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AE News Volume 11, Issue 36
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Upcoming Events
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23 Oct - Cross-cultural Responsiveness
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13 Nov - OHS Network Meeting
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AEN 2018 Awards – Tickets are now on Sale
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This week the nominations closed for our 2018 annual awards. We have received a record number of 35 entries across our 6 award categories.
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- ATO Best Victorian Apprentice - sponsored by Australian Super
- ATO Best Victorian Trainee Award - sponsored by VicSuper
- Outstanding OH&S Initiative Award - sponsored by EML
- GTO Service Excellence Award - sponsored by MARSH
- OH&S STAR Award - sponsored by EML
- AEN Lifetime Achievement Awards
Finalists will be announced on 19 October 2018.
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Tickets for the event being held on Thursday 22 November at Pelicans Landing in Williamstown have gone on sale via our new online registration process. Early bird sales close 26 October 2018.
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Growth in Job Vacancies Eases in August
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The number of job vacancies in Australia in August 2018 was 240,900 (trend), an increase of 3.4 per cent over the quarter, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures.
Bruce Hockman, Chief Economist at the ABS, said, "We're still seeing growth in the quarterly trend measure of job vacancies but at a much slower rate. It's down on the recent growth in May and also below last August, when it was 4.6 per cent."
Over the year, job vacancies increased by 19.3 per cent, with private sector vacancies increasing by 20.3 per cent and public sector vacancies by 9.5 per cent.
The seasonally adjusted number of job vacancies increased by 0.6 per cent in the quarter to August 2018.
Victoria was the state or territory that contributed the most to this growth over the year, with administration and support services, and professional, scientific and technical services the leading industries.
"The number of unemployed persons per job vacancy (trend) decreased further in August, implying that job vacancies are increasing at a faster rate than the available spare capacity," Mr Hockman said. "This is consistent with other indicators in the labour market that are suggesting vacancies are becoming harder to fill."
Further details are available in Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2018 (cat. no. 6354.0), available for free download from the ABS website.
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October 8-10 World VET Congress
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From 8-10 October, the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) will be exploring new challenges in vocational and professional education and training caused by advances in technologies and automation. The theme of the Congress is ‘Preparing for the Skills Future, Now’ and will be looking into how these challenges are impacting work, society and people.
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Hosted by Australian TAFEs, the Congress brings together community colleges and polytechnics from around the world, as well as experts in professional and vocational education and training. With a focus on action-based solutions to these challenges, the Congress will make a difference to the outcomes of millions of vocational and professional students around the world.
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On the Monday 8 October AEN will also be hosting a specific apprenticeship site tour with Holmesglen Institute aimed specifically at international delegates as part of the world congress conference.
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To find out more or register for the event, visit the WFCP website.
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We’d like to congratulate all the state finalists and winners from around Australia who have shown amazing commitment and innovation in their state’s VET sector.
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The winners from each state will now have the opportunity to contest the Australian Training Awards, which will be held in Sydney on 15 November.
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Find out the state winners and finalists below:
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NSW TAFE Managing Director Resigns
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Minister responsible for TAFE NSW, Adam Marshall, this week announced that Mr Jon Black, Managing Director of TAFE NSW, will be moving on after close to three years’ service.
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Mr Marshall thanked Mr Black for his service to the Vocational Education Training (VET) sector, and said he had been instrumental in leading implementation of the NSW Government’s once-in-a-generation One TAFE reforms.
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“As Managing Director, Mr Black has overseen one of the largest public sector reforms in the country to position TAFE NSW as Australia’s leading public VET provider,” Mr Marshall said.
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“Having implemented the first stage of the One TAFE reforms, Mr Black has set the foundations for the future success of the organisation."
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“The NSW Government’s One TAFE reforms, which Mr Black has been instrumental in delivering, will ensure that TAFE NSW continues to cement its position as the leading public provider of VET in Australia."
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“On behalf of the NSW Government, I thank Mr Black for his dedicated service, and wish him every success in the future.”
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Mr Black said: “It has been an honour to serve as the Managing Director of TAFE NSW, and to work with the wonderful teachers, students and staff of the country’s leading public VET provider and with the many industry partners.”
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Dr Caralee McLiesh has been appointed Acting Managing Director for TAFE NSW.
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Dr McLiesh is currently a Deputy Secretary of NSW Treasury, and has an impressive career spanning more than 20 years’ experience in the Government, international, not-for-profit and commercial sectors.
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October is National Health & Safety Month
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The Worksafe Australia website has a wide range of resources and information to assist everyone within your organisation develop a better understanding of workplace health and safety requirements including;
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The latest data
Check out the fatality and injury infographics by state or industry.
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Working safely in your language
Information sheets in 20 languages that provide clear, simple information about working safely in Australia. They explain that employers must look after the health and safety of workers and that a worker must look after their own health and safety, and include a checklist for new workers to use when starting a new job and a list of government work health and safety and workers’ compensation contacts.
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Frequently asked questions
Who’s responsible?
While the Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for regulating and enforcing the WHS laws in their jurisdictions, we all have a responsibility and duty for building a safe workplace around us.
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Who has a duty?
Business owners, managers and employers owe a duty to employees to ensure ‘so far as reasonably practicable’ their health and safety at work.
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What is regulation?
In Australia, ‘regulation’ is the process by which the model WHS laws are enforced. State-based WHS agencies – often called ‘regulators’ – enforce the model WHS laws in their jurisdiction.
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What are the costs of poor safety?
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Poor WHS can cause injury, illness and even death. While the emotional cost cannot be underestimated, the financial cost to the whole Australian community is staggering – in 2012–13 work related injury and illness cost $61.8 billion.
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This figure includes both direct and indirect costs: workers’ compensation premiums, compensation payments to injured or incapacitated workers, loss of productivity, current and future earnings, potential output, and the cost of providing social welfare programs for injured or incapacitated workers.
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What is good work design?
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‘Good work’ is healthy and safe work, where the hazards and risks are eliminated or minimised. Good work is also where the work design optimises human performance, job satisfaction and productivity.
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Good work contains positive work elements that can:
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- protect workers from harm to their health, safety and welfare.
- improve worker health and wellbeing.
- improve business success through higher worker productivity.
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Designing good work starts at the conceptual and planning phases. At this early stage, there is greatest chance of finding ways to design out hazards, incorporate effective risk control measures and design in efficiencies.
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Effective design of good work considers:
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- the work.
- the physical working environment, and
- the workers.
What is the hierarchy of control?
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The hierarchy of control can help you identify ways to control risks to health and safety by ranking them.
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The model WHS laws require duty holders to work through this hierarchy when managing health and safety risks.
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What is a hazard?
A ‘hazard’ is a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards at work may include noisy machinery, a moving forklift, chemicals, electricity, working at height, a repetitive job, and bullying and violence.
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What is a risk?
A ‘risk’ is the possibility that harm – death, injury or illness – might occur when exposed to a hazard.
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Who do you call?
Please help share this information within your organisations, and with your apprentices/ trainees and host employers during October.
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Skills Shortages - AI Group Report
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The Australian Industry Group has recently released a report on skills shortages in the technician and trades worker categories, noting the difficulties faced in recruiting for STEM skills. According to the report, 75 per cent of Australian employers have reported skills shortages in the last two years, along with a larger percentage of employers increasing expenditure on training in 2018 due to digital skills needs.
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The survey found clear pressure points affecting employers:
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- Skills shortages: 75 per cent of respondents reported skills shortages, a jump from 49 per cent in the previous survey conducted in 2016. Shortages are most often in the technician and trades worker category, with difficulties recruiting for STEM skills, and new shortages for roles in business automation, Big Data and artificial intelligence solutions.
- Literacy and Numeracy: 99 per cent of employers (up from 96 per cent in 2016) are affected in some way by low levels of literacy and numeracy in their workforce. This is disturbing at a time when the workforce increasingly requires foundation skills that include not only literacy and numeracy but digital literacy and advanced soft skills.
- Leadership and Management: employers are prioritising technology capability improvements for managers, 62 per cent of whom believe a lack of leadership and management skills is having a high impact on the business (up from 56 per cent in 2016). This reflects the major changes needed in the way work is done and managed as entire business processes and organisational cultures are upended in the digital economy.
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To access the full report please visit the AI Group website.
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ACPET Appoints Chief Executive Officer, Troy Williams
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ACPET, the industry organisation which represents the independent tertiary education sector in
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Australia, has announced the appointment of Troy Williams as its new Chief Executive Officer.
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The appointment reflects ACPET’s current priorities in promoting quality Australian education both nationally and internationally.
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Troy comes to ACPET as the independent education sector strengthens its student focus and seeks to provide business with the skills it needs to support Australia’s economy.
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“The selection demonstrates ACPET’s commitment to the role of tertiary education in shaping
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Australia’s economic future and in this context, the Council was able to attract candidates of the highest calibre,” said Bruce Callaghan, ACPET National Chair.
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Mr Williams is an experienced policy advocate with an established network of contacts across the
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political spectrum, and he has a highly nuanced approach to evidence based policy development.
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This will be crucial to ACEPT members, and the broader business community, as the independent
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education sector embarks on the changes which will be required to address educational change in the next decade.
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Mr Williams’ has a long career with membership based organisations, where he has emphasised member engagement and collaborative partnerships.
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For further information please visit the ACPET website.
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Australian Super – Changes to TPD for Under 25 Year Olds
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From 27 October 2018, the age that basic age-based Death and Total & Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover can automatically start changes from 20 to 25, the same age at which basic age-based Income Protection cover can automatically start.
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Why we're making this change
We believe this change will help reduce the chance of younger members’ super balances being eroded by insurance costs while they’re starting out in the workforce.
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Younger members generally have lesser insurance needs and we believe that they may be better served by devoting all of their super savings to their retirement and having the option to apply for cover if they need it.
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What does this mean for existing employees
For your existing employees under age 20, their age-based Death and TPD cover will start at 25 not when they turn 20. Age-based Income Protection cover will also start at 25.
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We’re sending a significant event notice to all affected members to let them know about this change. Any cover they have now won’t change. If you would like a copy of the notice please let me know.
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There’s no change to the insurance arrangements for existing members aged 20 to 24. Their insurance cover remains the same.
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In all cases age-based cover won’t start automatically for any type of cover that has been fixed or cancelled.
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New members
From 27 October 2018, basic age-based Death, TPD and Income Protection cover will automatically start for eligible members when they turn 25.
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Cover options
Members aged 15 and over can apply for cover anytime. And if they don’t want their age-based cover to start when they turn 25 they can cancel it (even though it hasn’t started).
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We’re here to help
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More information about the changes is available on the Australian Super website.
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Review of the Certificate III in Carpentry and Certificate III in Joinery
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The redevelopment of Certificate III in Carpentry and Certificate III in Joinery is now underway.
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Overseen by SSO, Artibus Innovation, the Technical Advisory Group for the project is now seeking feedback on the first draft of the Qualifications and Units of Competency.
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- To provide feedback on Certificate III in Carpentry components please click here.
- To provide feedback on Certificate III in Joinery components please click here.
Feedback requested to be submitted before Monday 15th October.
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To access the current and proposed developments of these qualifications and to submit a response please visit the Artibus Innovation website.
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Thanks to our Industry Partners
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