review Meat Retailing and Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Graduate qualifications
3. Review Abattoirs qualification
4. Review Meat Safety qualification
5. Review Smallgoods and Food Services qualifications and skill sets
6. Companion/Implementation Guides and update of training and assessment materials
7. Completion of all Companion Guides and training and assessment materials.

The proposed completion date is 30 June 2015.

Updates to imported units of competency

From time to time, RTOs enquire as to the appropriate use of imported units of competency under the packaging rules of AgriFood qualifications. A unit of competency is considered to be imported if it is originally included in one training package but is used in a qualification from another. Common examples include units covering skills and knowledge for first aid or retail operations.

Because each ISC schedules the development and maintenance of its training packages separately, there are occasionally instances where RTOs are faced with having to deliver core units of competency that are listed as ‘superseded’ on training.gov.au. Where an imported unit listed in the packaging rules of an AgriFood qualification is marked as superseded on training.gov.au, RTOs will be required to continue delivery of the listed unit in order to meet the packaging rules.

Imported units are routinely updated in AgriFood’s training packages following industry validation to ensure the relevant units are still suitable for use.

Further information about AgriFood’s continuous improvement process, as well as the Standards for Training Packages, can be found on AgriFood's website.

CHC and HLT update

The first draft of the Ambulance Communication qualifications will be available for public consultation in August 2014.

The first aid units (HLTAID units) are again being reviewed in response to feedback received by the Minister for Industry from a number of registered training organisations.  Due to this review, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority and the Training Accreditation Council (WA) have announced an extension to the transition period for superseded first aid units of competency.

For information and updates on all CHC and HLT qualifications under review, visit CS&HISC's website.

Update on training package re-design projects

CPSISC has commenced the re-design of a number of qualifications within the existing CPC08 Construction, Plumbing and Services training package and the CPP07 Property Services training package to meet new national Standards for Training Packages.

For further information on CPSISC’s approach to the training package re-design work, you are encouraged to visit the training package re-design website where you can register your contact details to be included on the CPSISC national stakeholder database to receive ongoing training package updates.

Redevelopment work is well underway on existing qualifications and units of competency covering the industry sectors listed below, and dedicated websites have been developed on the CPSISC ‘Projects’ website for each. You can use the links below to access the project pages:

• Shopfitting
• Carpentry, joinery and formwork/falsework
• Signage
• Pest management
• Cleaning and carpet cleaning
• Building surveying
• Fire systems design management.

SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation training package: Continuous improvement update

Community Recreation and Fitness components

Feedback was sought and consultation undertaken of the first draft in March and April 2014 via face to face national consultation, targeted meetings, the feedback register, emails and letters. This feedback is currently being incorporated into the proposed scope of the second draft.

Sport and Outdoor Recreation components

Scoping for the Sport and Outdoor Recreation components will commence in July 2014.

Sport – Service Skills Australia (SSA) is currently finalising the members of the Sector Reference Group (SRG). Outlined below are the members and organisations who have accepted and the areas of the industry SSA plans to capture through the group:

• Development
• High performance
• Coaching
• Officiating
• Administration
• Events
• Media
• Marketing

Natalie Menzies (Chair) - Australian Sports Commission
Mark Bos - Sports Medicine Australia
Andrea Buckeridge - Tennis Australia
Vince Del Prete - WA Department of Sport and Recreation
Donna Spethman - Australian University Sports
Jan Sutherland - Service Skills South Australia / Sport SA
Scott Tutton - Cricket Victoria

The eighth member of the Sport SRG is yet to be confirmed.

Outdoor Recreation – The SRG will be represented by the Outdoor Council of Australia and the main state peak bodies, plus additional industry positions to address knowledge gaps. The aim of the SRG will be to review the current structure of the qualifications and skill sets as a part of the scoping phase and provide links to subject /activities experts for the review of the units of competency.

Charlie Cross (Co-Chair) - Outdoor Council of Australia
Clare Dallat (Co-Chair) - Industry
Nicholas Brown - Outdoors VIC
Phil Harrison - Industry
Margot Hurrell - Industry
Dylan Jones - Industry
David Pethrick - Australia Camps Association
Murray Stewart - QORF
Graham Sharpe - Outdoors WA
John Wells - ORIC
David Williamson - Recreation SA

WRAPS training package update

Currently there are a number of training packages up for review in the Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services (WRAPS) area.

Beauty

The second draft is currently been finalised prior to the drafts being open for a validation period. Validation will occur late July and into August 2014, with drafts available on SSA’s Online Feedback Register.

Retail

Drafting continues for the first draft to the Standards for Training Packages and also includes updates to content to reflect current industry practices. Additional scoping activities are underway to further explore specialist retail functions.

Community pharmacy

Drafting to the Standards for Training Packages has begun and with further scoping in specialist areas, in conjunction with consultations for the environmental scan.

Floristry

Feedback on the first draft has now closed and SSA is reviewing the feedback received. Nationally consistent feedback will be considered for inclusion in the second draft, due late this year.

For further information please visit SSA's website.

SkillsDMC RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry training package workshops - book now!

In November 2013 the RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry training package transitioned to the new Standards for Training Packages.

Since the transition SkillsDMC has fielded a large number of enquiries about changes that were made and their impact on implementing the training package. In recognition of this need, an implementation workshop has been developed to provide stakeholders with information about the changes and guidance on how to implement them in training and assessment practice.

The workshops will discuss how the Standards for Training Packages have been applied in the development of RII and will provide practical strategies trainers and assessors can use to meet the assessment requirements. They will also present a series of case studies that demonstrate how strong partnerships between enterprises and training providers have led to improved workforce development outcomes.

Workshops are being conducted in all state and territory capital cities, continuing into July 2014. Places are limited so book now to secure your seat. More information is available on the SkillsDMC Events page. If you have already registered for a session and find that one of the new dates is more suitable, please email Michelle Day to discuss transferring your registration.

Project co-ordinator – Tom Spottswood
Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade)

After struggling to link the practical with the theoretical in his university engineering studies, Tom Spottswood decided to enrol in an Australian Apprenticeship in engineering (mechanical trade) instead. Seven years after completion, he is enjoying a successful and varied career. Read more about Tom’s Australian Apprenticeships journey, including his win at the 2007 Australian Training Awards and his experiences working overseas.

Electrician and instrument technician – Emma Stevenson
Certificate III in Engineering (Electrical) and Certificate IV in Engineering (Instrumentation)

After initially turning down an Australian Apprenticeship in the electrical trade due to a lack of self-belief and not knowing any females in the field, Emma Stevenson has gone on to complete two qualifications and to win a number of awards through her training institute and her employers. Read more about Emma’s workplace and educational successes, including her appointment as the first female Australian Apprentice at BHP Billiton Nickel West's Leinster mine site.

Throughout July 2014

Velg Training offers a professional development (PD) programme using webinars to keep both members and non-members up to date on key developments in the VET sector.

Velg has released its updated calendar of PD webinar events, featuring a range of topics presented online by industry experts. Register now to receive all electronic resources, including the PowerPoint, webinar recording, chat Q&A transcript and additional presenter resources within 48 hours of the session’s close.

Sessions now live for registration are listed on Velg’s website, targeting VET practitioners working within RTOs and Queensland schools. Velg Training members, including all Corporate, Sibling and Individual accounts, receive discounts on Velg’s PD opportunities, with access to complimentary webinars via the exclusive Members’ Lounge online portal.

3 July 2014, Perth
9 July 2014, Hobart

The Department of Social Services has funded a review project that looks at sectors aligned with aged care and fall under the Direct Client Care grouping, which includes home and community care, allied health assistance, disability, leisure and health, mental health and more general community services and management. A series of consultation forums have been rolling out across the country, with forums still to be held in Hobart and Perth. Visit CS&HISC's website for details and to register.

9–11 July 2014, Melbourne

Don’t miss the 23rd National Vocational Education and Training Research (NCVER) ‘No Frills’ conference in Melbourne, which will feature five optional pre-conference professional development workshops and 50 presentations. Highlights include keynote addresses by:

• Steve Sargent, President and CEO of GE Mining, and coordinating chair of the B20 Human Capital Taskforce
• Mark Burford, Executive Director, Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Victoria University.

NCVER is thrilled to announce Fiona Lawrie, an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador, apprentice mechanic and founder of the recently launched Fanelle, as guest speaker at the conference dinner on 10 July. Fanelle's mission is to ensure society and the trade industry adapt to social change by supporting, encouraging and empowering women in male-dominated trades.

This is your opportunity to connect with leading researchers and professionals in the VET and higher education sectors.

Co-hosted by NCVER and Holmesglen, the conference will be held at Hemisphere Conference Centre at Holmesglen’s Moorabbin campus.

You can register online at NCVER’s Portal.

16 July, 30 July and 13 August 2014

VETnetwork Australia is excited to announce a brand new series of professional learning webinars. The series of webinars will focus on the ‘foundation skills’ and is designed for all VET practitioners, teacher trainers and facilitators who want to expand their knowledge and understanding of the foundations skills and their importance for vocational learners. Throughout the series participants will also have an opportunity to share their insights through interactive and engaging discussions.

This series will be divided into three distinct sessions including:

Session 1: Why do foundation skills matter to learners and employers?

• A look at what national and international statistics tell us about the skill needs of the working age population.
• Insights into the views of employers and the realities of workplace literacy.
• An introduction to national frameworks for measuring and comparing foundation skills levels.

Session 2: Balancing foundation skills in training and assessment

• Steps to make sure that training programs match workplace skills needs.
• Unpacking training packages to identify real foundation skills requirements.

Session 3: Helping learners to improve their foundation skills

• Delivery approaches and teaching strategies for building foundation skills.
• Accessing resources to support the delivery and assessment of foundation skills.

VETnetwork Australia’s online professional learning opportunities provide a flexible and inexpensive alternative to face to face workshops, with all electronic tools and presentations sent to participants post session, enabling you to revisit the content at any time.

Please see the webinar flyer for further information, cost and registration details, or email Keri Torney.

11–12 August 2014

You are reminded that the Department of Education will be hosting the 2014 HELP Provider Forum on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August 2014. The theme of this year’s forum is Quality and deregulation – better, faster, stronger. The HELP Provider Forum is an opportunity for the department to update the sector on Government priorities as well as providing a networking opportunity for HELP providers to connect with each other.

Registration for the Forum is now open. Please note that registration for the Forum has been extended until COB Friday 25 July 2014. For a registration link and up-to-date information please visit the department’s website.

Asia-Pacific International Education Forum (APIEF) – 27 August 2014, Perth
National conference – 28 and 29 August 2014, Fremantle

If you haven’t already registered for the ACPET 2014 national conference and APIEF in Western Australia, you still have the opportunity to register at the early bird rate!

This year, the national conference theme is Connecting up – the power of possibilities. It will feature a range of impressive speakers, exhibitors and colleagues from both global and domestic tertiary education markets. Delegates have the opportunity to experience Perth as well as Fremantle. Come along and be challenged by thought provoking presentations in iconic and historical locations such as the WACA and Fremantle's first convict building. Walk away with new networks and ideas on how you may connect up and heighten your institution's competitive positioning… it's all about the possibilities!

For further information on APIEF and the national conference, including registration details, please visit ACPET's website.

11 September 2014, Brisbane

The 10th SkillsDMC annual conference is a unique and valuable opportunity which will showcase how the collaboration of industry and governments continues to shape future workforce planning and development initiatives. Michael Pascoe will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Michael Roche, Chief Executive of SkillsDMC's close partner, the Queensland Resources Council, will be addressing conference delegates on the morning of the conference. SkillsDMC is delighted to have Michael participating in this milestone event.

Michael's experience covers a broad range of industries including economics, government and resources.

In 2012 Michael was appointed by the Premier and Minister for Education, Training and Employment to chair the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce, charged with recommending reforms to the Queensland vocational education and training sector. This initiative is the first ever industry-led review of vocational education and training in Queensland. Michael is also currently Acting Chair of the Queensland Ministerial Industry Commission on Skills, developed to provide advice to the Minister for Education, Training and Employment on Queensland's skills and workforce development priorities linked to employment outcomes and to advise government on funding priorities for qualifications matched to job opportunities.

Michael is also the ambassador for the Mining and Energy Challenge, part of the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave fundraising initiative.

The Queensland Resource Council represents the interests of more than 270 companies with direct and service sector investment in developing Queensland's minerals and energy resources.

The conference program is available on SkillsDMC's website and registrations are now open.

Should you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact GEMS Event Management on +61 02 9744 5252 or email Julie McGraw.

11–12 September 2014, Brisbane

Registration is open for Velg Training’s 2014 national VET conference, which will be delivered over two days, providing attendees the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of plenary and elective sessions from 11–12 September 2014 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The theme for this year’s event is Impossible is Possible Together and will focus on bringing VET professionals together to discuss recent updates to the sector and best practices for RTOs, acting as a platform for networking and collaboration.

The conference will feature three distinct streams: Policy and Reform, RTO Management and Compliance, and Training and Assessing. By popular demand, the Master Class elective stream will be returning in 2014, and Velg has introduced a dedicated Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) engagement stream. This will allow delegates to connect with ISCs and learn more about current and future projects, as well as training packages updates.

Attendees of the 2014 national VET conference will be divided into two client groups - RTO management and RTO trainers and assessors.

More information about the conference, including the programme, is available on Velg Training’s national conference website.

The 2013 national VET conference attracted over 950 attendees, making it the largest annual gathering of VET practitioners from across Australia.

Online registration for the 2014 national VET conference is now open for delegates.

17–19 September 2014, Darwin

Join VETnetwork Australia for its 2014 Biennial National Conference in Darwin. The conference theme of ‘Sustainability, Skills and Strategy’ focusses on the long term future of vocational education and training (VET) in an increasingly complex educational context.

Three key themes will run throughout the conference’s programme - sustainability for VET practitioners, skills for VET learners and strategy for the VET sector.

VETnetwork Australia looks forward to seeing you at the conference and hope you can join the Master Class which offers delegates the opportunity to be involved in the most up to date research information regarding VET in Australia and then tour one of three esteemed Northern Territory educational facilities.

For more information about the conference and to register, please visit the website.

18–20 September 2014, Perth

The nation’s largest and most prestigious trade and skill competition is almost here. This year, the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 to 20 September.

This unique event will showcase 500 of Australia’s best trainees, apprentices and students from 30 regions across the country competing for gold medal success and the prestigious title of ‘Nation’s Best’ in 50 trade and skill areas.

The National Competition will also feature WorldSkills Australia’s interactive Try’aSkill program where visitors can try their hand at various skill and trade areas.

Online registrations for the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition are now open.

For more information please visit the WorldSkills Australia website.

2–4 October 2014, Gold Coast

The Queensland Council for Adult Literacy is hosting the 37th annual conference of the Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL), Literacy: a learning spiral for life, in October 2014.

You are invited to come and join ACAL on the beautiful Gold Coast for this conference which will focus on the literacy or numeracy learner and discuss:

• How do literacy and numeracy theories and research outcomes inform our practice?
• How do national or state policies affect the individual learner?
• How can we ensure that teachers and trainers have the knowledge and skills to meet individual needs?

ACAL is inviting interested parties to participate in the conference by giving a presentation, a workshop or a colloquium, or by joining in the discussion and networking.

A pre-conference forum, Frameworks: do they inhibit or enhance the literacy spiral?, will be held on 2 October. The forum will focus on frameworks such as Foundation Skills, the Australian Core Skills Framework, Core Skills for Work, Core Skills for Employment and Training, Skill Sets and the VET Practitioner Capability Framework, what they are, how they fit together, and how they relate to literacy and numeracy programmes and individual learners.

The conference’s international keynote speakers will be:

• Dr Stephen Reder, Professor of Applied Linguistics at Portland State University
• Professor Diana Coben PhD, Director of the National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults at the University of Waikato, New Zealand and Emeritus Professor of Adult Numeracy at King’s College London, UK.

Further conference information, keynote speaker profiles and the call for presentations, is on ACAL’s website.

17 and 18 November 2014, Adelaide

The 2014 Government Skills Australia (GSA) national conference is being held at the newly completed Adelaide Oval and is now open for registrations.

The conference will bring together the government and community safety sectors to explore the future of skills and workforce development.

The conference will be delivered through interactive discussion, workshops and plenary sessions.

Online registrations are now open!

21 November 2014, Adelaide

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

Details of the venue and ticketing will be available on the website from 14 July 2014.

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

Ideas That Work has just released another nine 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 18 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 (NEW nine videos)
3. Introduction to workplace LLN series (new videos coming later 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 unit 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.

These videos were funded under the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program by the Australian Government's Department of Industry.

These free What Works for LLN resources are available for viewing and download on the Ideas That Work 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
• Professional Beauty Therapy
• Professional Chef
• Bookkeeping & Accounting Essentials
• Essential Clinical Skills for Enrolled / Div. 2 Nurses
• Programming and Planning in Early Childhood Settings
• Automotive Air Conditioning
• WHS: A Management Guide
• MGMT2
• MKTG2.

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.

On behalf of the WELL/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.

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.

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 or 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 August 2014. Submissions are due by 18 July 2014.