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AE News Volume 16, Issue 17
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Upcoming Events
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PD Session: Managing Conflict with Confidence
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PD Session: African Cultural Awareness & Recruitment
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AEN Mid-Year Conference 2023 - Registrations CLOSING SOON
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This year AEN is holding its Mid-Year Conference at Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields, Melbourne.
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Over the one and half day conference, delegates will hear from special guest speakers and representatives of the Victorian Government. The Hon. Gayle Tierney Minister for Training and Skills will present on the second morning of the Conference.
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This event promises to be jammed packed with a range of topics and updates and will be followed by the conference dinner.
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Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 June 2023
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Hyatt Place, 1 English Street, Essendon Fields Melbourne
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Day 1 Conference: 10.00am - 5.40pm
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Conference Dinner: 6.30pm - 10.30pm
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Day 2 Conference: 9am - 1.45pm
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Hear from speakers including:
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- Apprenticeships Victoria
- VRQA
- Victorian Labour Hire Authority
- Jobs Victoria
- Development Victoria – Regional Commonwealth Games
- Apprenticeships Support Australia
- Department of Education – HeadStart
- DEWR – State Update
- Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service (AATIS)
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Be a Voice for Generations #NRW2023
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National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
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The dates for National Reconciliation Week are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.
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These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
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On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.
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On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.
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Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Latest Quarterly Labour Market Update Released
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The latest Labour Market Update for the March 2023 quarter has been released by Jobs and Skills Australia. The quarterly update shows Australia’s labour market conditions are robust, however the present skills gap in many parts of the labour market remains an economic challenge.
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The report found that over the past year, around 92% of total employment growth has been in occupations where some level of post-secondary school qualifications is usually required, while around two-thirds of total employment has been in occupations where VET qualifications are the primary pathway.
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The report also found that the likelihood of employers filling an advertised vacancy has improved slightly in the last quarter (from 59% in the December 2022 quarter to 63% in the March 2023 quarter).
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However, nationally, occupations that struggled to be filled included Construction Trades Workers, Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers, and Health Professionals.
Some regional areas also continued to face skills pressures in critical fields such as health and engineering, where employers in regional areas consistently reported a lower likelihood of filling vacancies and fewer applicants per vacancy than those in capital cities.
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Some regional areas also continued to face skills pressures for critical roles, such as General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers, that are much more acute than pressures felt in capital cities for the same occupation.
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While skills shortages continued, the report also showed that there was a strong increase in full-time employment and improvements for the long-term unemployed.
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The quarter showed positive signs for those who have been out of the workforce for a year or more with the number of long-term unemployed people falling by more than 11,000.
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The lowest recorded since 2009. The continuation of low employment has been leading to better outcomes for the long-term unemployed and the underemployed, albeit that the unemployment rate has since increased slightly, to 3.7% in April 2023.
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Online job ads – April 2023
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Jobs and Skills Australia has released the (preliminary) Vacancy Report for April 2023, based on the Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) data. In seasonally adjusted terms, online job advertisements increased slightly by 3.6 per cent (or 10,100 job ads) in the month to stand at 294,500.
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Free Car Rego For Victorian Apprentices
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Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne visited the Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows to meet apprentices who will be eligible for free vehicle registration from 1 July, saving them up to $865 every year.
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The $10 million initiative is being delivered in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 will provide free registration to apprentices like carpenters, joiners, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians and chefs if their employer can verify that their vehicle is an essential part of their work.
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Apprentices who need their car for work are already entitled to a 50 per cent discount on their vehicle’s registration fee as part of the Victorian Government’s Trade Apprentice Registration Discount scheme – with over 12,000 apprentices and trainees currently taking advantage of the discount.
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The scheme was introduced in 2016 to reduce costs for trade apprentices needing to use their own vehicle for work purposes and expanded to border communities earlier in the year – giving apprentices who live in Victoria but work in New South Wales and South Australia the same savings as those who live and work in Victoria.
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The Government has also made car registration more budget-friendly by introducing short-term registration, allowing Victorian families to split the cost of rego fees into smaller payments.
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Learner and probationary licences and online testing are now also free, while drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road safety offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring benefit from the reintroduction of a 25 per cent discount on their licence renewal.
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For further information, please visit VicRoads.
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New AEN Animated Resources
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AEN have recently developed four new animations to complement our 30+ short animations that are used to assist apprentices improve their awareness of many of the issues around health and safety.
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Updated ATO Advice For Apprentices
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'Nail’ your deductions this tax time!
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Not sure what deductions you can claim as an apprentice? Well, great news! The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have shared some helpful tips and resources to make tax time easier.
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‘Can I claim that?’
Check out the ATO’s tailored occupation guide for Apprentices. It helps explain which deductions you can and can’t claim this year, as well as the income you’ll need to declare, and the records you need to keep. Even better, the guide has also been translated into other languages.
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Keeping your records
Your glovebox filing system is great, but there’s an easier way. Download the ATO app and use the myDeductions tool for a fast and easy way to store your receipts and keep track of your records! The ATO app is also one of the best ways to track the progress and outcome of your tax return after you’ve lodged.
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Best time to lodge?
The best time to lodge is from late July, when most of your information from employers, banks and health funds has been automatically included in your tax return. All you’ll need to do is check the pre-filled information is correct, add any income that’s missing, and claim your deductions!
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Remember, most tax returns lodged online take about two weeks to be processed.
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The ATO is reminding people that the low and middle income tax offset has ended and you may get a lower refund this year, or you may get a bill.
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A list of this and other reasons that may affect your tax refund are available on the Australian Tax Office.
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2023 WorkSafe Awards Nomination's Open
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Businesses and individuals going above and beyond to improve workplace health and safety are being urged to share their stories as part of this year’s WorkSafe Awards.
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Now in their 34th year, nominations are open for the 2023 awards, which will again celebrate and honour the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to reducing workplace harm and/or improving outcomes for injured workers.
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A key focus of the awards is to recognise the efforts of employers who have implemented leading return to work practices, as well as injured workers who have overcome significant barriers in their quest to return to work.
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The Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety on a Farm category forms part of WorkSafe’s efforts in tackling the overrepresentation of the agricultural industry in workplace deaths and injuries.
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The valuable work of health and safety representatives will again be highlighted in the Health and Safety Representative of the Year category.
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WorkSafe Chief Executive Colin Radford said the awards had long been an important opportunity for Victorian-based employers and workers to showcase their workplace safety efforts and share best practice solutions to often complex health and safety risks.
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"The WorkSafe Awards has a long history of celebrating those who put workplace health and safety at the top of their agenda," Mr Radford said.
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"I encourage businesses large and small, and individuals regardless of what industry they work in, to nominate."
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"In addition to hearing the inspirational stories of finalists, one of the most satisfying aspects of last year’s awards was the diverse range of industries that were represented, including construction, education, health, maritime, retail, racing and agriculture."
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Nominations are open to all Victorian-based employers and workers, and entrants can nominate themselves or another person.
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Entries close 16 June 2023.
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The categories for this year’s awards are:
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- Commitment to Prevention of Mental Injury in the Workplace
- Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety on a Farm
- Health and Safety Representative of the Year
- Leading Return to Work Practice
- OHS Leadership/Achievement
- Worker Return to Work Achievement Award
- Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year
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Women & Leadership Australia Scholarships
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Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) would like to acknowledge the tremendous response to the recent announcement regarding scholarship funding for women in the Education, Training and Development Sector.
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For those who missed the announcement WLA is currently offering professional development scholarships for women across all areas of the training and development sector, including Group Training Association of Victoria staff and members.
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Scholarships of $1,000-$5,000 per person are available for women in the training and development sector.
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To encourage more women to increase their impact at work and step into leadership roles across the training and development sector, WLA is offering scholarships for four leadership development courses.
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AEN & GAN Australia – Apprentice Exchange Program
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The Global Apprenticeship Network Australia with support from GAN New Zealand, EJTC Canada and GTEXpro are offering current Australian 2nd ,3rd and 4th year apprentices over the age of 18 the opportunity to participate in a 4-week exchange program to Canada, New Zealand or Switzerland to broaden your trade knowledge, skills and experience.
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Apprentice Exchange Program is a life-changing international experience that can take your career to new heights!
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This unique program offers the chance to learn new skills and gain invaluable real-world experience through international trade training schools and workplaces.
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By participating in this program, you’ll have the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, explore new subjects, and deepen your understanding of familiar skills.
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This experience will give you a competitive edge in your future career and help you make lifelong connections with fellow apprentices from around the world.
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Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to broaden your horizons and achieve your dreams. Apply now for the Apprentice Exchange Program!
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Upcoming AEN Professional Development
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Managing Conflict with Confidence
Positive relationships and win/win outcomes are critical success contributors, and a range of conflicts can easily interrupt this. We must acquire the expertise and confidence to manage our emotional state effectively while in the heat of the moment to avoid negative effects on our wellbeing, morale and productivity.
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Date: Wednesday 5 July 2023
Time:10am – 1.30pm
Delivery: In Person
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African Cultural Awareness & Recruitment
Participants will gain an understanding of African beliefs, values, work/family values and how to work with African communities. Gain insight into the importance of cultural inclusion throughout the recruitment process along with strategies to develop, retain and support African apprentices/trainees.
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Date: Wednesday 11 July 2023
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and select the event. All prices include GST.
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Please login to the members area prior to purchasing tickets to access the members rate or to RSVP for a free event.
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Latest research shows that the Australian VET sector has done well in adjusting to the challenges caused by COVID-19.
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The pandemic had a significant impact on the VET sector, affecting mandated work placements, student enrolments and completions, and staff wellbeing and retention. Disadvantaged students and those living in high-infection areas were the hardest hit.
Training providers responded by using a combination of online and in-person classes, flexible work options, introducing hygiene rules, and offering mental health support. These changes will be long-lasting, especially the shift to blended learning.
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Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program
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Since the program commenced in May 2020, a total of 1,048 participants have been supported to date.
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Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.
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Once registered, apprentices and trainees will be assisted by one of our program officers until placed with a host employer through a Group Training Organisation (GTO), or directly with an employer.
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If you have an apprenticeship position you would like to fill, please contact the AEN Office so we can forward potential candidates that meet your criteria.
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Do you want to be kept up to date with everything that’s happening with GAN Australia and the wider VET sector?
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Thanks to our Industry Partners
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