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JANUARY - FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

NEWS FROM DEB’S DESK

Well 2017 is well and truly upon us and the wheels at QFSR Skills Alliance are churning.

To start the new year, I would highly recommend the Queensland Government Sport and Recreation Conference hosted by the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing.  The conference is being delivered at various sites across Queensland and are FREE.  For more details see below.

In 2017 we will be providing more opportunities for industry, including RTOs and employers, to provide feedback on:

  • How the VET system is meeting their organisational needs in terms of product and access to training
  • The impacts of the Queensland Government investment strategies under the Annual Investment Plan to meet our industry’s training needs
  • Future skills needs and training priorities

We hope you take the time to participate in these opportunities and provide us important industry intelligence needed to inform government bodies of what and where investment needs to be directed.

Don’t forget, if you have a newsworthy article or information you would like to share via our newsletter, please contact us and will be happy to include it in our next newsletter.

Deb Crompton
CEO

Sport and Recreation Conference - REGISTER NOW!

Why not start 2017 with some professional development?  QFSR Skills Alliance highly recommends the following Queensland Government Sport and Recreation Conference offered at various locations throughout Queensland.

The two day Sport and Recreation Conference Delivered by the Queensland Government, in partnership with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games’ (GC2018) Legacy Program, the Sport and Recreation Conferences – plan, prepare, perform will be held across Queensland to help provide industry professionals with the latest information and trends in sport and recreation, and volunteers with training in core club management topics.

The conference will focus on key local issues to help build your organisational capacity, inspire new ideas and help you take on challenges in the changing world of sport and recreation. The conference will also feature trade displays and provide networking opportunities for participants.

Book now so you don't miss out!

For more information, the full two day program and to register click here.

Changes to the 2016-2017 User Choice Policy and Qualification and Price List

Please find below information about changes to the Queensland Government’s user choice policy (i.e. funding arrangements for Apprenticeships and Traineeships).

These changes are summarised below:

  1.  Changes to the User Choice 2016-17 Policy (section 2.1.1 Prioritisation of funding, page 4) –

      The definition of an Existing Worker has been updated to:

  •  Existing workers with an active registration number commencement date or recommencement date from 1 January 2017 are eligible for funding when undertaking Priority One, Priority Two or Priority Three qualifications.
  • Existing workers with an active registration number commencement date or recommencement date up to 31 December 2016, irrespective of whether they belong to a Priority Population Group, are eligible for funding only when undertaking Priority One qualifications.

2.   Changes to the User Choice 2016-17 Qualification and Price List

  • The User Choice price represents the level of public funding the government contributes towards the total cost of training for apprentices and trainees.
  • The department has increased the amount subsidised for Priority Two and Priority Three qualifications – the new prices take effect from 1 January 2017 and apply to all students enrolled in the applicable qualifications.
  • The changes are reflected on the User Choice Price List, QTIS and in the User Choice 2016-17 Policy (increased percentages updated on page 4).

Reference to the Active Registration Number commencement date refers to the date that the Apprentice or trainee commences their training agreement.

Notification of Approval for the Declaration of Traineeships - SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package

Please be advised that the traineeships below have been declared with an effective date of 22 December 2016.

  • SIS20115 Sport and Recreation Assistant Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
  • SIS31015 Pool Lifeguard  Certificate III in Aquatics and Community Recreation
  • SIS30115 Sport and Recreation Officer Certificate III in Sport and Recreation 
  • SIS40115 Sport and Recreation Co-ordinator Certificate IV in Sport and Recreation

The traineeships below will be placed into phase out :

  • SIS20313 Sport and Recreation Assistant Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
  • SIS30113 Aquatic Industry Worker Certificate III in Aquatics
  • SIS30213 Community Recreation Officer Certificate III in Community Activity Programs
  • SIS30513 Sport and Recreation Officer Certificate III in Sport and Recreation
  • SIS40412 Sport and Recreation Co-ordinator Certificate IV in Sport and Recreation

For more detailed information please refer to the Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS).

VET STUDENT LOANS

VET Student Loans commenced on 1 January 2017, replacing the VET FEE‑HELP scheme, which ceased on 31 December 2016.

Information about the new program is outlined on the Australian Government Department of Education and Training website or click here.

QUEENSLAND VOLUNTEERING AWARD 2017

These prestigious awards acknowledge the endeavours of inspiring Queenslanders who promote the spirit of volunteerism.  They pay tribute to their compassion, commitment, hard work and the positive impact they contribute to communities.

If you know a volunteer, manager of volunteers, volunteer program or employee volunteering program that deserves recognition, nominate them today!

Nominations are open until 28 February 2017.  Click here for more information.

QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARDS 2017

Nominations are now open for the 2017 Queensland Training Awards — celebrating everyday Queenslanders who achieve success, best practice and innovation through vocational education and training (VET).  The prestigious awards recognise those involved in training, including apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers and trainers, training providers, community-based organisations and employers.

Nominate now! Nominations close on 31 March 2017.  Click here for more information.

HEALTHY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GRANTS – BCC

Brisbane City Council's Healthy and Physical Activity Grants provide funding to local not-for-profit community groups for projects to increase participation in community sport, recreation and physical activity in Brisbane.

Projects that achieve one or more of the following criteria may be eligible for funding:

  • to increase community participation in sporting and recreational activities through innovative programs and activities
  • to increase the community's health through participation in physical activity
  • to support community organisations to develop new sport and recreation opportunities in Brisbane
  • to generate long-term, ongoing participation in physical activity.

Funding amounts range from $5000 to $20,000.

Applications for this grant are now open and will close at midnight on Monday 27 February 2017.

If you are a sporting club that needs assistance with grant writing we are here to help. Call us to discuss your needs.

Click here for more information and to apply.

SKILLING QUEENSLANDERS FOR WORK – GRADUATIONS

In December 2016 we held two graduations for our Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects on the Sunshine Coast.

Firstly we would like to congratulate the Get Set for Work participants who completed their Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation during the project.  We would also like to thank our partner RTO in this project, The Outdoor Education Consultants, for their work and support of the participants.  This project achieved great outcomes with trainees moving on to further training opportunities and others securing part time and full time employment.

Congratulations and well done also to the Work Skills Trainee graduates who completed their Certificate I in Construction.  These trainees undertook minor construction work on a number of local sport clubs and council recreation spaces during the project. 

These projects were proudly funded by the Queensland Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

GSFW Graduation

Work Skills Traineeship Graduation

$20,000 BACK TO WORK ‘YOUTH BOOST’ A BOON FOR REGIONAL BUSINESSES

Queensland employers will have an additional incentive to hire local young people this festive season.  The Queensland Government is doubling of the Government's $10,000 incentive, offering a $20,000 kick-back for regional businesses who hire unemployed youths.

This is a massive incentive for businesses to hire, especially as school leavers start to look for work after Christmas, and applies to unemployed people aged between 15-24.

It opens on 1 December 2016 and expires on 28 February 2017.

For more information including eligibility click on the following links:

Back to Work Employer Jobseeker Basics Flyer

Youth Boost Flyer

SKILLS FOR AUSTRALIA FORUMS

You are invited to attend a free forum run by Skills for Australia that focus on one of the following list of seven training package projects. Foundation skills, Financial Services, Information Communication and Business are four generic skilling priorities for all industry sectors. Ensuring that training packages are fit for purpose for all industry sectors is both important and challenging. The purpose of these forums is to enable meaningful contribution by anyone interested to inform the updates to be made to these training package.

Business Services (Tuesday 14 February 2pm to 5pm)

  • Review purchasing qualifications in the BSB Training Package

Education (Wednesday 15 February 9am to noon)

  • Review the Foundation Skills Training Package

Financial Services (Wednesday 15, 2pm to 5pm: payroll diploma and skill set,  and Friday 17 February 9am to noon)

  • Review accounting and bookkeeping qualifications in the FNS Training Package
  • Develop a diploma and skill set for payroll in the FNS Training Package
  • Develop a skill set in business conduct and ethics in the FNS Training Package

Information & Communications Technology (Thursday 16 February 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm)

  • Review qualifications relating to telecoms technology that may not be fit for purpose in the ICT Training Package (morning session)
  • Review IT qualifications that may not be fit for purpose in the ICT Training Package (afternoon session)

Registrations are essential and spaces are limited. The Queensland Department of Education and Training encourages interested industry stakeholders to attend a forum and, if you are interested, encourage you to register.

To register, simply click ‘Register’. 

For those who are unable to attend in person, Skills for Australia are also hosting online webinar versions of the sessions. For more information about the forums and the planned online webinars please visit the Skills for Australia webpage https://www.skillsforaustralia.com/2017/01/18/skills-for-australias-open-forums/.

Thank you for your consideration of participating in this event.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Finally, please allow us to keep you up to date and informed on the workforce development issues and efforts of our industry and our latest training and consultancy services by “Liking” us on Facebook and “Following” us on twitter.

FACEBOOK COMPETITION – we are still working on our goal to reach 100 likes – all those who help us to reach our goal in the next month will go into the draw to win a QFSR Skills Alliance pack.

Skills Alliance Facebook Page 
Twitter