Fast-Track Apprenticeships grant funding for Registered Training Organisations
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will soon be calling for a second round of applications for funding for $50,000 (GST exclusive). Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) will be funded to develop and implement ‘Fast-Track Apprenticeships’.
Applicants should outline how their proposed activity will reduce the amount of time taken to complete entire apprenticeships (not just off-the-job components) in a way that ensures quality and meets the needs of industry, employers and apprentices. Prospective RTOs will also need to demonstrate how they will work with industry and local employers to develop and implement apprenticeships pathways for this purpose.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate:
- how proposed activities will reduce the completion time of an apprenticeship (not just off-the-job components), and still meet the high quality demands of industry, employers and apprentices;
- how they will work with industry and local employers to ‘fast-track’ apprenticeships; and
- how they will address skill shortages within regions as well as industry demand.
Information on how to apply for Fast-Track Applications Grants will be available shortly from
http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/RTO/Fast_track.aspHTAN Conference 2008 - Innovation, Industry & Insight
The Hunter Trainers & Assessors Network (HTAN) is a not-for-profit organisation for anyone working within the training industry. The objectives of HTAN are to:
- share information, support members to be at the cutting edge of Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- link in with other networks (for the benefit of members)
- encourage and support members with current skills in workplace training and assessment.
The Hunter Trainers & Assessors Network is holding its first ever HTAN Conference to be held at the Newcastle Panthers on Friday 23 May 2008.
This event has been specifically designed to address the professional development needs of anyone working within the training and development industry, including trainers, assessors, training administration staff, training coordinators, training managers, human resources officers - basically anyone who works in the training industry.
The keynote speaker for the conference will be Margaret Willis, the Director of Quality Assurance Services. Margaret will be speaking about the progress of AQTF 2007, the new standards for registered training organisations.
At the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to register for a number of workshops specifically targeting professional development tools and techniques for both administration staff and training staff.
The major event of the day will be a panel discussion involving industry, government and training. This panel discussion will give delegates the opportunity to discuss the future direction of how industry, government and training organisations can work together more effectively.
For more information and how to register for the conference please ring REACH for Training on 1300 361 343 or visit the
Hunter Trainers & Assessors Network website .
NSW DET Conference: “New Directions in Skills Policy and Practice”
This conference will examine skills and training in their workplace context and showcase lessons from the skill ecosystem approach to workforce development.
We welcome Professor Ewart Keep from the Centre for Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance, University of Cardiff as keynote speaker among other distinguished Australian researchers and workforce development specialists from industry. This all-day conference will take place at the, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, on Monday, 26 May 2008. For information visit www.skillecosystem.net and follow the prompts or contact Zoubeida at zoubeida.el-zahab@det.nsw.edu.au , 02 9244 5535.
Training Important for Welfare To Work
The journey from welfare to work is difficult for many and often requires more than a willing worker, according to new research. The vocational education and training (VET) sector is the one education sector ideally placed to assist welfare recipients into work.
Two studies published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research suggest that many long-term welfare recipients need basic educational skills before they can embark on more job-oriented training and finally move on to paid work.
One of the NCVER reports, The role of vocational education and training in welfare to work 
by John Guenther and colleagues, focuses on what makes training programs effective for people moving from welfare to work.
It says that among the challenges faced by jobless people and vocational education and training institutions are the personal circumstances of the jobless themselves.
To overcome these barriers the report calls for the VET and welfare systems to be flexible in dealing with jobless participants over problems caused by personal issues such as transport, child care and ill health.
Similarly, a study by Kate Barnett and John Spoehr, Complex not simple: The vocational education and training pathway from welfare to work , has also found that issues such as lack of transport or child care services form barriers to jobless people in training.
Addressing these concerns, both studies say jobless students need adequate pastoral care and support services while undertaking vocational training as part of their move towards paid work.
Fast Facts subscription tell a colleague or a friend
If you know anyone who would like to be kept informed of what’s happening in the VET Sector, send them a copy of this newsletter for their information. If you would like to subscribe, please see easy to follow instructions below.
1. Go to www.dest.gov.au/dss/ - please read the instructions then press the 'Continue' button
2. Enter your email address in the email form field then press the 'Continue' button
3. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you entered
4. Click the link in the email to activate your account. A list of departmental newsletters will be displayed
5. Select FAST FACTS (and any other newsletter(s) of interest to you)
6. Click the 'Save changes' button at the bottom of the page
7. Your details will be added to the database and you will regularly receive Australian Training Fast Facts and any other new newsletter(s) you have selected.
For more information visit www.dest.gov.au/dss/