2004 Winners Minister's Awards for Excellence for
Employers of New Apprentices
Employers across Australia are encouraged to apply for the annual Australian Government’s Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of New Apprentices with applications now open.
These awards recognise and reward employers demonstrating best practice approaches to their training of New Apprentices.
Winners from 22 regions across Australia will be announced by the Australian Government Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Mr Gary Hardgrave, at a presentation dinner on 3 August 2005 at Sea World on the Gold Coast.
Employers can nominate through their local New Apprenticeships Centre (NAC) with all the winners to be presented with a magnificent trophy and a cash prize of $5,000.
The fifth annual awards represent a great opportunity for all businesses, no matter how big or small, to be recognised for their important work in providing training opportunities to local communities.
Last year’s winners included businesses as diverse as a regional roadhouse, an indigenous media organisation, a sawmill, a metal fabrication business and two child care centres.
The Australian Government’s New Apprenticeships initiative provides financial incentives to employers contributing to the nation’s training needs by taking on a New Apprentice. New Apprenticeships are available in hundreds of occupations ranging from the traditional trades, right the way through to farming and information technology.
Phone 1800 639 629 to locate your nearest NAC to find out more. Applications for this year’s awards close on Friday 18 March 2005.
More information and application forms are available at: www.newapprenticeships.gov.au 
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Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Friday 22nd October, that from 1 July 2005, the responsibilities and functions of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) would be transferred to the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), ANTA and DEST staff have been working together to ensure a seamless transition.
On 18 February 2005, DEST released a Directions Paper on the new national training arrangements: “Skills for Australia – New Directions for Vocational Education and Training”.
The Directions Paper sets out the Australian Government’s proposed new directions for the national vocational education and training system. It describes the proposed arrangements for: governance and accountability; quality assurance and a range of models to improve the effectiveness of industry engagement and input to the training system.
DEST is consulting with key stakeholders on the new training arrangements during February and March.
The Directions Paper can be viewed at
http://www.dest.gov.au/ty/skilling_au/default.htmA recent survey commissioned by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), found that employers and New Apprentices are highly satisfied with the performance and services of New Apprenticeships Centres (NACs).
NACs provide a vital role within the community by promoting New Apprenticeships to employers, New Apprentices and other interested people through an extensive network of sites across Australia. NACs also provide information to both employers and New Apprentices including the rights and responsibilities of parties in training contracts, available training options and relevant Australian Government incentives.
Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave said the recent survey found overall employer satisfaction was 90.2 per cent nationally, with New Apprentice satisfaction standing at 92.6 per cent.
“This survey focused on the performance of NACs in providing streamlined support to employers and New Apprentices to assist them in the take up of New Apprenticeships. More than nine out of ten employers surveyed indicated they would use the same NAC again, while 93.1 per cent said they would employ New Apprentices again in the future.”
The survey comprised interviews with more than 5,000 employers and almost 6,000 New Apprentices who had used the services of a NAC in the six months prior to May 2004.
Further information on the NACs can be found at www.newapprenticeships.gov.au
Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave, recently announced funding of $203,500 for Transport and Distribution Training Australia to support the establishment of their Getting Ready for the Road Project and other initiatives aimed at addressing the skills requirement in the expanding and changing road freight industry.
Mr Hardgrave said the funding was made available under the National Skill Shortages Strategy and targets the current and future skill needs of the road freight industry.
“Research undertaken by the Australian Trucking Association indicated a growing shortage of drivers and skilled logistics employees as a result of difficulties in recruitment of new entrants and an ageing workforce.
“To assist the industry in addressing these issues the Australian Government is already funding Transport and Distribution Training Australia to develop a web portal to allow people to explore the training and career options offered by the broader transport and logistics industry.
“The Getting Ready for the Road Project will build on the success of the existing work through three initiatives titled Ready for the Road, Shift and Highway – which are aimed at developing additional opportunities for recruitment into the road freight industry,” Mr Hardgrave said.
The Ready for the Road programme works with Job Network to bring people into the industry, targeting people aged between 25 and 55 who are currently unemployed. A pilot project has already commenced in New South Wales and has received solid support from industry.
The Shift programme aims to establish stronger links between the transport industry, local community and schools and by providing opportunities for work experience and other placements lift the profile of transport and logistics as a viable career option. This programme is currently available in South Australia only.
The Highway programme will coordinate the greater use of School-Based New Apprenticeships in this industry, delivering nationally recognized industry qualifications along with school subjects.
The 2005 Australian Flexible Learning Framework (2005 Framework) is now offering more than AUD$5.5 million in e-learning funding for professional and product development for the vocational education and training (VET) system, including:
LearnScope
Deadline: Friday 18 March 2005
LearnScope will provide AUD$3.6 million funding to teams and individuals within registered training organisations (RTOs) or those in partnership with an RTO wanting to increase their ability to deliver training using new technologies.
Networks of the Australian Flexible Learning Community
Deadline: Friday 18 March 2005
The Networks of the Australian Flexible Learning Community Project will provide funding for up to 20 networks focused on the development and implementation of e-learning. Funding of up to AUD$7500 is available to each successful facilitator of a new or established network.
Industry Engagement
Information available Monday 28 February 2005
The Industry Engagement Project will develop sector-specific strategies to meet the different e-learning needs of industry and enterprise in close consultation with different industry areas and Skills Councils via Industry advocates for e-learning and Demonstration projects of e-learning.
Flexible Learning Toolboxes
Deadline: Monday 28 February 2005
The 2005 Framework is calling for tenders from VET organisations suitably qualified to act as the Lead Agent in developing Flexible Learning Toolbox e-learning resources.
For more information visit: http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/newsandevents/Flexenews/40/PD_funding.htm
This is one of the issues addressed in the mid-term review of the
national
vocational education and training (VET
) strategy for Indigenous Australians – Partners in a Learning Culture.
The review found getting Indigenous Australians to complete higher levels of learning and into meaningful work were two of the major challenges for Australian VET agencies.
A national survey of VET students in 2003 shows Indigenous Australians recorded pass rates of 63.7% compared to national pass rates of 77.1%. This is an improvement since 1999 but still significantly lower than the pass rates reported for all students.
In addition, Indigenous Australians have reported lower levels of employment both before (56%) and after (60%) training, when compared to employment levels of all students (68% and 74% respectively).
On a positive note, the review found good results were achieved when Indigenous people were involved in the planning and delivery of training.
Leading this review is the Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council (AITAC) – an advisory committee to the Australian National Training Authority
(ANTA). In October 2000, the ANTA Board established AITAC with part of its role to monitor and evaluate the implementation of Partners in a Learning Culture.
AITAC co-Chair Bill Wilson says the findings will be used to develop a revised blueprint to tackle these issues - which will be released in early 2005.
“Getting Indigenous students into the VET sector is not the issue - it’s what we need to do to get them to stay, complete higher levels of learning and then get them into meaningful jobs.”
The revised blueprint will outline six priorities to provide vital guidance for the VET sector in a time of change.
“Our priorities will be building the capacity of the VET sector, creating more pathways, improving funding frameworks, delivery of culturally appropriate product development and design, links to employment and growing VET sector partnerships. The six priorities are linked to work closely with Shaping Our Future – Australia’s National Strategy for VET (2004-2010),” Wilson says.
For a copy of the Mid-term Review or the executive summary visit:
http://www.anta.gov.au/vetaitac.asp or call AITAC’s Executive Officer 07 3246 2300.
More skills and more jobs is the focus of a new national plan for people with a disability launched on International Day of People with a Disability (3 December 04).
Australian Disability Training Advisory Council (ADTAC) co-Chair and manager of IBM Australia/NZ's Accessibility Centre Mark Bagshaw said more people with a disability were gaining skills through vocational education and training (VET), but this was not resulting in jobs.
“Tremendous progress has been made over the last five years; in fact, there’s been a 71 per cent increase in the number of publicly-funded VET students reporting a disability,” he said.
“However, only 50 per cent of VET graduates with a disability find employment after completing their course, compared to 74 per cent of all VET graduates.”
Mr Bagshaw said it is time to tackle this bottleneck through a revised Blueprint for the national VET system - Bridging Pathways.
The blueprint was revised after a mid-term review checked progress on achieving the goals of Bridging Pathways, the five-year national VET strategy for people with a disability.
The review, led by ADTAC, found that more people with a disability were gaining skills, but this was not translating into meaningful work.
Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) board member and ADTAC co-Chair Leonie Clyne said many Australians with a disability can work, but less than half of them have jobs.
“With skill shortages and an ageing population, employers need to consider that people with a disability as a skill source,” she said.
“Just because a person has a disability, it doesn’t mean they can’t be a productive, reliable worker.
“Statistics show that employing workers with a disability generally results in lower recruitment costs and absenteeism,” Clyne said.
For more information and copies of the revised blueprint, contact Julie Mackey, ADTAC.
Ph: (07) 3246 2417, email: adtac@anta.gov.au or visit www.anta.gov.au/vetADTAC.asp
ADTAC was created in October 2000 as an advisory committee to the ANTA Board. ADTAC members include representatives from the disability sector, industry, training providers, and Australian, state and territory governments. ADTAC's mission is to create a shared commitment to improve training and employment opportunities for people with a disability through VET.
More information: http://www.anta.gov.au/vetADTAC.asp
All education and training ministers recently endorsed a Joint Statement on the Information Economy
http://www.dest.gov.au/Ministers/Media/Nelson/2005/02/n1046110205.asp The statement outlines a national vision for cooperation between the Australian Government, states and territories integrating information and communications technology (ICT) into teaching and learning, to improve the quality, accessibility and standard of education and training for all Australians. This statement extends the cooperation established in 2000.
What’s the purpose of a joint statement? ICT has had a profound impact on our lives over the past decade giving rise to major social changes and creating new opportunities and challenges. The business of education and training has, and will continue, to change significantly with the impact of ICT. Dealing effectively with ICT issues has meant recognising that we are operating in an international context and that we need to work collaboratively across sectors and across Australia. The joint statement recognises the need to nationally share our knowledge about the constantly changing nature of ICT developments, how they impact on education and training and how we can make the best use of these changes to improve education and training.
Accompanying the Joint Ministerial Statement will be a new national action plan Building a Knowledge Culture: An education and training action plan for the information economy which will go before the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment Training and Youth Affairs in May 2005. Like the joint statement, this action plan will update an earlier plan published in 2000.
In the vocational education and training (VET) sector, Australian Ministers responsible for the VET system have also endorsed the Australian Flexible Learning Framework for 2005 which focuses on the application ICT in training delivery. Building on the achievements of the previous Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2000 – 2004, the new Framework will
strike out in some fresh directions with an increased emphasis on client needs and active engagement of industry and Indigenous communities. More information on the Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2005 can be found at
http://flexiblelearning.net.au/