Apprenticeship Employment Network

AE News Volume 12, Issue 19

Friday, 31st May 2019
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Upcoming Events


6-7 June - Mid-Year Conference
18 June - Cross-Cultural Responsiveness Training
16 July - OHS Network Meeting
Click here for all upcoming events.

Victorian State Budget

VicBudget19-20
On Monday this week the State budget was released, with no significant changes or announcements to VET funding that are different to the Election promises / announcements made in November 2018.

Summary of New Budget items include:

TAFE – Free courses expanded to include Early childhood Education and Care (Cert III & Diploma).
Additional funding for TAFE building upgrades and maintenance ($57m).

Plus 6 new projects
  • $23.5m new culinary school in Geelong Gordon TAFE
  • $20m new Library and learning hub at South West TAFE Warrnambool
  • $2.5m Health training facility in GOTAFE Seymour
  • $10.2m sustainable construction centre at Box Hill
  • $500k to Melbourne Polytechnic and Chisholm for future campus upgrades at Collingwood and Frankston
  • $7.2m to upgrade agricultural colleges across the state.
New funding of $5.6m to support “higher qualification level apprenticeships” in the construction and social/care services (advanced diplomas and degrees). The AEN will seek further clarification on this project.

The existing Apprenticeship support officers program will continue to support non GTO first year apprentices at $4.7m.

$28.5m invested to train new teaching staff to meet the increased demands for TAFE.

GTO funding will continue at $3.1m pa. with specific GTO funding allocations announced at our conference on 6 & 7 June.

For greater details on service delivery and new programs please visit 2019-20 State Budget - Service Delivery.

New Federal Government Cabinet Announced

On Sunday the 26 May, the Morrison government announced a new 22-member cabinet that will have seven women for the first time.

Australia will also have its first Indigenous cabinet minister when Ken Wyatt takes up the role of Minister for Indigenous Australians this week.

Other key announcements that impact our sector include:

Senator Dan Tehan retained his position as Minister for Education.
The VET sector is now set to sit under the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash.
Senator Cash’s assistant minister in the portfolio is Steve Irons, who becomes Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Minister for Education
The Hon Dan Tehan MP
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships
The Hon Steve Irons MP
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology
The Hon Karen Andrews MP

For further details please visit Ministry Media Release.

BGT Officially Open New Site – Barkley Square

BGTSite
On Thursday this week BGT officially opened their new training site – Barkly Square precinct.

This site has been a learning hub since 1862 and has now been transformed into a vibrant community centre.

BGT vision for the site is to provide opportunities for collaboration and social connections to increase education and employment pathways for the local community.

Congratulations to the Board and team at BGT.

National Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

GroundedInTruth
The 2019 NRW theme is “Grounded in Truth Walk Together with Courage”

At the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To foster positive relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long called for a comprehensive process of truth-telling about Australia’s colonial history. Our nation’s past is reflected in the present, and will continue to play out in the future unless we heal historical wounds.

Today, 80 per cent of Australians believe it is important to undertake formal truth telling processes, according to the 2018 Australian Reconciliation Barometer. Australians are ready to come to terms with our history as a crucial step towards a unified future, in which we understand, value and respect each other.

Whether you’re engaging in challenging conversations or unlearning and relearning what you know, this journey requires all of us to walk together with courage. This National Reconciliation Week, we invite Australians from all backgrounds to contribute to our national movement towards a unified future.

To see a list of events please visit Reconciliation Australia.

AEN Mid-Year Conference 6 & 7 June RACV Goldfields Creswick

RACVGoldfields
Our mid-year conference will be held next week on 6 & 7 June at RACV Goldfields Creswick near Ballarat.

The 1.5 day conference is jam packed with up to date speakers including:
  • Department of Education
  • VRQA
  • Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
  • Victorian Labour Hire Commission
  • Commonwealth Apprenticeship Employer Incentives
  • Women in Trades Australia
For further details please visit the AEN Calendar.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency Reporting

WGEA
Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reporting finishes in three weeks. The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 requires non-public sector employers with 100 or more employees to submit a report to the WGEA between 1 April and 31 May each year for the preceding 12-month period (1 April – 31 March each year).

Here are three things you should consider doing now:
  • Start preparing your information now. Early preparation and submission will mean faster access and response times to the portal
  • Ensure you have a current AUSkey to log into the portal. If you are not sure, go to the WGEA website and click on the ‘Portal Login’ at the top right-hand corner of the screen
  • If there is a problem with your AUSKey scroll down the page to the ‘Further AUSkey issues’ section of the AUSkey page on the WGEA website for answers to common issues
  • Download the Workplace profile worksheets and the Indicative format of the workplace profile and reporting questionnaire from the WGEA website. For ease, WGEA encourages employers to use the ‘unit level template’ when preparing their workplace profile, as the online system will automatically aggregate the data.
WGEA has refreshed its reporting resources and will be conducting a Q&A webinar series throughout May to assist organisations through this process.

AICD NFP Director Scholarships

As part of the AICD core purpose to strengthen society through world-class governance, they are delighted to again be providing 140 scholarships to current or aspiring directors and executives of small NFP's across Australia.

The scholarships will be launched on 22 May, through the Australian Scholarships Foundation and are for the NFP Foundations of Directorship program. This is a 1.5 day course that will be offered throughout 2019/2020.

Details on the course content and application process can be found at The Australian Institute of Company Directors.

65th Victorian Training Awards - Nominations Close Today

65th Victorian Training Awards
Apprentices, students, teachers, employers and training providers can now nominate for the 65th Victorian Training Awards.

Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education, Gayle Tierney, has opened nominations for the awards, which recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the Victorian TAFE and training sector.

“The Victorian Training Awards don’t just celebrate success—they inspire it.”

“This is your opportunity to nominate an outstanding individual or organisation in the VET sector that deserves extra recognition.”

There are 16 categories including six for individuals, four for employers, four for training organisations as well as an Industry Collaboration Award and the Lynne Kosky Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Winners will be announced at the Victorian Training Awards gala ceremony in Melbourne on Friday 6 September, with winners receiving $5000 in prize money.

Some winners will also have the opportunity to represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards in Brisbane in November.

For further information please visit Victorian Training Awards.

To nominate for the 2019 Victorian Training Awards visit the Award Nominations & Registration page.

Nominations close at midnight on Friday 31 May.

Upcoming AEN Events

June
6 & 7 - Mid-Year Conference
18 - Cross-Cultural Responsiveness Training

July
16 July - OHS Network Meeting
Field Officers Conference 2018

Thanks to our Industry Partners

AustralianSuper
EML
Marsh
SafetyFirst
VicSuper
WorkSight
AustralianApprenticeshipsPathways
ApprenticeshipSupportAustralia
aatis
VictorianChamberOfCommerceAndIndustry

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