The Australian Hotels Association National Convention and Trade Expo, held in October 2002 at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast, was chosen as the perfect event to launch Chef!, an impressive array of commercial cookery careers materials. Ms Teresa Gambaro, Member for Petrie, represented the Commonwealth Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson at the launch and spoke on his behalf.
Key hospitality industry representatives, including high-profile restaurateurs, chefs and hotel managers, mingled with managers from training organisations and students to watch cooking demonstrations and sample high quality cuisine prepared on the spot by New Apprentices.
Guests at the launch were impressed by the range of career materials that had been developed, particularly the easy to use and informative style of the products. The central focus of the product range is an exciting cookery careers website, http://www.chef.org.au/ 
. The site is supported by a Careers Handbook, “Chef!”, and an easy to read brochure and poster for display in schools and industry sites. The industry has also established a freecall 1800 number providing information about training and career opportunities in commercial cookery.
The 2001 National Industry Skills Initiative report, “A Recipe for Change: The Future of Commercial Cookery in Australia” identified a nationwide need for cooks, chefs, bakers and pastry chefs. The industry has been proactive in responding to this and other findings in the Report. With a need to attract new entrants to the industry the development and distribution of career products is seen as a major step forward. The full report and action plan for the industry can be obtained online at http://www.skillsinitiative.gov.au/ .
The commercial cookery careers package has been distributed to all secondary schools and interested people will be able to contact the hotline on 1800 062 230 or send an email to info@chef.org.au to obtain copies.
Calling all training providers – can you beat this story? This lovely story (see below) appeared on the Learning and Skills Council website in England last year. If you have any older people doing a course at your organisation why not let us know?
Janet Thorpe is England’s oldest learner. At the age of 108, the former housemaid has joined the country’s growing band of ‘silver surfers’ by undertaking an IT course and sending her first e-mail. Janet is proof that learning is for life. http://www.lsc.gov.uk/news_detail.cfm?ID=654 .
I left school in Year 10 in December 2000, with the security of knowing I was going to commence NAAP with Central Coast Group Training, NSW (CCGT).
I first heard about CCGT through a Plan-It Youth Programme at school. The programme was designed for students who wanted to leave school in Year 10, but didn’t know what they wanted to do. With the assistance of this programme, I registered with CCGT, who specialise in placing New Apprentices on the Central Coast of NSW.
CCGT advised me about a NAAP programme which they was about to commence in January 2001. The vocational training part of NAAP involved office administration, which was a field that I thought I would like to pursue, although, at that stage was still not sure.
I was really inspired and motivated by some of the people I met during the course including one of the trainers who worked as a motivational speaker. He helped me with my résumé’s and job search skills. During NAAP I learnt about the importance of persistence when looking for work. One of the things which eventually paid off was to visit the CCGT office regularly to ask about any vacancies. While I was still with NAAP, I was interviewed by CCGT for an office administration traineeship position in their organisation. Much to my surprise and delight I was offered the position.
At the end of my traineeship I was offered a permanent position which has lead to the position I hold today, coordinating all of the training and employment programmes for CCGT including NAAP. I have now been with the company for 19 months. During this time I have been given the chance to complete a Certificate II and III in Business (Office Administration). I am currently doing a Certificate III in Business (Frontline Management). Last month I won an award for Trainee of the Year through the local Rotary club. I have also been nominated for Trainee of the Year by CCGT, which is to be presented at CCGT’s annual award night.
Looking back to how little I knew about office administration or job searching in Year 10, it is hard to believe I am working where I am today. But I could not have done it without the support and know-how of NAAP. Before starting the NAAP course I had no experience with computers, or any type of office equipment or environment. The NAAP programme taught me important basic office skills and also job search skills. I feel so lucky to have been given the chance to access the NAAP course. Without the practical work skills and job search skills NAAP taught me, I know gaining such a great position in a fantastic company would have been much more of a struggle, if not impossible.
Casey Lovelock
Hunter Valley conveyor belt company ConvaTech is creating new learning pathways for its 130 workers by combining Training Packages with literacy and language programs.
The growth in the company’s services prompted the need for training to cover both technical and communication skills, according to ConvaTech managing director Peter Slattery.
The company began as a distributor of conveyor belt cleaning equipment and belt fasteners but widened its services to include conveyor belt installation, repairs and maintenance.
Most of the workers at ConvaTech are early school leavers who lack formal qualifications. Many are long term employees with low language and literacy skills, who often feel challenged and threatened by the changing workplace culture.
The company saw that it was important to build workers’ confidence and their language and literacy skills and at the same time deliver the essential operational competencies.
With funding from the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Programme ConvaTech worked with Hunter Institute to integrate language, literacy and numeracy competencies into the training which combined units from the national Training Packages for Metal and Engineering, Black Coal Mining, and Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking.
Hunter Institute began by training and accrediting 15 staff as workplace assessors and trainers. A further 40 are currently undertaking Certificate I and most are expected to continue to Certificate II and III.
For more information on the WELL Programme call the WELL Hotline on 02 6240 7333.
|
Region |
State Training Services Directorate
(NSW Department of Education and Training) |
* Sydney
* NSW Central and North Coast
* Balance of NSW and ACT |
| Centre for Adult Education |
* Melbourne
* Balance of Victoria
* Tasmania |
| Mission Australia |
* Brisbane and South East Queensland
* Western Australia |
| Learning Network Queensland |
* Balance of Queensland |
| Spencer Institute of TAFE |
* South Australia and the Northern Territory |
Announced in the 2002 Budget as the IT Skills for Older Workers programme, BITES will provide 11 500 training places annually for 4 years.
BITES provides foundation skills in information technology to mature age job seekers on low incomes. The skills it provides enable participants to operate personal computers at a basic level in the workforce.
A knowledge of computers is required in many jobs throughout today’s workforce. The Commonwealth Government has recognised that many mature aged people seeking work are disadvantaged in the labour market because they lack these skills.
BITES provides training in 3 units from the Certificate I in IT under the IT Training Package (ICA99), plus additional IT skills training and support. Successful participants receive a Statement of Attainment from their BITES provider.
The first courses commenced in January 2003, with the bulk of courses expected to roll out nationwide from February onwards. Comments are very favourable from participants of the courses completed so far.
More information about BITES and the brokers is available at http://bites.dest.gov.au/ .
A hotline is also available on 1800 800 618.
At his final meeting with VET Group, Dr Peter Shergold was presented with a New Apprenticeships colour watering can as a "Stay There and Grow" farewell present. Dr Shergold started as the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet Department on Monday 10 February.
In other DEST news, Lisa Paul (shown below) joined the Department on Monday 10 February. She is a new Deputy Secretary with the Department. She will oversee the Department’s involvement in schools and vocational education as well as DEST’s people management and communications.
More people with a disability will be helped into post-secondary education and the workforce following the launch of a new $3.7 million Commonwealth programme over three years.
The Disability Coordination Officer (DCO) Programme, announced as part of the Australians Working Together package, increases opportunities for people with a disability to go from school and the community to vocational education and training and university.
20 new DCOs offer information, coordination and referral services for people with a disability who are interested in or enrolled in post-school education and training, helping them to succeed in their chosen studies and move to suitable employment.
The DCOs work closely with the existing 11 Regional Disability Liaison Officers (RDLOs - also funded by the Department) based in universities, to provide a comprehensive national support network for people with a disability interested in post school study.
The DCO initiative is designed to overcome the lack of information and knowledge that can prevent people with a disability successfully participating in post-compulsory education, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Details of the DCO and RDLO regions and contracted organisations are shown below.
For further information, please go to Disability Coordination Officer Programme.
You may have already heard that the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) is calling on the community to provide input on the future of vocational education and training in Australia. Work has begun on Australia’s vocational education and training strategy for 2004-2010.
To find out more about how you can have your say, visit the ANTA website at http://www.anta.gov.au/dapStrategy.asp or call 1800 019 555.
After a six-month journey of discovery last year, 18 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia documented how they applied flexible learning products and services to meet client training needs.
Case studies of these journeys are now available online (flexiblelearning.net.au/resources/casestudies.htm ) and provide insights and something of a ‘real life’ guide to help RTOs deliver their training more flexibly.
The flexible learning products and services that were used were developed under the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, which is a five year program funded by the Australian National Training Authority (flexiblelearning.net.au).
The RTOs selected to ‘test-drive’ products and services included TAFE institutes, enterprise-based providers and private training organisations.
For more information contact Lindy Smith, Ph: (07) 3234 185, Email: flexiblelearning@det.qld.gov.au
Rural and regional employers, taking on a New Apprentice at the Certificate III or IV level may be eligible for an extra $1,100 (GST inclusive) in assistance when they employ a New Apprentice under changes introduced as part of the Commonwealth Government’s drought assistance package.
Revised arrangements for employer incentives for New Apprentices, originally due to start in July 2003, have been brought forward to January 2003 as part of the package.
Eligible employers will be able to obtain this incentive in addition to the standard $4,400 incentive package when they commence a New Apprentice - rather than having to wait until their training has progressed.
Employers taking on New Apprentices at the Certificate II level in a national rural skills traineeship or in a national agriculture or horticultural training package may be eligible for additional incentives of up to $3,300 if they are in an exceptional circumstances drought area certificate region. This payment is designed to help employers willing to continue to offer employment to New Apprentices who remain in the affected area.
These new incentive arrangements will provide much needed support for employers in drought affected areas of rural and regional Australia. They will help ensure that a strong skills base is maintained in rural and regional Australia.
For further information contact your local New Apprenticeships Centre. To locate your nearest local New Apprenticeships Centre call 1800 639 629 or visit the website at http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au/ .
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This page was last updated on: Monday, 09 February 2004
Department of Education, Science and Training.