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AE News Volume 15, Issue 14
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Upcoming Events
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24 May - Islamic Cultural Awareness Training
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2 June - OHS Network Meeting
21 June - Mid-Year Conference
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Big Build is Hiring: 300 New Apprenticeships by Mid-2023
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On Tuesday 17 May, Premier Dan Andrews, Minister for Education and Skills Hon. Gayle Tierney and Minister for Regional Development Hon. Jaala Pulford, launched the construction skills program.
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This program is supporting 300 new building and construction sector apprenticeships and traineeships across Victoria by mid-2023 through AEN members.
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Funded through Jobs Victoria, 300 Victorians will have the opportunity to undertake on-the-job training as the Government works to meet industry demands and continue progress on Big Build and major infrastructure projects.
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Career opportunities range from plumbing, electrical and engineering to civil construction, work health and safety, project management and more.
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Women and people from diverse backgrounds will play a key role in addressing skilled labour shortages in construction. Women currently represent just 11.6 per cent of the industry’s workforce and will be prioritised for 180 of the roles on offer.
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Nadia Conte from AGA, aged 30, is one of those recruits currently undertaking a Certificate III in Carpentry while working on the Victorian Heart Hospital in Clayton. Having spent her 20s travelling and working overseas, Nadia came home to Melbourne just as the pandemic hit and was looking for a new challenge.
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People under 25, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally diverse backgrounds, those facing long term unemployment are also strongly encouraged to apply for the roles.
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The two-year program is being delivered by Apprenticeships Victoria and the Apprenticeship Employment Network.
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The initiative is supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund, creating 10,000 steady and secure jobs in sectors where they’re needed most.
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People looking for work can register for the Jobs Victoria Online Hub and explore a range of other free employment support services on offer by visiting Jobs Victoria.
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Victoria Leads Nation with Record Jobs Result
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Victoria’s recovery from the economic impacts of the global pandemic is gathering pace with more people in work across the state than ever before.
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week reported that 11,600 extra jobs were created in Victoria last month – boosting the total number of people in work to 3,497,100.
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The Victorian Government has created more than 575,000 new jobs since November 2014 – including more than 400,000 full-time jobs and a significant jump in female employment with about 901,000 women now in full-time work.
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Victoria's participation rate rose from 67.0 per cent to 67.4 per cent – a record high – and the unemployment rate sits just above historic lows at 4.2 per cent.
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AEN will host our Mid-Year Conference again in 2022. This year’s theme has a focus on diversity and inclusion – with a particular focus on women in trades.
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Over one-day, delegates will hear from representatives of the Victorian Government and other special guests. This year’s event promises to be jammed packed with a range of topics and updates with a conference dinner following in the evening.
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Novotel Geelong, 10-14 Eastern Beach Road
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10.00am – 5.00pm (Conference)
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6.30pm – 10.30pm (Dinner)
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Registrations
* Members (8 or more): 10% discount will automatically be applied to your order at checkout.
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To register and for information on accommodation and location, please visit AEN.
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National Careers Week
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National Careers Week was held this week. It is an initiative of the Career Industry Council of Australia and aims to celebrate careers, career development, career development services, and career development practitioners and to promote the economic, social and personal benefits of career development.
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Career development is a process of managing learning, work and leisure to progress through life. It includes gaining and using the skills and knowledge needed to plan and make informed decisions about education, training, and work. Everyday decisions and priorities affect career development.
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Ultimately, career development is about much more than jobs – it is about how to live your life.
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The objectives of National Careers Week are:
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- Develop community awareness of the concept, benefit, and value of career development.
- Raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes, and broaden horizons about careers.
- Highlight the need for ongoing reskilling and upskilling to support careers throughout life.
- Identify the changing nature of work and its impact on all Australians.
- Showcase industries and the career opportunities available in them.
- Provide opportunities to partner with key stakeholders.
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WorkSafe Victoria – Upcoming F2F workshops
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WorkSafe is a showcase presenter at the upcoming Workplace Health & Safety Show.
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Taking place on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, WorkSafe will be presenting sessions on creating mentally healthy workplaces. Attendees will also have the chance to hear from a panel of WorkSafe inspectors.
Registration is free.
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New Duties for High-Risk Crystalline Silica Work in Force
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Victorian employers are being reminded there are new obligations in place to help protect workers from exposure to deadly crystalline silica dust.
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Crystalline silica is contained in products such as engineered stone, ceramic tiles, concrete, bricks and marble. High-risk crystalline silica work can create hazardous dust which, if inhaled, can cause deadly lung and respiratory diseases, such as silicosis.
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In 2021, WorkSafe accepted 73 claims from workers who have developed silica related disease as a result of workplace exposure and sadly, five people lost their lives.
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Under the changes, businesses working with silica must now identify and document high-risk crystalline silica work and the risk control measures they have in place.
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The new duties took effect from 15 May and will affect businesses in a range of industries, including quarrying, construction and tunnelling.
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Employers are now also required to provide safety training and instruction to any employees and information to any job applicants who may engage in high-risk crystalline silica work.
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Manufacturers and suppliers of products containing crystalline silica must now provide a statement outlining the percentage of crystalline silica in the product, along with information about safe handling and exposure controls.
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The changes were introduced in November last year as part of the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021.
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The regulations extended the ban, first made in 2019, on uncontrolled dry-cutting, grinding and polishing of engineered stone.
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As part of the regulations, businesses working with engineered stone were given 12 months to register for an Australian-first licensing scheme.
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WorkSafe is also inviting public comment on a proposed update to the 'Managing Exposure to Crystalline Silica: Engineered Stone Compliance Code'. The code outlines how duty holders can comply with their duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the OHS Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021.
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Melbourne Jobs Fair
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AEN is supporting the DESE Jobs Fair in Melbourne on Friday 17 June.
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Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf
Free: Admission and Exhibitor Stands
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To register your attendance, please visit EventBrite.
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AEN Professional Development in May
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Islamic Cultural Awareness Training (online)
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- The fundamentals of Islam, demographics and debunking stereotypes (followed by a group brainstorming exercise).
- The cultural and religious needs of Muslims, including service barriers in the workplace and creating a more inclusive workplace.
Registrations close: 20 May 2022
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Victorian Training Awards - Nominations Closing Soon!
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Outstanding individuals and organisations in the TAFE and training sector can now be nominated for the Victorian Training Awards 2022.
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There are six award categories for individuals, three for employers and four for training organisations as well as the Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Industry Collaboration Award and a People’s Choice Award.
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Winners will receive $5000 prize money and winners in some categories will have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards in Adelaide in November.
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Applications close at midnight on Saturday, 28 May 2022 and winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Melbourne in September.
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The event is supported by principal partner Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Australia). For a complete list of sponsors, please visit Sponsors - Victorian Training Awards.
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Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program
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Since the program commenced in May 2020, a total of 881 participants have been supported with 790 currently in training:
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The top three occupations are Electrical (231), Plumbing (167), and Carpentry (130).
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Currently, there are 31 participants on our active caseload:
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- Electrical - 4
- Business & Retail - 6
- Automotive - 1
- Carpentry - 6
- Plumbing - 6
- Other trades - 8
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Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.
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Once on the register, 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, whilst also directing you to the most appropriate advice and assistance while you remain out of employment.
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If you have an apprenticeship or traineeship 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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NCVER Update
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Growing Australia’s digitally skilled workforce
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Developing a digitally skilled workforce is important for Australia’s economy and competitiveness. But how can we effectively and efficiently attract, recruit and upskill more digitally skilled workers?
This NCVER report prepared for the Digital Skills Organisation (DSO) examined the pathways identified from overseas that can assist in developing a model suitable for Australia. The commonalities and differences among the pathways are presented, along with the different Australian government digital skills initiatives.
Based on NCVER's research and other findings, NCVER developed an Australian pathway that is being trialled by the DSO in partnership with industry and employer groups.
Here’s a round-up of other NCVER research on digital skills:
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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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