Apprenticeship Employment Network

AE News Volume 16, Issue 13

Friday, 5th May 2023
Hi Reader!

Upcoming Events

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June
AEN Mid-Year Conference

July
PD Session: Managing Conflict with Confidence
PD Session: African Cultural Awareness & Recruitment

AEN Mid-Year Conference 2023 - REGISTER NOW

This year AEN is holding its Mid-Year Conference at Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields, Melbourne.

Over the one and half day conference, delegates will hear from special guest speakers and representatives of the Victorian Government.

This event promises to be jammed packed with a range of topics and updates and will be followed by the conference dinner.

Date:
Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 June 2023

Location:
Hyatt Place, 1 English Street, Essendon Fields Melbourne

Time:
Day 1 Conference: 10.00am - 5.40pm
Conference Dinner: 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Day 2 Conference: 9am - 1.45pm

Dress Code:
Business Casual
Hear from speakers including:
  • 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)
For further information and to register, please visit the AEN Event Calendar.

Future Directions Paper for Australian Apprenticeship Support Services

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposed Australian Apprenticeship Support Services model elements outlined in the Future Directions Paper.

In late 2022, The Australian Government consulted on the Australian Apprenticeship Services and Support Discussion Paper to seek stakeholder views on how the apprenticeship system could be improved to build diversity in trade and non-trade apprenticeships and to drive-up completions.


The purpose of this Future Directions for Australian Apprenticeship Support Services Consultation Paper is to:

  • Provide an update on what we have heard from stakeholders in response to the key themes raised during discussion paper consultations.
  • Outline the Australian Government’s proposed future directions for apprenticeship services and non-financial supports, informed by stakeholder responses.
The key proposals of the consultation paper are significant reforms to the current apprenticeship system in order to improve the support and funding available to apprentices and their employers.

The paper proposes the creation of a single national provider of apprenticeship support services, a new funding model based on a set amount of funding per Apprentice, and a range of other reforms aimed at improving access to information, recognition of prior learning, and the overall effectiveness of the apprenticeship system.

The government hopes that these reforms will increase participation in Apprenticeships and improve the skills and productivity of the Australian workforce.

Read more and download the paper here.

Submit your feedback to the discussion paper responses will support the final design of the Australian Government’s apprenticeship supports service delivery model.

International Apprentice Exchange Program

TRADIES CAN HAVE A FUTURE-PROOF INTERNATIONAL CAREER EXPERIENCE

Australian apprentices are being offered scholarships to learn on the job around the world as the global demand for skilled workers intensifies.

A new 4-week exchange program offers Australian 2nd, 3rd and 4th year apprentices over the age of 18 a chance to broaden their trade knowledge, skills, and experience in Canada, New Zealand or Switzerland through the Global Apprenticeship Network Australia (GAN), with support from GAN New Zealand, EJTC Canada and GTEXpro.

Trade-trained workers are being snapped up by countries around the world in the global war for talent.

The recent World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report finds that building and related trades workers are Europe's most common occupations with labour shortages in 2022. The next most needed professions included metal, machinery and associated trades. In the United States, businesses in retail and wholesale of consumer goods reported close to 70% of job openings remaining unfilled, with close to 55% of roles unfilled in manufacturing and 45% in leisure and hospitality.

“The international exchange program is a great opportunity for our emerging workforce to develop a universal set of skills needed for the most in-demand occupations worldwide. Having transferable skill sets creates a competitive edge for an instant boost in employability and opportunities to travel and work anywhere in the world,” Executive Director of the Global Apprenticeship Network, Australia (GAN) and the Apprenticeship Employment Network, Victoria (AEN), Gary Workman, says. "Australian apprentices will have the opportunity to experience how other countries work in the same industry and can bring back valuable first-hand knowledge that will assist their work when they return.”

Tradies are highly valued worldwide, especially as countries face elevated unemployment and tight labour markets. The problem causing trade shortages goes back to ’90s policies; school students were overwhelmingly pushed to university. There is a generational opportunity for businesses and policymakers to realise the importance of apprenticeships in Australia and worldwide to avoid the revolving door of skills shortages,” Mr Workman says.

The program will cover travel, accommodation, insurance, and training costs to an estimated value of $10,000 per exchange. Itineraries will include attending a local training school focusing on OH&S and basic trade skills, job site tours where they will be assigned to an employer and commence on-site training and job shadowing, and a reflection project for further skill development. GAN-Australia are also interested to hear from Australian businesses willing to host an international apprentice locally.

For more information on the international exchange program, visit GAN Australia.

Victorian Training Awards - Nominations Closing Soon

Be recognised for your hard work in 2023!

There is just one week to go until nominations for the 2023 Victorian Training Awards close, at midnight on Friday 12 May.

There will be no extensions beyond this date.

As a key stakeholder of Victoria’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, you are aware of the history of these prestigious awards.

In 2023, the Victorian Training Awards mark their 69th year of celebrating the outstanding achievements of apprentices, students, teachers, employers and training providers in the VET sector.

Last year’s awards honoured the achievements of many outstanding organisations and individuals, with six Victorian representatives going on to achieve national success at the Australian Training Awards.

You may want to nominate yourself, your students, your organisation, or someone else you know.

Winners in select categories will also have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards in Tasmania in November.

Nominate now!

To progress your nomination, register on the nominations portal and read the nominations guide visit the Victorian Skills Authority to learn about the different categories and nomination criteria.

Australian Training Awards Nominations Are Now Open

The Australian Training Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training sector.

This year's Awards will be held in Hobart, Tasmania in November 2023.

16 Awards categories will be presented at the Awards – eight categories are individual achievements and eight for businesses and registered training organisations.

11 awards are entered to the Awards through the state and territory training awards process with winners from each state and territory becoming eligible to compete at the national level in aligned categories.

Individuals, businesses and registered training organisations can nominate directly to the Australian Training Awards for the following Direct Entry categories:

  • Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award
  • Innovation in VET Award
  • Australian Apprenticeships Employer Award
  • School Pathways to VET Award
  • Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award
Find out if you're eligible to nominate by checking out the Award Categories page.

Nominations close 31 May 2023.

For further details please visit Australian Training Awards.

Upcoming AEN Professional Development

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.

Date: Wednesday 5 July 2023
Time:10am – 1.30pm
Delivery: In Person

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.

Date: Wednesday 11 July 2023
Time: 9.30am - 1.30pm
Delivery: In Person

Registrations:
For information about these PD Session's and to register, please go to AEN Events Calendar
and select the event. All prices include GST.

AEN Members:
Please login to the members area prior to purchasing tickets to access the members rate or to RSVP for a free event.

NCVER Update

Employment Outcomes Improve for International VET Students

In 2022, a higher portion of international onshore VET students were employed after training compared with 2021.

The latest NCVER report shows that in mid-2022, 83% of international onshore VET qualification completers were employed after training, up 7.5 percentage points from the same period in 2021. A total of 81.3% were employed in Australia, which was 8.5 percentage points higher than in the previous year.

Overall, 73% of international onshore VET qualification completers had an improved employment status after training, an increase of 8.9 percentage points from 2021.


Enabling Better VET Delivery in Regional Australia Requires Diverse and Flexible Approaches

Making sure the VET sector serves regional, rural and remote Australia remains an ongoing policy priority. But what are the barriers and how can these be addressed?

The latest NCVER research provides insights on how various stakeholders in the VET system perceive local skills requirements and the barriers faced by RTOs while delivering training in regional, rural and remote locations.

Three main sets of barriers were identified, including trainer shortages, distance, and literacy and numeracy issues for students.

The findings suggest that tailored and flexible approaches are necessary due to the diverse and unique characteristics of regional communities and industries.

The research also found that many of the barriers identified, such as limited housing and job opportunities, do not fall under the responsibility of the VET sector. This highlights the need for a coordinated and holistic approach to regional development.
To learn more and to access the reports please visit, NCVER.

Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program

Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program Logo
Out of Trade Banner
Since the program commenced in May 2020, a total of 963 participants have been supported to date.
  • 84% Male
  • 16% Female
For Individuals
Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.

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.
For Businesses
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.

For further information or to register for the program, please visit Apprenticeship Employment Network.
Do you want to be kept up to date with everything that’s happening with GAN Australia and the wider VET sector?

Head on over to GAN Australia and subscribe now.
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Thanks to our Industry Partners

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ApprenticeshipSupportAustralia
AustralianApprenticeshipsPathways
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VictorianChamberOfCommerceAndIndustry
WorkSight
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