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AE News Volume 13, Issue 34
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Friday, 18th September 2020
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Upcoming Events
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29 Oct - AusSuper Economic Update
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10 Nov - OHS Network Meeting
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13 Nov - AEN AGM and Mini Conference
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Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program
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The top 3 sectors represented are:
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- Building and Construction
- Electrical, Electronics and Utilities
- Automotive and Boating
The top 3 occupations are the:
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- Electrical Trades
- Plumbing and Roofing
- Carpentry, Joinery and Cabinetmaking
First year apprentices make up over 45 percent of those seeking assistance and while regional Victoria has been affected slightly, the vast majority of participants are located in the Metro Melbourne area.
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We have also seen employer confidence in the economy boost with more job vacancies being listed on last month. The register has had almost 670 job vacancies listed.
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The program aims to assist apprentices and trainees who have lost their employment complete their training.
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Apprentices and trainees who have lost their 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.
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Program officers will also help direct you to the most appropriate advice and assistance while you remain out of employment.
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Employers who have job vacancies for apprentices or trainees can submit them on the vacancy register.
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Our program officers will match your vacancy with suitable candidates for you to interview.
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Employers may also be eligible for Australian Government incentives.
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RATP Update
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The virtual launch was held online with 50 guests including two young women that have directly benefited from the program so far.
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Kristy Nardella, from Geelong, who is undertaking a Joinery (Cabinet Making) apprenticeship with JPH Joinery and Laura Holmes, from Ballarat, who has been able to re-start her Business Administration traineeship.
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This program is being supported by 18 GTOs and VCCI across the State.
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Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
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“During times like these apprentices and trainees are among the most vulnerable when it comes to losing work - that’s why we’re taking action to support them.”
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“This program is already producing real results for our apprentices and trainees – and that’s why it was so vital that we extend it into next year.”
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Victorian COVID-19 Stage 4 & 3 Restriction Changes
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On Sunday 13 September Premier Daniel Andrews made an announcement on the adjustments to Stage 4 (Metro Melbourne) and Stage 3 (Regional Victoria) COVID-19 restrictions.
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- Stage 4 extended for two weeks
- Curfew 9pm-5am, up from 8pm
- Exercise doubled to two hours a day, maximum two sessions
- Single “social bubbles”, allowing one nominated visitor if living alone/single parent
- Public outdoor gatherings of two people or a household for up to two hours
- Playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment reopened
- Libraries open for contactless click and collect
Regional (restrictions have eased further)
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- Public gatherings up to five people from maximum of two households outdoors
- Single “social bubbles”, allowing one nominated visitor if living alone/single parent
- Outdoor pools and playgrounds reopen
- Religious services can be conducted outside with a maximum five people, plus a faith leader
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For further information please visit the DHHS.
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Independent Assessment of Apprentices & Trainees
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Victorian Business Survival and Adaptation Package
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The Victorian Government is investing $3 billion to help businesses impacted by ongoing restrictions and prepare for COVID Normal business.
$3 billion in cash grants, tax relief and cashflow support will be delivered to Victorian businesses that have been most affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. The package will help businesses survive and keep Victorians in jobs.
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- Small and medium sized business ($822 million): The third round of the Business Support Fund will provide up to $20,000 for business with a payroll of up to $10 million:
- Licensed Hospitality Business ($251 million): Grants of up to $30,000 for licensed pubs, clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants and reception centres, based on their venue capacity and location.
- Business Chambers and Trader Groups ($3 million): A competitive grants program to support metropolitan and regional business chambers and trader groups.
- Alpine businesses ($4.3 million): Grants of up to $20,000 to help alpine businesses pay a service charge to Alpine Resort Management Boards.
Business Adaptation
The package also provides additional funding, tools and resources to help businesses adapt and prepare for reopening under COVID normal settings.
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- $20 million voucher program to assist sole traders and small businesses in building their digital capability
- $15.7 million package to help Victorian exporters get their products to market and establish new trade channels.
- $8.5 million expansion to the ‘Click for Vic’ campaign to encourage more Victorians to support local businesses.
Waivers and deferrals
The Government is also providing $1.8 billion in tax and cashflow support.
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- $1.7 billion in payroll tax deferrals for the full 2020-21 financial year
- $41 million to bring forward the 50% stamp duty discount for commercial and industrial property for all of Regional Victoria.
- $33 million to defer the planned increase in the landfill levy for six months
- $30 million to waive 25% of the Congestion Levy this year, with the outstanding balance deferred.
- $27 million in liquor license fee waivers for 2021
- $6 million to waive Vacant Residential Land Tax for vacancies in 2020.
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October is National Safety Month
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In Australia, October is National Safe Work Month - a time to make your commitment to improving safety and health in your workplace.
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Workplaces have had to quickly adapt their practices and procedures to reduce the WHS risks arising from COVID-19 and to manage the psychological effects of the pandemic on workers.
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The aim of Electricity Safety Week is to teach children to stay safe around electricity both at home and outdoors. The interactive program shows young people how electricity works, how to use it and how to stay safe around it.
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AEN Industry Awards - Nominations Now Open
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The AEN Industry Award Nominations opened this week on the 24 August. The awards celebrate the dedication and achievements of apprentices and trainees, group training organisations and businesses committed to the development of apprentices and trainees.
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Nominations can be made in the following categories:
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- Apprentice of the Year
- Trainee of the Year
- Overcoming adversity awards
- GTO service excellence awards
- OH&S service excellence award
- STAR awards (apprentice/ trainee)
- GTO staff service awards
- Lifetime achievement awards
- GAN Apprenticeship scholarship
- GAN apprenticeship development initiative
If you know someone who deserves recognition nominate them here.
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Nominations close 30 September 2020
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To access the full list of award categories and online nomination forms please visit AEN - Awards.
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New Infection Control Training is Now able to be Delivered to Victorian Workers
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The Infection Control Training is a mixture of 25 hours of online learning and workplace-based assessment and is available to customer-facing workers in critical industries.
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There is also specific training available for retail, hospitality, and logistics and transport sectors.
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The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments are jointly funding delivery of the training to Victorian workers, which will enable more than 20,000 workers in critical industries to receive training.
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After completion of the training, they will be able to confidently:
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- follow standard and additional precautions for infection prevention and control
- identify infection hazards and assess risks
- follow procedures for managing risks associated with specific hazards.
Participants will learn a range of skills, including:
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- Hand hygiene practices
- Effective surface cleaning
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Disposal of contaminated waste
- Hazard identification, control and reporting
- Appropriate protocols and responses in the event of an incident
- Knowledge regarding the basis of infection and transmission
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Both the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments want everyone to know that infection control training, so vital right now, is available to employees and businesses. The aim is to have a safe and resilient workforce, ready to keep our businesses and community healthy as we move towards a COVID-safe environment.
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Victorian Training Awards - VTA 2020 Virtual Events Series
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It has been a challenging year for many Victorians due to the coronavirus pandemic, and, after much thought on how best to acknowledge achievements in the VET sector in these difficult circumstances, we’re delighted to announce the ‘VTA 2020 Virtual Events Series’ which will be hosted on our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter channels instead of a physical gala as per previous years.
We are excited to share and celebrate the Winners of the most prestigious awards on the vocational education and training sector’s calendar via a new, innovative and exciting online virtual format.
As part of the virtual format, we will be developing a series of videos highlighting each of the finalists and their stories which will be shared on the VTA social media channels and other Victorian government channels from late October to mid-November.
This is a great opportunity for us to share the successes of the VTA finalists and the vocational education and training sector with an even bigger audience than would traditionally attend the physical gala, so we encourage you to share this information with your colleagues, networks and through your organisational channels. We will be developing a stakeholder toolkit with images, posts and other information that you can share to help us promote the event.
We hope you can join us at the specified time for each event, which we will announce each week during October via social media and email letters and help us further celebrate our VTA2020 Finalists this year.
Stay tuned for more information and to find out who the VTA 2020 Winners will be!
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RMIT Offer Small Business Course
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RMIT have finalised the development of a new short course that is designed to teach students a broad range of business management skills associated with operating a business, which includes applying knowledge of business practices, standards and legislated obligations.
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One of the target audience groups are trade apprentices nearing completion or recently qualified.
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Youth Action Project Grants Scheme
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Grants ranging from $5,000 up to $20,000 are available for community projects that respond to employment, transport, mental health, COVID-19 and bushfires challenges that may be facing young people, aged 15-24 years.
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To be eligible, projects can either be new or existing and must be of a non-commercial nature.
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Funds can be used to pay for any type of relevant project, including staff, equipment, consumables and marketing costs.
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The Youth Action Project Grant Scheme is delivered by the Australian Government's Department of Health which has engaged the Foundation for Young Australians to administer the applications and scheme.
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The Foundation for Young Australians is a non-profit organisation committed and passionate about improving the outcomes and life opportunities for youth.
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Applications close 7 October 2020 - APPLY NOW.
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Grand Final Public Holiday - Friday 23 October
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Tradeswomen Australia Foundation - Operation Protect and Serve Workshops
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Over the coming weeks Tradeswomen Australia Foundation are hosting a series of online workshops to support women.
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Operation Protect and Serve Workshops
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AATIS Parent Survey on Career Advise to Youth
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The Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service (AATIS) is undertaking research into careers engagement with parents. As part of this project, we are inviting parents and parents’ organisations to take part.
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Parents have the biggest influence on the career choices of young people. It is important for students and young people who are planning their careers to have support in doing so.
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This research will investigate what kinds of information can better equip parents to understand career pathways. This includes examining parents understanding of the relationship between Vocational Education and Training (VET), work and technology. We are also investigating how we can strengthen the support parents provide to young people in choosing post-school career pathways.
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This research will involve a short online survey of parents which asks a series of questions about their perceptions of VET, their attitudes towards VET career pathways and their beliefs about the future of work.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Home and Business Safety Plans
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The following documents are also available for download:
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To access further information on COVID-19 restrictions and workplace plans, please visit Business Victoria.
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NCVER Update
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Latest national data shows apprentice and trainee commencements were down 11 per cent to 49,015 in the March quarter 2020, compared with the same quarter in 2019.
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NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said while the underlying March quarter data shows some early indicators of COVID-19's impact, particularly in the month of March, it won’t be until the June quarter that we get a true sense of the pandemic's effect on apprenticeship and traineeship activity.
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“Trade commencements were down 9.8 per cent in the March quarter 2020, with the biggest decreases seen in food trades workers, down 20 per cent, and construction trades workers, down 13 per cent."
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“Commencements in non-trade occupations also showed a decrease, down 12.4 per cent compared with the March quarter 2019.”
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These issues affect the recruitment of capable VET trainers with industry expertise in high demand skills, particularly in regional areas, and impact on the quality of VET teaching as a whole.
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Many of the challenges stem from the distinct requirements for VET teachers to have both industry experience and teaching skills, and that several factors need to be considered in raising the capability and retention of the existing VET teaching workforce, as well as attracting new trainers where needed.
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This publication provides a summary of data relating to estimated students, programs, subjects and training providers in Australia’s government-funded vocational education and training (VET) system.
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For further information or access to other reports, please visit NCVER.
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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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