Stronger role for VET to help Regions Grow
Closer relationships between vocational education and training providers and regional development agencies could help strengthen local growth, according to new research.
The double helix of vocational education and training and regional development by Peter Kearns, Kaye Bowman and Steve Garlick looked at five regions across Australia to assess how well VET is meeting the skills needs of those regions and supporting sustainable development.
The research was commissioned by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
NCVER Managing Director Tom Karmel said the research was prompted by recognition that the availability of people with the right skills is one of the most important factors in regional development.
“The Australian economy has enjoyed healthy growth over recent years, but many rural and remote regions are in decline or are stagnating,” Dr Karmel said.
“It’s clear that vocational education and training has a major role to play in helping regions achieve sustainable development. The question is, how well is the VET system supporting growth at a local level?”
Dr Karmel said the study suggests that VET must carve out a place for itself in the regional development process.
It also found that VET needs to respond to local needs as well as to national and state policy directions.
In line with this, VET organisations should also look outwards, engage broadly with local communities and aspire to whole-of-region development.
“Two of the success stories from the study were found in South Australia’s Northern Adelaide region and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast,” Dr Karmel said.
“In both regions planning links state and regional level priorities.”
To download a copy of The double helix of vocational education and training and regional development, please visit http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1989.html.
Do you provide skill development opportunities for small and micro businesses?
Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA), the Industry Skills Council responsible for Business Services, is compiling a register of skill development opportunities that specifically target small/micro business owners and managers. The register, which is part of a campaign to highlight the importance of skill development for business success, will be promoted to a range of services and programs that support small/micro businesses.
IBSA is interested in hearing about courses and programs that help small/micro business owners and managers to develop their management skills or solve common business problems.
If you would like to be included in the register, please send the following details (or any queries) to ibsa@ithacagroup.com.au
(i) A brief description of the course or program and how it meets the needs of small/micro businesses
(ii) Details of any nationally recognised training components
(iii) Eligibility requirements
(iv) Contact details
(v) A link to a webpage where further information can be found.
Industry-Specific Information
As part of NCVER's ongoing effort to provide industry-specific information we have published a series of 18 flyers based on Australian training statistics.
Each of the flyers (listed below, for your reference) focuses on a specific industry and explores the relationship between each industry and the VET system.
The flyers draw on the findings from the 2007 Survey of Employer Use and Views of the VET System and other sources. The information provided includes training needs, training strategies and employers' use of the VET system and their satisfaction with the training provided.
To access the full series of flyers, please visit http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1806.html
which will direct you to the Overview flyer; the other 17 flyers are available from links listed on this page.
Flyers included in the series are:
- Overview
- Accommodation, cafes and restaurants
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Communication services
- Construction
- Cultural and recreational services
- Education
- Electricity, gas and water supply
- Finance and insurance
- Government administration and defence
- Health and community services
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Personal and other services
- Property and business services
- Retail trade
- Transport and storage
- Wholesale trade
Forestry branches out into e-learning
Australia’s forestry industry is taking a step-up from traditional hands-on training methods to e-learning as a way to train new forestry recruits in Western Australia.
The ForestSafe e-learning demonstration is the forestry industry’s first foray into e-learning and has been developed by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) Western Australia, in partnership with registered training organisation Great Southern TAFE in Albany, Western Australia.
Funded in 2007 by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, the e-learning demonstration is aimed at new forestry recruits who are required to complete the Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management in their first year on the job.
The e-learning demonstration uses text, audio and video to engage participants, and focuses on environmental health and safety components of the Certificate III.
Participants are able to complete the e-learning demonstration at their own pace, at a convenient time and location. This flexibility enables FPC to save on training costs associated with travel, accommodation and venue hire.
The e-learning demonstration, comprising 11 digital flipbooks, was developed for delivery on DVD-ROM and addresses the following topics:
- legislation and duty of care
- occupational health and safety committees
- workers compensation
- staff counselling
- alcohol and drug issues
- removal of a hazardous tree
- risk management
- hazard reporting
- dealing with incidents.
Successful completion of this training can contribute towards the
unit of competency
Implement SHE Policies and Procedures from the
Certificate III in Forest Growing and Management.
Although the e-learning demonstration is specific to the forestry industry, it can be used as a guide to developing e-learning across a variety of industries.
To access a preview of the ForestSafe e-learning demonstration, its case study, business case and other additional information visit the
Forest Products Commission e-learning demonstration web page.
For more information about the 40
industry e-learning demonstrations developed between 2005 – 2007 visit the E-learning for Industry website at:
http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au. This industry-focused website provides rich resources, such as an online
Practical guide to e-learning for industry where businesses can discover how to make e-learning work in their organisation.
For more information about industry use of e-learning contact Jenny Dodd, Industry Integration of E-learning Business Manager on (02) 6207 4955 or email:
industry@flexiblelearning.net.au
For more information about the Framework, its products, resources and support networks, contact: (07) 3307 4700, email:
enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au or visit:
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.auRegistration open for 2008 VELG National Conference
Registration is now open for 2008 Vocational Education Learning Group National Conference to be held on 7 and 8 August 2008 on the Gold Coast.
The conference, themed ‘Striving for Excellence in Vocational Education’ will focus on:
- the progress of the AQTF 2007
- what the ‘Quality Indicators’ will have unveiled
- how to achieve the next registered training organisation level of ‘Excellence’ through the implementation of the Excellence Criteria.
Key learning areas to be addressed will include quality indicators, external and internal auditing, and the Excellence Criteria.
A Panel Session will discover the achievements of the 2007 VELG Funding Grant Winners in the last 12 months. A range of elective sessions will be designed to aid registered training organisations in their pursuit of excellence in vocational education and training.
A fantastic networking opportunity will be provided at the FREE Welcome Function (with an open bar and nibbles!) on the Thursday evening (7 August, 2008).
REGISTER NOW so you don’t miss out on what is set to be one of the year’s best vocational education forums.
Registrations close on 25 July 2008.
For more information contact Melissa Upson, Voc Ed Learning Group, on
07 3010 9334, natconference@velg.com.au or visit www.velg.com.au Do you look forward to your fortnightly edition of Fast Facts? Why not refer a friend?
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