Apprenticeship Employment Network

AE News Volume 15, Issue 18

Friday, 17th June 2022
Hi Reader!

Upcoming Events

1457023190_Calendar
21 June - AEN Mid-Year Conference
19 July - Braveheart Lifeskills Coaching Program
3 August - Inspirational Leadership through EI
10 August - Braveheart Lifeskills Coaching Program
24 August - QA Standards Network

Minister Acknowledges – GTO Women in Trades

On Thursday 16 June, the Hon. Gayle Tierney, Minister for Training and Skills, along with local MP Christen Couzens, acknowledged a group of GTO female tradeswomen in Geelong.

The Minister acknowledged five female trade apprentices (four received an AEN Certificate of Appreciation and one was presented with her Trade Papers).
  • Rachel Zahra, Parks and Gardens (1st year), Deakin University - gforce recruitment + employment
  • Cassandra Henry, Parks and Gardens (1st year), Deakin University - gforce recruitment + employment
  • Sarah McDonald, Electrotechnology Electrician (2nd year), JWL Electrical – Victorian Group Training
  • Daphne O’Meara, Light Automotive (2nd year), Mercedes Benz - WPC Group
  • Ebony Innes, Certificate III in Joinery (Qualified), Fusion Cabinets – previously with Victorian Group Training - was presented with her official Trade Papers issued by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority.
Minister tierney and apprentices
The 2020-21 Victorian budget provided $5 million in grants to industry and training organisations to support and encourage women to pursue non-traditional roles, including the construction industry, through the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund.

The Apprenticeship Innovation Fund is a targeted discretionary fund which creates opportunities and explores ways to increase participation in apprenticeships. A significant part of the fund is set aside to increase the number of women in male-dominated trades.

Nine projects are funded within the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund’s ‘Women’s Stream’:
  • Centre For U - WAVE Women in Electrical
  • Master Plumbers - Women in Plumbing
  • National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) – Women and their Trade
  • Downer Group - Women on Track
  • Ai Group - Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
  • National Fire Industry Association (NFIA) – SPRINKS project
  • Apprenticeship Employment Network’s (AEN) - Women Only Multi-trade Pre-apprenticeship
  • Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) - Auto project
  • Trades Women Australia - Careers Plus project.
The aim of the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund is to:
  • build a skilled workforce for Victoria
  • increase the number of apprentices and trainees who begin and complete apprenticeships
  • create pathways into apprenticeships
  • improve gender equity and workforce diversity
  • share the outcomes of projects through reporting and evaluation findings.
Thank you to gforce employment + recruitment, Victorian Group Training and Westvic Staffing Solutions for supporting the event in Geelong.

The GTO Advantage – AEN NSW & ACT

Earlier this week, AEN NSW & ACT released a new research paper developed by Social Outcomes at their Annual Skills Conference in Sydney.

This evidence-backed business value proposition targets the key business audience for GTOs – both small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations.

The report analyses existing research and data regarding the role that GTOs play in advancing a skilled workforce across Australian industries and elevates the research through targeted stakeholder consultation and interviews with a sample of GTOs, host employers, industry contacts, government stakeholders and the industry association itself.
gto advantage
Key findings:
  • Quality assurance through GTO registration
  • Offer specialist recruitment skills and induction support
  • Manage employee performance
  • Offer personal coaching and mentoring support
  • De-risked employment relationship and reduced administrative burden
  • Support the development of positive workplace relationships and conditions
  • Help fill skill shortages
  • Promote apprenticeships among equity groups
  • Promote gender equity apprenticeships
  • Have higher completions resulting in stronger employment outcomes
  • Represent value for money.
GTOs have a specific advantage over individual businesses because they develop and maintain targeted relationships with the key apprentice/trainee pipelines. GTOs routinely develop relationships with school counsellors and career advisors, training providers, employment services, parent groups and the candidates themselves to engage young people who might never have worked before and do not necessarily have the skills to find or apply for jobs.

For further details, please visit AEN NSW & ACT.

FWC Announce Increase to Minimum Wage

Earlier this week, the Fair Work Commission announced a 5.2% increase to the National Minimum Wage and a 4.6% increase to minimum award wages, with a $40 minimum increase applying.

For more detailed information about the decision, please visit Fair Work Ombudsman.

For further details on specific information for apprentices/trainees, please visit Fair Work Ombudsman/Apprentices and Trainees.

A reminder that AEN provides an annual IR support service through WorkSight. For further information, please email nik@aen.org.au.

Janet Nicolson from WorkSight will be providing an IR update at the AEN’s Mid-Year Conference on Tuesday 21 June.

New Information and Awareness Campaign - Many Talents One VCE

One VCE
Victoria’s senior secondary education is changing.

From 2023, the new Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major will replace the Intermediate and Senior Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). This means the VCE will recognise different learning pathways equally. The new VCE Vocational Major, a 2-year program that sits within the VCE, will equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need for the world of work. It will also prepare them to transition into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, or university.

The new Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) will replace Foundation VCAL, providing an enriched curriculum and excellent support for students to develop the skills, capabilities, and qualities for success. The VPC will meet the needs of a smaller number of students not able or ready to complete the VCE, including the VCE Vocational Major.

Schools currently offering VCAL will switch to the VCE Vocational Major from 2023. Some schools that do not offer VCAL will expand their options to include the VCE Vocational Major.

Students will have more education choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing them for further study, training at TAFE or work.

Teachers and careers practitioners are available to answer questions and to support students as they make decisions about their final years at school.

For more information, go to Many Talents One VCE.

The stakeholder pack that accompanies the public Many Talents One VCE campaign explains the positive changes to Victoria’s senior secondary education starting in 2023.

AEN Professional Development

Training

Braveheart Lifeskills Coaching Program

Think differently about your Mental Health Action Plan. Empower people with the skills they need to live a full and contributing life by assisting them to increase their ability to manage stress and anxiety, staving off depression and suicidal thoughts.

This series of workshops aims to create awareness of the six most important human factor topics that have the biggest impact on an individual’s state of mind, while at the same time providing on-demand access to cohesive visual microlearning and digital resources that can be quickly and easily shared in formal toolbox talks and informal conversations to assist people to stay well while they are well as part of an organisation’s broader and more traditional Health and Wellbeing strategy.

Dates: 20 July, 10 August, 8 September and 19 October
Time: 9.00am – 1pm
Delivery: In person
Venue: AEN Training Room, 83 Hobsons Road, Kensington
Cost: FREE

This program is for AEN Members only.

To register, please RSVP by logging into the Member’s area and select ‘Events & Media/Events Calendar’.

If you do not have a member login, please Register.

Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence

Our mindset has an enormous effect on how resourceful we are, and our ability to recognise and master our emotions is a crucial factor in building positive relationships with ourselves and others. Unlocking the power of mental and emotional intelligence gives us the ability to turn stumbling blocks into steppingstones and setbacks into comebacks.

This interactive workshop is designed to explore and harness the power of our mind and heart. Participants will walk away with effective tools and strategies to take ownership of their own thoughts and emotions, understand and positively influence others to succeed, and to be at their best in an ever-changing world

Date: Wednesday 3 August
Time: 9.00am – 1pm
Delivery: Zoom

Registrations
  • Members: $88
  • Non-Members: $121
AEN Members: Please login to Member’s area prior to purchasing tickets to access the member rate. All prices include GST.

Enquiries: Anna Bejanoff, admin@aen.org.au or 03 9639 3955.

NAIDOC Week: 3 - 10 July

NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week's 2022 theme is Get up! Stand up! Show up!

Events will be held around Australia during NAIDOC week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC is celebrated by people from all walks of life, Indigenous and non‑Indigenous. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For further information, please visit NAIDOC.

WorldSkills Australia

WorldSkills
Every two years, more than 500 Regional Competitions are held in 35 regions across Australia.
Regional Competitions test the skills and knowledge of 4000+ apprentices, trainees, and students, who have the chance to win gold, silver, and bronze medals and go on to compete at a national level.

The WorldSkills Australia program is a series of work-simulated projects based on industry-standard frameworks which are designed and administered by teachers, trainers, assessors, and industry experts.

Students who perform well within this year’s Regional Competition may be eligible to advance to the National Championships being held in Melbourne 2023 where they compete alongside their peers from other regions, states, and territories.

Competitors are the stars of the Regional Competitions; however, training providers are critical to the success of the WorldSkills program.

To learn more about the upcoming WorldSkills 2022 Regional Competitions, please join Apprenticeships Victoria, Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, Apprenticeship Employment Network, and WorldSkills Australia to the Private RTO Forum on:

Date: Wednesday 22 June 2022
Time: 1.00 - 2.00pm
Delivery: Zoom

Register here

AV
iteca
AEN

Landmarks in the Australian Apprenticeship & Traineeship System

Erica Smith’s Landmark Paper takes a historical look at the apprentice and traineeship system in Australia. The report concludes that the apprenticeship system is essentially conservative, as it generally attempts to balance competing interests, with the result that systems are slow to change.
VCE knowledge bank
For more information about the report, please visit NCVER.

ATO Tax Time Resources for Apprentices/Trainees

Apprentices and trainees, not sure where to start when it comes to tax time? The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can help.

The ATO has a range of resources and tips to help you lodge your tax return, including a handy guide for apprentices to help you work out what you can and can’t claim. You can also access this information in other languages, here.

Download the ATO app for a fast and easy way to keep track of receipts and invoices and, once you’ve lodged, you can keep track the progress of your return. Just remember most tax returns lodged online take about two weeks to be processed.

If you’re lodging online this year, the ATO suggests the best time to lodge is from late July. By then, all your information from employers, banks and health funds will be automatically included in your tax return. So, all you need to do is check the information and add anything that’s missing.

For more information, visit ATO Apprentice l Trainee Deductions.

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 908 participants have been supported with 817 currently in training:
  • 83.8% Male
  • 15.9% Female
The top three occupations are Electrical (231), Plumbing (167), and Carpentry (130).
Currently, there are 25 candidates on our active caseload:
  • Plumbing - 6
  • Electrical - 6
  • Carpentry - 5
  • Business - 3
  • Other - 5
For Individuals
Apprentices and trainees who have lost employment are encouraged to register.

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.
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.

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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