HTAN 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.
Faster Training Could Plug Australia’s Skills Gap
New style, faster apprenticeships may be an answer to Australia’s much talked about skills shortage, according to research released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
The report, Accelerated apprenticeships: Apprentice, employer and teaching staff perceptions by Victor Callan, says faster trade training has potential benefits for workers and employers.
For apprentices quicker training means faster skills acquisition and higher wages. Meanwhile employers benefit from increased availability of qualified tradespeople and higher productivity from better and more quickly trained employees.
NCVER Managing Director, Tom Karmel, said traditional apprenticeships were under pressure.
“While apprenticeships have traditionally been the way the Australian community meets its skills needs, there are concerns that current models are not delivering,” Dr Karmel said.
“Some industries suffer high non-completion rates and there is a general difficulty in attracting enough employers to take on apprentices.
“Victor Callan’s research for NCVER strongly suggests that accelerated apprenticeships, which reduce the standard four-year duration of a trade apprenticeship, may be a step in the right direction.”
The research identifies advantages of accelerated trade training that include:
- larger pool of qualified tradespeople to help address skills gaps
- quicker access to higher wages for employees due to shorter training period
- greater attraction for mature workers due to shorter time period and reduced costs to them and their families
- quicker and bigger productivity benefits for employers from more on-the-job training.
“However accelerated programs do not mean training on the cheap,” Dr Karmel said.
“An innovation suggested in the report is the development whereby students willing to perform more repetitive service tasks can exit their training early with an industry qualification that matches an essential element of the trade.”
The report can be down loaded at
Accelerated apprenticeships: Apprentice, employer and teaching staff perceptions.
Manufacturing quality e-learning opportunities
A new online simulation gives participants the opportunity to experiment with the operation of a virtual manufacturing business to achieve economic viability in a competitive global market.
In the Competitive Manufacturing Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) learners become members of a virtual change management team at “Global Enterprises”, a virtual manufacturing company.
The Toolbox enables learners to respond to market pressures, manufacturing processes, and costs to improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of the business.
Toolboxes are high quality, cost effective interactive e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images and activities that simulate real-life. All Toolboxes support nationally endorsed training packages and are designed for use by registered training organisations, business and industry.
Developed by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, the Competitive Manufacturing Toolbox uses a variety of multimedia formats to support training delivery.
The Toolbox is divided into four sections reflecting some of the key issues impacting on global competitiveness:
- team management
- cost efficient operation
- implement 5S manufacturing philosophy (Sort, Shine, Straighten, Standardise and Sustain)
- change leadership and sustainability.
Workplace-based activities throughout the Toolbox provide the participant with opportunities to apply what they’ve learnt to real-life situations. Each section also has a practical exercise that can be used in the learner’s professional development portfolio.
Completion of the Competitive Manufacturing Toolbox can contribute units to the nationally recognised qualification, Certificate IV in Competitive Manufacturing.
To preview the Competitive Manufacturing Toolbox, or to contact your local Toolbox Champion Support Service, visit:
http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/.
To purchase the Competitive Manufacturing Toolbox, or any other Toolbox contact TVET Australia Product Services on (03) 9832 8188,
sales@tvetaustralia.com.au or visit
http://productservices.tvetaustralia.com.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.au/.
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