Minister's Awards for Excellence - nominations now open
The Minister’s Awards for Excellence recognise and reward organisations and individuals who make an outstanding contribution towards the training of Australian Apprentices. The awards are presented by the Australian Government Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP.
There are three categories for the Minister’s Awards for Excellence:
The Minister’s Award for Support Services Excellence (formerly known as the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Australian Apprenticeships Professional Support Services) recognises the outstanding contribution made by an individual working in an Australian Apprenticeships Centre whose day-to-day activities ensure that Australian Apprentices in their region have the required support to successfully complete their training and become a valued member of the Australian workforce.
The Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Commitment to Australian Apprenticeships recognises the lifetime achievements of an individual in training Australian Apprentices - an individual who has completed an apprenticeship or traineeship, continued to work in the trade and is now involved in training Australian Apprentices as part of their business or employment – a person who has progressed ‘full circle’ through the Australian Apprenticeships system.
Both awards are through peer nomination.
Nomination for these awards
opened on 20 April and
close on 30 May 2008. Nomination forms are available at
http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/default.asp 
. You can obtain a nomination form by emailing
ministersawards@deewr.gov.au or call
13 38 73.
Introduction to BSB07 Business Services Training Package – national workshops
Convener: IBSA
Dates: April – August 08
Details:
National workshops
Half day - to introduce the BSB07 Business Services Training Package
Full day specialist workshops in the following areas:
- Management and Human Resources
- Administration and Recordkeeping
- Micro and Small Business
Contacts: Flyer and the online application form - IBSA website,
www.ibsa.org.au.
2008 VELG National Conference
Date: 7th & 8th August 2008
Venue: Conrad Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast, Queensland
The theme for the 2008 conference is ‘Striving for Excellence in Vocational Education’. This event will focus on the progress of the AQTF 2007, what the ‘quality indicators’ will have unveiled and how to achieve the next RTO level of ‘excellence’ through the implementation of the excellence criteria. Key learning areas to be addressed will include quality indicators, external auditing, internal auditing and the excellence criteria. There will also be a range of elective sessions designed to aid registered training organisations in their pursuit of excellence in vocational education.
For more information and to register for this event, visit the VELG website,
www.velg.com.au or contact the VELG Conference Manager;
Melissa Upson
Ph: 07 3010 9334
Email:
natconference@velg.com.auFunding for emerging technology trials
A new round of funding opportunities under the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), has opened.
The framework’s E-standards for Training business activity has a total of $80,000 available for registered training organisations (RTOs) to trial emerging technologies that may have wider applications in the national training system.
E-standards for Training is focused on developing national standards to underpin essential e-learning infrastructure, conducting research into new technology areas and providing guidance materials and tools to support the effective use of emerging technologies.
Some examples of suitable emerging technologies include social computing/web 2.0 tools and services, e-assessment, e-portfolios, mobile technologies (including RFID and GPS) and virtual worlds.
Applications for funding under E-standards for Training close on 9 May 2008. Successful applicants will be notified from 30 May.
Full details including funding guidelines and application information are available at: http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards/fundingopportunities
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
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.
MSA Training Package and Workplace Assessment Workshop
Did you know that less than 50% of the manufacturing workforce holds a post-school qualification? Find out what Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) is doing to address widespread industry skills shortages through workplace assessments and its assessor network. Access the latest information on current and future changes to MSA training packages. Meet with other trainers / assessors to swap ideas and discuss current approaches to workplace assessment.
The MSA Training Package and Workplace Assessment workshops will be held in each state starting in Townsville and Brisbane in April and Perth in May. Dates for workshops to be held in other states are to be confirmed. Go to our website www.mskills.com.au for more details about our Training Package and Workplace Assessment workshops and how you can register.
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