|
|
|
AE News Volume 12, Issue 44
|
Friday, 22nd November 2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
26 November - Confidence, Self Esteem & Assertiveness Workshop
|
|
6 December - AEN & GAN Australia Annual Awards Dinner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Training Awards - Winners Announced
|
|
On Thursday evening this week the National Training Awards were held in Brisbane with over 700 guests.
|
|
Australian Apprentice of the Year - Rory Milner - Certificate III Carpentry (NT)
|
|
Trainee of the Year - Stephen Witkowski - Certificate III Aquaculture
|
|
Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year - Arcadia Meldrum - Certificate III in Tourism (NSW)
|
|
Special mention to runner up - Heide Liesel Rasmussen (Victoria - G-Force)
|
|
Vocational Student of the Year - Shaona Imaru Certificate III Health Services Assistance (South Australia)
|
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year - Taylor Williams Diploma of Government (ACT)
|
|
Teacher of the Year - Sarah Ford (NSW)
|
|
Industry Collaboration Award - Holmesglen Institute and Royal Children's Hospital collaboration VET
|
Large Training Provider of the Year - Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
|
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAN Australia Release Policy Paper
|
|
|
Earlier this week GAN Australia and AEN released the policy paper, Time to get on with the job - Utilising the apprenticeship system to support Australia’s Skills needs, in response to the Steven Joyce VET review and National Skills Package.
|
As many government reviews over the past decade have highlighted there are several challenges within the Australian vocational education and training system including:
|
- Unequal funding arrangements at both State and Federal levels
|
|
|
- Slow training package development and inconsistent implementation and delivery quality by training provider
- Complex administration, compliance and funding arrangements
These challenges have seen many employers move away from the training system and utilise a casual workforce to meet their skills needs.
|
As part of the 2019-20 Federal Budget the ‘Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow’ and based on the recommendations of the Strengthening Skills: Expert Review of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training System there will be three new entities designed to maximise the Australian VET system:
|
- National Skills Commission
- Skills Organisations
- National Careers Institute
AEN and GAN Australia have summarised our thoughts on how these new entities can improve the efficiency and information sharing required to strengthen the VET system whilst utilising the existing well preforming GTO network.
|
We look forward to working with the Australian Government on these exciting initiatives during 2020.
|
|
For further information and to access the full policy paper please visit GAN Australia.
|
|
|
|
Announcement on Service Providers for the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network
|
On Friday last week the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash announced the providers who have been chosen to deliver the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network nationally.
|
After a competitive tender process, seven successful providers have been chosen to provide services to employers and apprentices across 10 regions from 1 February 2020.
|
The successful AASN providers delivering these services are listed below:
|
Australian Capital Territory
|
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- MEGT
- Sarina Russo Job Access
- VERTO Ltd
- Australian Apprenticeships NT
Outback Western Australia
|
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- BUSY At Work
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- BUSY At Work
- MEGT
- BUSY At Work
- MAS National
- MEGT
- Sarina Russo Job Access
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- MAS National
- MEGT
- Sarina Russo Job Access
|
|
|
|
|
AEN Annual Awards - Finalists
|
This year we received a record number of 52 nominations for our awards including 17 nominations for apprentice of the year and 14 nominations for trainee of the year.
|
This highlights the great work many GTOs are doing and the high calibre of our youth.
|
The 2019 AEN Award finalists are:
|
Apprentice of the Year - Sponsored by Apprenticeship Support Australia
Ben Farrell - Gforce Employment Solutions
Jessica Scott-Smith - Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
Maxwell Mitchell - Gforce Employment Solutions
Ryan Kurray - Westvic Staffing Solutions
Sophia Law - Gforce Employment Solutions
Youssef Batal - AGA Australia
|
Trainee of the Year - Sponsored by VicSuper
Akhila Nilakantan - Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
Ashleigh McCafferty - Westvic Staffing Solutions
Katharine Knapman - WPC Group
Sian Prangnell - AGA Australia
Talei Winning - AGA Australia
Zara Hogan - Kestrel Apprentice Solutions
|
School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year - Sponsored by Australian Super
Ashcka Woods - Skillinvest
Beau Gibbs - Westvic Staffing Solutions
Heidi Rasmussen - Gforce Employment Solutions
|
Inspiration Award: Indigenous Student of the Year - Sponsored by Apprenticeship Support Australia
Ashcka Woods - Skillinvest
Danae McDonald - Skillinvest
Jessiah Lymburner - Ai Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre
Joshua Coulson - WPC Group
Kayleigh Gallagher - WPC Group
|
Inspiration Award: Overcoming Adversity - Sponsored by RMIT University
Annabel Humble - AGA Australia
Hari Acharya - MEGT Australia Ltd.
Jessica Scott-Smith - Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
Luke Stephenson - Skillinvest
Shantelle Spiteri - WPC Group
Sian Prangnell - AGA Australia
|
Inspiration Award: Woman in Trades - Sponsored by AATIS
Caitlin Allsopp - WPC Group
Jessica Scott-Smith - Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd
Shannon Distefano - MEGT Australia Ltd.
Sheree Leen - Gforce Employment Solutions
Sophia Law - Gforce Employment Solutions
|
|
GTO Service Excellence - Sponsored by Bunnings Warehouse
|
|
AGA Australia - Supporting Disadvantaged Workers in Major Projects
|
Programmed Skilled Workforce Ltd - Indigenous Advancements Strategy
Westvic Staffing Solutions - Shaping Futures Pilot Program
|
Congratulations to all the finalists, and we look forward to showcasing everyone on the 6 December at Victorian Parliament House from 6:00pm - 10:30pm.
|
Early bird tickets close today. Purchase 8 or more tickets to receive a 10% discount. **Discount will automatically be applied to your order at checkout.
|
AEN Members: Please login prior to purchasing tickets to access the member rate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Australasian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA): 23rd Annual Conference
|
23rd - 24th April 2020, Citadines Conference Centre, Melbourne (131-135 Bourke St)
|
20/20 vision for VET: Research at the centre of future policy and practice
|
The venue is in central Melbourne near restaurant and theatre districts, and close to some of Melbourne’s magnificent parks. There are many nearby hotels, and a discount is available for accommodation at Citadines.
|
If you would like to present a paper on your recent research, please submit a 250-300 word abstract by December 5th 2019, to AVETRA2020@federation.edu.au.
|
Abstracts should relate to one or more of the conference streams: VET policy perspectives; VET practice perspectives; Careers and transitions; Contexts for VET; Voices of stakeholders; Big data stories; Open theme.
|
Keynote speakers
Professor Stephanie Allais, Research Chair of Skills Development, University of the Witwatersrand and Special Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Training: TVET in developing countries: Constraints and possibilities
|
Professor Rod McDonald, Principal, Ithaca Group, former Special Advisor to Australian National Training Authority; author of seminal report on VET research: No Small Change: Research at the centre of policy and practice - is it too much to expect?
|
Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker, Professor of Vocational and Higher Education, University of Birmingham: Leadership dilemmas & incompatible goals? Pursuing access, social inclusion, social mobility & employability in public further education
|
Registration will open by late November. Registration costs will be:
|
- Full price (non-members): $495 for full conference including early-evening social event on the first day; $265 for Day 1 (including social event); $240 for Day 2.
- AVETRA member price: $395 for full conference including early-evening social event on the first day; $215 for Day 1 (including social event); $190 for Day 2.
More conference details will be progressively posted on the AVETRA website and through their social media channels @AVETRA1 #AVETRAConf2020.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Role of Intermediary Organisations in Apprenticeship Systems
|
|
|
Intermediary organisations in apprenticeships are those which act on behalf of, link, or mediate between the main parties – apprentices and employers.
|
|
An intermediary organisation in apprenticeship systems is thus one that undertakes one or more of the following activities:
|
|
|
|
- employs apprentices as a third-party employer
- trains apprentices as part of a specific arrangement with groups of employers
- or undertakes other apprentice support activities on behalf of an employer or a specified group of employers.
An intermediary organisation in apprenticeship systems is thus one that undertakes one or more of the following activities: employs apprentices as a third-party employer; trains apprentices as part of a specific arrangement with groups of employers; or undertakes other apprentice support activities on behalf of an employer or a specified group of employers.
|
This discussion paper highlights different ways of classifying intermediary organisations, provides examples of different types of intermediary organisations and examines the different roles they can play to support the effective operation of apprenticeship systems.
|
In particular, the report includes brief case studies of intermediary organisations in Australia, India and England.
|
These organisations have also been found to improve retention and completion rates in apprenticeships.
|
The report concludes that intermediary organisations should be regarded as potentially major contributors to apprenticeship systems and as such, this report should be seen as an important contribution to improved understanding and awareness of the roles they play and the challenges they face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productivity Commission to Review the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development
|
Last week the Federal Government announced that the Productivity Commission will review the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD).
The NASWD provides financial support to the States and Territories to support vocational education and training (VET) and outlines agreed goals and targets in the areas of skills and workforce development.
The review of the NASWD is part of a wider Government plan for the Productivity Commission to undertake independent reviews of nationally significant sector-wide agreements with the States and Territories.
The Productivity Commission will review the effectiveness of the NASWD and will assess options for co-ordinated government support for VET, opportunities to increase VET participation and the potential to achieve further targeted reforms.
This review will complement the Government’s implementation of the Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package announced at the 2019-20 Budget.
|
The $585 million Budget package will ensure Australians have the right skills to get a job and build a career – now and into the future, no matter where they live.
The Productivity Commission will undertake broad public consultation, including with state and territory governments, and is due to report to Government within twelve months.
|
|
|
|
|
|
50 Years Since the “Equal Pay” Principle: How Far Have we Come?
|
This year marks 50 years since the landmark 1969 equal pay decision that first saw Australian women win the right to be paid the same as men for doing the same work, or work of equal or comparable value.
|
In the five decades since this momentous decision, Australia’s female workforce participation rate has reached record levels. Yet the gender pay gap remains a stubborn feature of our economy.
|
This year, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) data shows the gender pay gap continued to decline, which is good news.
|
But men still out-earn women, on average, by 20.8%. Pay gaps persist across every industry, occupation and manager category. A drop of only 0.5 percentage points is slow progress by anyone’s measure.
|
In WGEA’s sixth year of reporting on data collected from Australian employers, our latest dataset demonstrates the importance of continuing to measure gender equality in Australian workplaces.
|
Although change is happening in some key areas, more effort needs to be made in others.
|
WGEA data shows that when employers take action, it makes a difference. More women are getting promoted to managerial roles. More employers are offering paid parental leave to their staff. More organisations are implementing policies or strategies to support gender equality or promote flexible working, as well as measuring their pay gaps and taking action to close them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
YES - Youth Employment Survey
|
|
|
The Youth Employment Study (YES) is the first Australian study to survey a large group of young people accessing Australian employment programs.
|
YES aims to find out what helps young people get jobs and stay in jobs they enjoy.
|
|
This is a unique opportunity to speak about youth employment for people with disability, and it is vital that many young people with disability get the chance to be involved.
|
|
|
|
If you can support, promote and encourage participation in the study, please do so, so the project receives a rich picture of what works and in turn improve outcomes for young people with disability.
|
|
For further information and to participate in the survey please visit the YES website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do you want to be kept up to date with everything that’s happening with GAN Australia and the wider VET sector?
|
|
|
|
|
|
AEN Upcoming Events & PD Sessions
|
We have a busy end to the year planned with plenty of member network meetings and professional development sessions scheduled.
|
Check out the list of upcoming events below and go to our Events Calendar to RSVP.
|
|
Confidence, Self Esteem & Assertiveness Workshop - Tuesday 26 November
|
|
2019 Awards Dinner - Friday 6 December
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to our Industry Partners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
