Registrations open for the 2008 Australian Training Awards Presentation Dinner
The 2008 Australian Training Awards will be held in Darwin at the Darwin Convention Centre on 20 November. To register your attendance to witness the best in Australian training, visit Australian Training Awards website.
Australian Training Awards will be presented in the following categories:
- Employer of the Year
- Prime Minister’s Small Business of the Year
- Australian Training Initiative
- VET in Schools Excellence
- Large Training Provider of the Year
- Small Training Provider of the Year
- Australian Apprentice of the Year
- Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year
- Stella Axarlis Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
- Vocational Student of the Year
In addition to these categories, the Australian Training Awards provides a platform for presentation of the following awards:
- Institute for Trade Skills Excellence Trade Teacher of the Year Award
- Australian Flexible Learning Framework Innovative Business Award
- The inaugural National Centre for Vocational Education and Research VET Researcher of the Year Award
Contact Emma Gaughwin on (02) 6240 5408 or email
emma.gaughwin@deewr.gov.au for more details.
2008 Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable
The Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable provides a forum for Australian Apprentices to inform government about issues affecting their training and careers. This is the only forum that gives a voice specifically to Australian Apprentices as key users of the national training system.
LET YOUR VIEWS BE HEARD!!
Roundtable members have identified and prioritised key issues of concern to Australian Apprentices. They are now seeking your views through a series of surveys, in order to gather information on which to formulate findings that will be presented to the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education and the Skills Symposium to be held in Darwin in November 2008. The key issues of concern encompass:
- Information and communication
- Commencement and retention
- Industry and workplace
- Training and learning
- Future focus
The five surveys have been designed to seek comment from three key stakeholder groups in the vocational education and training sector:
- Students, trainees and apprentices
- Registered Training Organisations, teachers, trainers and careers advisors
- Employers
The surveys are posted on the
Australian Apprenticeships website.
Please urge your networks to complete the surveys to support the Roundtable members in their work and provide valuable feedback to the process. Surveys should be completed and returned by cob Friday, 29 August 2008 either by email to
AAroundtable@deewr.gov.au or facsimile: (02) 6123 5343.
Manufacturing – Skilling for the future
Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) are hosting their 3rd annual conference Manufacturing – Skilling for the future on Wednesday 29th October, 2008 at Dockside (venue) Balcony 1, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
The central theme for the conference Manufacturing – Skilling for the future will focus on current and future issues for manufacturing, including building and enhancing workforce capability.
It is expected that close to 200 national delegates will attend the 2008 conference, including enterprise decision makers, key stakeholders of the manufacturing industry associations, unions and training providers. MSA will be showcasing companies that are participating in workforce development.
Keynote speakers that have been confirmed and announced are; Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard (invited), Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Heather Ridout, Chair of Skills Australia, Philip Bullock and President of the Australian Council of Trades Unions, Sharan Burrow.
For more information contact Bernadette Shiel from Manufacturing Skills Australia on (02) 9955 5500, email Bernadette bernadetteshiel@mskills.com.au or visit www.mskills.com.au.
VETnetwork Australia National Conference 2008
Connections, Capacity, Collaboration
1 - 3 October 2008
Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour
This is the peak, biennial event in Australia for anyone involved in vocational education and training in the school sector. Building on the theme Connections, Capacity, Collaboration the program includes keynote addresses from Matt Church, a leading voice on new thinking about communication; Jackie Furey, principal of Bedrooms to Boardrooms and media expert on bringing out the best in people in the corporate world and Professor Jim Bright, Head of Career Education and Development at the Australian Catholic University, on what research is saying about modern notions of career. In addition, Michael McQueen, an authority on Generation Y will be giving a key note address on The Rules of Engagement.
The VETnetwork conference offers a rich program of complementary events, including concurrent sessions from leading practitioners across Australia on everything from good vocational teaching practice to teaching science in VET programs and case studies on engineering in schools. Panel sessions include an industry-led forum involving industry, education and training leaders on the theme VET in Schools – Are We Heading in the Right Direction? The program includes facilitated tours and site visits as well as a number of industry courses delivered as part of the program.
The conference has significant value for teachers of VET and school-based apprentices and trainees, Local Community Partnerships, TAFE and university personnel, education and training policy and systems, people from federal and state systems, and industry-based people working with schools.
Register online or contact the conference secretariat on (02) 9526 1221 or email: admin@venuemarketing.com.au. For further information contact Janice Martyn, conference convenor, on (02) 9244 5252 or email janice.martyn@det.nsw.edu.au
WELL on the way! – 2008 Conference
A National Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Practitioners’ Conference will be held on Wednesday 12 November and Thursday 13 November, at Bankstown District Sports Club, NSW, Australia.
The second national conference for WELL Practitioners will provide an opportunity to enhance relationships with other WELL Practitioners, consolidate the networks established in 2007, address professional development needs and reflect on the diversity of WELL delivery across Australia.
For further information email Kath at MESAB – mesab@mesab.com.au
This Conference is supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Nominations now open for the 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year
The 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards are now open. Nominate a trades or skills teacher you think deserves recognition for the commitment, expertise and hard work they undertake to ensure their students are trained to the highest industry standards.
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence is awarding prizes of $5 000 to outstanding trades or skills teachers in the following areas:
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
- Building and Construction
- Metals and Engineering
- Electrical
- Mineral Resources
- Hospitality and Personal Services
- Rural and Farming
The overall winner will be announced Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year at the Australian Training Awards to be held in Darwin on 20 November, 2008.
For further information please contact Pip McConachie, Colvin Communications (02) 8314 7178 or 0402 448 745.
Do you look forward to your fortnightly edition of Fast Facts? Why not refer 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. 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/