December 2016

WHAT'S HAPPENING

We have arrived at the end of another year of reform and improvements to our vocational education and training (VET) sector. We have made changes to ensure the quality of our training remains at the highest standard because when we get our training sector right it means we can create the best opportunities for our students, employers and the broader Australian community.

It is important at this time to pause and recognise the great work and the valuable contribution training providers, students, apprentices and employers are making all year around. The Australian Training Awards provide the perfect opportunity for us to acknowledge and celebrate the fantastic contribution they are making to the VET sector. The Awards were held in Darwin on 17 November and I congratulate all of those nominated for their outstanding achievements.

I was delighted to present a number of awards including that of the Australian Apprentice of the Year, Shane Dealy. Shane’s story, and those of this year’s winners and finalists more generally, demonstrate the transformative power VET can have on a person’s life.

The day after the training awards I chaired the skills stream of the Council of Australian Governments Industry and Skills Council. I held productive and worthwhile discussions with state and territory ministers and officials on identifying priorities for VET focused on improving outcomes for students, employers and the economy.

I also had a great opportunity to join my colleagues to meet with the Council for International Education. They included Ministers Birmingham, Ciobo, Hunt and Assistant Minister Hawke. We discussed the important contribution Australian VET is making to international education, and the opportunities it offers to ensure a skilled workforce for the future, both here and overseas.

I would like to close by wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. I look forward to 2017 and the opportunities to further enhance our VET sector to deliver the best possible outcomes.

The Hon Karen Andrews MP

Picture: The Council for International Education at its first meeting on Wednesday 23 November.

With 17 Award categories on offer, all states and territories joined in the celebrations as their home grown talent was honoured at the 2016 Australian Training Awards held in Darwin last month.

Top honours were given to Douglas Wright AM who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award with Denise Stevens receiving the National Achievement Award.

The Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills hosted the dinner, providing the keynote address and presenting the Australian Government sponsored awards at the presentation dinner.

“I believe in the transformative nature of vocational education that tonight’s awards highlight,” Minister Andrews said.

“I have a very clear message for Australians; you don’t have to go to university to get a job and build a career. VET and Australian Apprenticeships can take you there.”

Minister Andrews also used the opportunity to launch the VET Alumni and farewell retiring Australian Skills Quality Authority Chief Commissioner, Chris Robinson.

‘Chris has laid the foundation for consistent and effective regulatory practices across the sector as Chief Commissioner for ASQA’s first five years.’

Winner, runner up and finalist biographies are available on the Australian Training Awards website. To view the online conversations about the Awards, search the social media hashtag #ATA2016 or visit the Awards’ Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

Held each November, the Awards are the peak national awards for VET, recognising innovation and excellence in the training sector. Many of the awards are the culmination of the state and territory training awards with winners from each state and territory competing in these national finals. Seven of the awards are available by direct entry to the national level.

2017 direct entry categories of the Awards are now open. For more information visit the website.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Eight finalists across a broad range of industries proudly represented the ACT at the Australian Training Awards. The ACT representatives showcased the diverse opportunities that are provided through VET in Canberra. The ACT performed exceptionally well at the Awards this year with 3 winners and one runner-up announced on the night:

• Shane Dealy was named the 2016 Australian Apprentice of the Year
• Bond Hair Religion was named the 2016 Small Employer of the Year
• Academy of Interactive Entertainment was named the 2016 Small Training Provider of the Year
• Madeline Wallace was named the runner-up in the 2016 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year category

ACT Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research Meegan Fitzharris said the awards were a testament to the local VET sector and the people who work tirelessly to produce the best graduates in the country.

"Canberra prides itself on being the innovation and education capital of Australia and the ACT government is committed to ensuring the ACT has a high quality VET sector that delivers the best outcomes and graduates in the country."

Picture: Shane Dealy on stage after receiving the 2016 Australian Apprentice of the Year Award.

Article provided by: Skills Canberra, Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, ACT Government.

NSW scooped top teaching and business awards at the prestigious 2017 Australian Training Awards held in Darwin on Thursday 17 November.

In acknowledgement of excellence in vocational education and training:

• Donna Colombini won the VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award
• The Skills Exchange – Barangaroo and Darling Harbour took out the Industry Collaboration Award.

Donna, a hairdressing teacher with an extensive career in the industry, has encouraged students to gain core salon skills and an appreciation of the latest trends and techniques. Through her own practice and leadership of her team of teachers, she has been instrumental in building strong links with local employers and industry, delivering innovative training and promoting best practice.

The Skills Exchange, formed by TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute and Lendlease, has forged an innovative training model for two of Sydney’s large scale urban regeneration projects at Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. The Skills Exchange procures, coordinates and reports on all the different aspects of skilling and training. So far over 10,000 workers have achieved formal skills training to provide a highly skilled and capable workforce.

Also awarded was Courtney Harrison, being recognised as runner-up Apprentice of the Year. Courtney, Winner - 2016 NSW Apprentice of the Year, decided at high school that a career in automotive mechanical technology working with light vehicles was for her. She has been highly successful in meeting the challenges in this non-traditional trade area and has quickly become an essential member of her employer’s team. Watch her inspiring video story.

Gary Barnes, Deputy Secretary Economic, Skills & Regional Development at the NSW Department of Industry who was in Darwin to attend the Awards and congratulate the winners and finalists, said “Vocational education and training creates important career pathways for our young people in NSW, and the department is focused on maximising the return from investment in skills as part of our work to transform the delivery of vocational and training services.”

To read the stories of all the winners at NSW 2016 Training Awards held in Sydney in September go to the Training Services NSW website.

Article provided by: NSW Department of Industry.

With the conclusion of a hugely successful 2016 Australian Training Awards, direct entry catagories for the 2017 Australian Training Awards are now open for nominations.

The 2017 Australian Training Awards will be held in Canberra in November. Find out more at www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au

For the full profiles of the 2016 Australian Training Awards winners visit https://www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au/awards/2016

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

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

If you are considering a VET course to start your career, or if you are looking for a career change, you can find information and get inspired by selecting Individual (student) stories. Select your career of interest from the industry list. You can then choose your state or territory to read about someone near you.

If you are considering using VET to start or grow your business you can read how award winning employers are using VET to improve their business by selecting Business and then choosing your industry area. You can then choose your state or territory to read about a business near you.

To find out more about the best training institutes in your state or territory, select Registered Training Organisation then choose your state or territory.

https://www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au/vetalumni

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Industry Reference Committee Review

Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) are central to the development of occupational skills standards - or training packages – that reflect the skills needs and priorities of employers.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) is reviewing the structure and membership of its network of IRCs to ensure they provide relevant, up-to-date expertise to support training package development for their industry. A number of IRC reviews are complete, including Furnishing, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, and Electrotechnology, with several more underway. It is expected the remaining IRCs will be finalised in early 2017.

More information is available on the AISC website.

The AISC met in Darwin on 17 November 2016, approving the structure and membership of five IRCs. Further information on the outcomes of the meeting is available in their communique.

Skills Service Organisations Announced

Skills Service Organisations (SSOs) provide professional enabling services (including technical, operational and secretariat activities) to IRCs, to support engagement with industry and guide the development of training packages.

On 10 November 2016, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, announced SSOs for the three remaining sectors:

• Innovation and Business Skills Australia for the manufacturing sector; and
• PricewaterhouseCoopers Skills for Australia, an existing SSO, for the automotive and mining and drilling sectors.

They join SSOs:

• SkillsIQ;
• Artibus Innovation;
• Sills Impact; and
• Australian Industry Standards.

More information is available on the Australian Industry and Skills Committee website.

Article provided by: Australian Industry and Skills Committee.

Four-Year Workplans

SkillsIQ has submitted 16 Four-Year Workplans, on behalf of the IRCs it supports, to the AISC for consideration. Each workplan outlines a proposed schedule for the ongoing review of relevant training package products to inform the development of the four-year rolling National Schedule.

A comprehensive industry analysis of both new and emerging workforce skills needs of the sector has informed workplan development, inclusive of a national survey completed by over 1,400 individuals. SkillsIQ would like to acknowledge the contributions made by industry during the development of these workplans.

The Four-Year Workplan for each IRC can be accessed here.

Business Cases

Under the direction of its IRCs, SkillsIQ is preparing a number of business cases to support the review and development of training package products as approved by the AISC. Each business case will seek to understand the workforce and skills needs of the respective sectors and identify changes required to ensure industry has access to contemporary training package products. Industry input and feedback will primarily inform the business case development and review process.

SkillsIQ is developing business cases that support the proposed review of the following:

• Events training package products (SIT Tourism, Travel and Hospitability Training Package)
• Children’s Education and Care training package products (CSH Community Services Training Package)
• Gaming training package products (SIT Tourism, Travel and Hospitability Training Package)
• Graduate Certificate of Intense Pulsed Light and Laser (SHB Beauty Training Package)
• Local Government training package products (LGA Local Government Training Package)
• Outdoor Recreation training package products (SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package)
• Sports training package products (SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package)

Further information can be found here.

Article provided by: SkillsIQ.

On 17 November 2016, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, held the National Career Education Roundtable in Darwin.

Assistant Minister Andrews joined education, industry, career and parent sectors for a discussion on the development of a new National Career Education Strategy.

Research indicates many young people are leaving school each year without a clear and achievable career plan, leaving them more vulnerable to unemployment. It is now more important than ever that stakeholders work together to ensure students make a successful transition to life beyond school. The new strategy will address these issues and many of the challenges facing young people in a rapidly changing global job market.

Coinciding with the roundtable, Assistant Minister Andrews also launched the Career education self-assessment tool for schools. Developed by the Australian Government with support from the Career Industry Council of Australia, the new online tool will assist schools to evaluate and improve their career education strategies.

The tool adds to a suite of resources developed with the support of the Australian Government to implement the Preparing Secondary Students for Work framework and is available on the Preparing Secondary Students for Work website.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Funded by the Department of Education and Training, the Foundation Skills Assessment Tool (FSAT) is an interactive online tool designed to identify and measure an individual’s foundation skill levels (English language, literacy and numeracy skills as well as employability skills). These skills are fundamental to participation in the workforce, the community and in adult education and training.

FSAT will provide valuable information to trainers and educators through RTOs, enabling them to assess their client’s foundation skill levels, and identify skills and knowledge where additional development may be beneficial. This, in turn, will assist students and job seekers, by targeting the areas where individuals may require additional support.

The department is currently working with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to finalise and validate FSAT. By participating in this phase of FSAT development, you will be helping to ensure that a final and free version of FSAT is available to the VET sector as quickly as possible. We invite you to use the tool and provide feedback.

Further information regarding FSAT, including answers to ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, is available on our website.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

The Australian Government Department of Employment is pleased to announce the launch of the Job Jumpstart website.

What is Job Jumpstart?

Job Jumpstart is a one-stop-shop for young people seeking employment planning and job search information. The website brings together a range of relevant government information as well as recruitment insights from Australian employers to help young people better understand their employment goals and how to achieve them.

The simple but intuitive content filtering approach enables users to easily access information relevant to their unique life stage. Users can also sort content by the three main topics: Looking for a job, Building a career and At work. The website offers content in the form of articles; with workbooks, videos and external links available for those wishing to explore a topic in more detail.

Support for teachers and advisers

The website contains a section dedicated to those providing advice and support to young people including parents, teachers, school career advisers and employment consultants. Visit our Adviser section or search our Toolbox for a range of workbooks, fact sheets and tip sheets.

The Department is seeking your feedback, ideas and suggestions on how we could improve this service. Feedback can be submitted via our BETA page.

If you have any questions, please contact us via our Contact page or via email at jobjumpstart@employment.gov.au.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Employment.

A trial activation for selected RTOs and students will be held ahead of full activation of the USI Transcript Service. This trial is scheduled from 9-22 December 2016.

Students - Did you previously undertake AND complete a nationally recognised certificate or diploma in 2015?

If so, you will have the opportunity to participate in the scheduled trail.

You will be able to view your transcript online via the student account portal and download it either partially or in full. You will also have the option to give permission to training providers to view your transcript online for a period of your choice.

It is important to note that your transcript doesn’t replace the certificates and other documents supplied by your training provider but will act as a backup and will join up records over the longer term.

For more information on the Transcript Service, please see the Student Transcript Fact Sheet.

Training Providers – Getting Prepared: What this means for you? 

As part of the USI Transcript Service trial activation, training providers will be provided with access to the USI Transcript Update Tool. It will enable them to make any necessary updates to missing or incorrect data in their students’ Transcripts. The Update Tool will be accessible via the AVETMISS Validation Software (AVS).

Training Providers who submit AVETMISS data directly to NCVER will already be registered to use AVS, but those submitting via State Training Authorities may not be registered and they will need to be registered to be able to use the Update Tool. More information on how to register for AVS is provided in the USI Update Tool Fact Sheet.

RTOs are invited to participate in an information webinar scheduled for Tuesday 6 December 2016. For more information on the webinar and how to register,  please visit the USI website.

Article provided by: Office of the USI Registrar.

The National Training Complaints Hotline streamlines and simplifies the reporting of complaints for VET consumers including students and other stakeholders. While the service does not directly investigate or address complaints, it connects people with the most appropriate organisation to resolve them.

The Hotline is an easy to use and accessible central contact point for VET students to direct complaints about the training sector - that is, complaints relating to their training at the Certificate I to IV, and Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels.

The Hotline has become a valuable tool to map trends in the VET sector and to help students who may have training issues preventing them from achieving their best educational outcome. Over 1700 calls have been received since January 2015.

The Hotline is accessible on 13 38 73 (option 4), Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm nationally or via email at NTCH@education.gov.au.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

Following feedback from users and an agreement from state and territory ministers, a new Deleted status will be introduced in the national register (TGA). The implementation of the status will occur in two phases.

The first phase will mark legacy training packages and components (including Enterprise training packages) as Deleted. This is scheduled for release by end 2016.

The second phase will see the Deleted status expanded to all relevant training packages and their components. Any training packages or components currently marked as superseded with no replacement will have their status updated to Deleted. Any training packages or components released following the implementation that meet this criteria will also be marked as Deleted. The second phase is scheduled for release in early 2017.

It should be noted that the marking of these components as Deleted reflects the fact that they are no longer able to be delivered as nationally recognised training. It does not go to the validity of qualifications previously awarded.

If you have any questions, please contact the TGA Help Desk: tgahelp@education.gov.au.

Article provided by: Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

The NSW Government has announced new training opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers under Smart and Skilled.

Eligibility under Smart and Skilled will be extended from 1 January 2017 to further categories of humanitarian visas held by asylum seekers and refugees. Eligible visa holders will not pay course fees for their Smart and Skilled training up to Certificate IV level.

Humanitarian visa holders who met the Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria have been able to access NSW Government-subsidised training since the commencement of Smart and Skilled. Eligibility will be extended to individuals who hold a bridging visa or specific temporary humanitarian visa and whose training commences on or after 1 January 2017.

In addition, the NSW Government has announced a number of initiatives to assist asylum seekers and refugees to get a job and relieve local skills shortages in the State’s growing economy. In addition to training under Smart and Skilled, these initiatives include:

• a NSW-based overseas skills assessment and advisory service
• non-English language materials to support migrants’ education and training
• a Refugee Employment Support Program to help refugees in Western Sydney and the Illawarra find sustainable and meaningful employment.

More information is on the Training Services NSW website.

Article provided by: NSW Department of Industry.

Eligibility for Smart and Skilled is being extended to registered home schooled students whose training commences on or after 1 January 2017 and who meet the additional criteria:

• Aged 15 years or older
• live or work in New South Wales
• an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen.

More information is at Are You Eligible on the Smart and Skilled website.

Article provided by: NSW Department of Industry.

After more than 11 years leading TDA, Chief Executive Officer Martin Riordan has notified the Board that he will step down from the role, effective March 2017. Read more.

Article provided by:TAFE Directors Australia.

Are you interested in presenting at the 26th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference 'No Frills'? The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is now accepting abstracts for both oral and poster presentations from industry, practitioners, policy makers and researchers. We strongly encourage both new and experienced presenters to apply.

Why present?

• Contribute to the future of vocational education and training.
• Promote your work at a major national research conference to research, industry, practitioners and government representatives.
• Network and share ideas with other professionals.

No Frills' is a well-known annual national conference where researchers and practitioners in the vocational education and training (VET) sector come together to present, discuss and share information about key issues confronting the sector.

Co-hosted with TasTAFE, the conference is being held in Hobart from 5 to 7 July 2017.

All abstracts must be submitted online by 5pm on Monday 20 February 2017.

For more information.

Article provided by: NCVER.

11–12 May 2017, Sydney

Influential learning experts Connie Malamed (USA) and Sahana Chattopadhyay (India) will be keynote speakers at AITD's Annual National Conference.

The Conference is a highly regarded event for providing delegates with high quality, dynamic presentations on an exciting range of innovative topics. In 2017 we will be exploring learning ecosystems; performance support; learning technologies; microlearning; big data; curation; gamification and more.

Register before 31 December 2016 and save up to 40% off standard registration prices. Visit the AITD website to register and for more information. Details about speakers and topics will be posted on the website as they become available. Follow @aitd1 on Twitter #AITD2017 for updates.

Article provided by: AITD.

FACES OF EXCELLENCE

Energy Skills Queensland CEO, Penelope Twemlow, was named the 2016 Telstra Queensland For Purpose and Social Enterprise Woman of the Year at a ceremony in Brisbane on 14 October, 2016.

Energy Skills Queensland is an independent, not-for-profit organisation providing innovative solutions to enable a skilled and safe energy industry. Supporting the electricity, oil and gas, mining, renewable and telecommunications sectors, Energy Skills Queensland engages, researches and develops products and services that align to the current and future needs of our stakeholders.

Before taking the helm at Energy Skills Queensland, Penelope spent a decade in the Royal Australian Navy where she worked as a Warfare Officer and Service Police Investigator. On completion of her time in the Forces, Penelope founded and ran her own corporate consultancy business, General Manager Pty Ltd, prior to being tapped on the shoulder in mid-2015 to steer Energy Skills Queensland into the next decade.

Penelope is the founder and Chairwoman of Women in Power; a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and improve the electrical and electrotechnology industry by the advancement of women within it. Penelope is also a member of the National Association of Women in Construction and the Chair of the Queensland Electrical Safety Education Committee, an initiative of the Electrical Safety Office through Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

Aside from her professional exploits, Penelope is proud to be an advocate and ambassador for domestic violence and mental health, two areas that she has borne personally.

Through Penelope’s fundraising and advocacy work, she continues to fight for human rights, democracy and common values of humanity. She also advocates for mental health, fighting to bring it out of the shadows and to assist people to talk about their fight.

Penelope was named a finalist in the 2016 Brisbane Women in Business Awards, the National Association of Women in Construction Awards, the Australian Institute of Management Leadership Awards and the Lord Mayors Business Awards.

Now in their 22nd year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards are Australia’s longest running women’s awards program. They are designed to recognise and reward the "courage, leadership and creativity of brilliant business women".

Article provided by: Penelope Twemlow, CEO, Energy Skills Queensland.

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

A selection of VET related tools and resources at your fingertips.

CONTRIBUTIONS

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

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

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

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