1. GOVT RELEASES OUTCOMES OF THE JOBS AND SKILLS SUMMIT DOCUMENT

Government, employers, unions and the broader community will take forward initiatives to help build a bigger, better trained and more productive workforce, boost real wages and living standards, and create more opportunities for more Australians.

The Albanese Government will ensure full employment, productivity growth and equal opportunities for women are central objectives of its economic and fiscal policy.

We will work towards reducing barriers to employment so that all Australians have the opportunity to participate to their full potential.

Working with industry, unions and other stakeholders at the Summit, the Albanese Government has agreed to 36 immediate initiatives including:

1. An additional $1 billion in joint Federal-State funding for fee-free TAFE in 2023 and accelerated delivery of 465,000 fee-free TAFE places;
2. A one-off income credit so that Age Pensioners who want to work can earn an additional $4,000 over this financial year without losing any of their pension;
3. More flexibly utilising $575 million in the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to invest in social and affordable housing, and attract financing from superannuation funds and other sources of private capital;
4. Modernising Australia’s workplace relations laws, including to make bargaining accessible for all workers and businesses;
5. Amending the Fair Work Act to strengthen access to flexible working arrangements, make unpaid parental leave more flexible and strengthen protection for workers against discrimination and harassment;
6. Improving access to jobs and training pathways for women, First Nations people, regional Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse people, including equity targets for training places, 1,000 digital apprenticeships in the Australian Public Service, and other measures to reduce barriers to employment;
7. An increase in the permanent Migration Program ceiling to 195,000 in 2022-23 to help ease widespread, critical workforce shortages; and
8. Extending visas and relaxing work restrictions on international students to strengthen the pipeline of skilled labour, and providing additional funding to resolve the visa backlog

…

Many of the ideas and suggestions raised will be explored further over the next 12 months as part of the Employment White Paper, which will further help shape the future of Australia’s labour market.

The Albanese Government will release the terms of reference for the White Paper and begin accepting submissions later this month.

Download a full copy of the Jobs and Skills Summit outcomes document HERE

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2. MINISTER WANTS TO SIMPLIFY VET QUALIFICATIONS

Stating further, “Currently the VET system has a high number of VET qualifications and micro-credentials with significant duplication, with 56 nationally endorsed training packages, over 1,200 qualifications, 1,500 skill sets, and 15,400 Units of Competency. 5,000 units have more than 70 per cent overlap with at least one other unit.

Due to transferable skills being poorly recognised, students may need to undertake duplicate additional training that delivers similar skills to those they already have in order to move into a new job. In fact, to move from their first occupation, into a new specialisation, then into management role and into a new industry they could need to undertake 4 qualifications which would take 10 years.

The Albanese Government will work with states and territories, unions, and industry to make the qualifications system easier to understand, and focused on giving Australians transferable and relevant skills they need now and the future.

Any reform in this important area will have regard to industry standards and their specific needs.

Focusing on the skills that people need will be good for students whose skills will be more transferable as they move through their working life, better for employers who consistently tell me how confusing the system is, and better for TAFEs and training organisations who struggle with over-prescriptive and detailed requirements.

Australia’s qualifications system has been largely unchanged since the 1990s and is no longer fit for purpose.

Australia requires a flexible and adaptive training system that includes industry-specific skills and maximises transferable skills across sectors, one that recognises an individual’s prior learning and experience.”

Two examples are provided of duplication and hyper-prescriptive training products:

• Pest Control – example of duplication
• Cookery – example of hyper-prescriptive training products

READ MORE HERE

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3. NSW HBA BUILDING REFORMS – HAVE YOUR SAY

It advises that the reform proposals are now available for public consultation. There are two public consultations.

1. Reforming building laws in NSW

This consultation is open until Friday, 25 November at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/reforming-building-laws.

The reforms have been grouped into seven areas of change:

1. making home building fairer and easier
2. supplying and using safer building products
3. regulating prefabricated and manufactured homes
4. strengthening building compliance and enforcement
5. licensing commercial and home building work
6. upskilling the building and construction industry
7. securing prompt and fair payment for building work.

NSW Fair Trading would like to hear from anyone who has an opinion on the building industry in NSW – whether they work as tradies, designers, suppliers or any other role. Or, if they are building or renovating their home, strata managers or owners of lots within a strata or community land scheme.

• More compliant and fire-safe buildings

This consultation is open until Friday, 7 October at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/more-compliant-and-fire-safe-buildings.

Proposals focus on:

• ensuring compliant design and building work in shared accommodation and residential care facilities
  • enhancing fire safety measures across all buildings.

NSW Fair Trading want to hear from builders, specialist tradespeople, building professionals, developers, building owners, designers, certifiers, strata managers, fire safety practitioners and members of the public.

Have your say

NSW Fair Trading invites you to give us your views using the two have your say consultation pages. You can:

• find more information about the proposed changes and who they impact
• access copies of the proposed Bills, Regulations and Regulatory Impact Statements
• give feedback on all the reforms or just the ones you are interested in, by undertaking the following:
  • complete a survey
  • make a formal submission using an online form on questions in the Regulatory Impact Statements
  • complete quick polls
  • check on frequently asked questions and other updates.

All feedback will help ensure the reforms meet the industry’s and community’s needs and interests.

For more information email: HBAReview@customerservice.nsw.gov.au

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4. NSW SKILLS SHORTAGES SURVEY

Stakeholders are invited to complete this survey to contribute to the project and share their knowledge about skills shortages.

Who should complete this survey?

This survey is intended to capture the expertise of those working in training, regional development, investment and/or employment who have insights to share about the issue of skills shortages in NSW.

How long will it take?

The survey may take up to 20 minutes to complete, depending on the number of regions and industries you work with.

When should I complete the survey? 

The survey is open for responses from now until Tuesday 20 September 2022.

How will my information be used?

Your responses will be treated confidentially. The insights gathered from this survey may be shared in presentations, reports and other publications, but will not include any personal or identifying information.

Stakeholders are invited to forward this survey to other colleagues or contacts who meet the above criteria. The survey link is shareable.

For questions about this survey, please contact anna.hush@det.nsw.edu.au or chrys.bourlias@det.nsw.edu.au.

For questions about the NSW Skills Shortages Project, please contact nssp@det.nsw.edu.au.

The NSW Skills Shortage Project is a joint initiative of the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation and Skills Policy, NSW Department of Education.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SKILLS SHORTAGE SURVEY

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5. VCE STUDENTS AND YOUNG WOMEN GIVEN AN IN-DEPTH INSIGHT INTO NON-TRADITIONAL CAREERS

The article states, “Riverina students and young women were given a taste of non-traditional careers and vocational education at a careers showcase day on Wednesday [31 August 2022].

The MAE (Manufacturing, Agrifood and Electrotechnology) Riverina Showcase Day was organised by not-for-profit Agrifood Industry Training Advisory Board (ITAB) and was held in an industry setting at the Casella Family Brands factory in Yenda.

The event focused on encouraging girls and young women to pursue roles in non-traditional sectors, particularly the food science and manufacturing/electrical sectors.

Dozens were in attendance, including VCE students from surrounding high schools and young women looking to expand their professional repertoire.

Careers advisors and representatives from educational bodies such as TAFE NSW and NSW Department of Education also attended.  …

Attendee Taia Culgan said she had enjoyed learning about the different career pathways available.”

READ MORE HERE

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6. ABS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS VIA CONSULTATION HUB ON ANZSCO PROPOSED CHANGES

ANZSCO describes occupations in the labour market. The ABS is continuing to work with several Australian Government agencies to update ANZSCO to better reflect the contemporary Australian labour market.

Consultation has now commenced to progress this work with an opportunity for users to provide feedback on the following topics:

• Construction-Related Trades Occupations, and
• Emerging Occupations not included in the 2021 update.

How to provide feedback

The ABS is inviting submissions through the ABS Consultation Hub ANZSCO Proposed Changes across four weeks commencing 1 September 2022 and closing 28 September 2022.

Submissions are sought regarding any inaccuracies, unintended significant impacts and/or key implementation issue(s) posed by the proposed changes for stakeholders’ key area(s) of interest.

How to encourage others to have their say

The ABS encourages industry, government, and education training institutions to raise awareness of the consultation in their own communication with stakeholders.

If you would like to receive materials to support promotion of this consultation via email, social media, newsletters or a website, please email anzsco.maintenance@abs.gov.au

Any questions?

Please email anzsco.maintenance@abs.gov.au with any questions on this consultation or for further information.

ABS CONSULTATION HUB ANZSCO PROPOSED CHANGES – closing 28 September 2022.

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7. SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 178 – 180 SEPTEMBER 2022

1. Provider performance assessments for 2022-23
   1. Methodology
   1. Notification
   1. Classifications
2. NSW Skills List updated – Version 13.2
   1. Updates to the NSW Skills List – incorporating Training Package revisions
   1. VTO changes affecting the NSW Skills List
   1. New Skilling for Recovery qualifications
3. Commissioner’s Information Bulletins (CIBs)
4. Smart and Skilled Provider Webinar held Friday, 15 July 2022
   1. Q&A responses
5. Skills Compare data refresh
6. Smart and Skilled application process for 2023-24
7. Financial Cap Review – Variations for the 2022-23 Activity Period
   1. Skilling for Recovery (including Aged Care and Digital Skills) full qualifications – new commencements funding requests
   1. Adjustments to Continuing Student Financial Caps for 2022-23 general Smart and Skilled activity and Skilling for Recovery
   1. Providers not receiving a Contract Variation Offer
   1. Enrolment period associated with Skilling for Recovery Financial Cap allocations for New Commencements
   1. Further information
8. Extension of Fee Free Training under Smart and Skilled beyond JobTrainer/Skilling for Recovery

For more information visit: FUNDING AND SUPPORT – SMART AND SKILLED

Or, for technical support in relation to this update, contact Training Market Customer Support at Training.Market@det.nsw.edu.au

For the Smart and Skilled – NSW Skills List visit: NSW SKILLS LIST – SMART AND SKILLED

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8. APPLY WHS CERT 4 SCHOLARSHIP WITH TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW advises that it has just launched a Certificate 4 in WHS scholarship program funded by a local company S & L Steel.  This course is completed virtually and is only open to NSW existing worker residents that currently work in the WHS space within their workplace.

This is a great initiative as it is at no cost and will be delivered of a night via MS teams.

The aim of the S&L Steel Work and Safety Scholarship is to build a greater Work Health and Safety competence across the community in NSW, particularly in Western Sydney and to invest in the future of Work Health and Safety leaders.

There are 26 scholarships available to eligible Applicants who are currently working in a supervisory role in a WHS context and want to pursue their education at TAFE NSW.

Each awarded scholarship has a total value of up to $1,850 which is to be used against applicable Course fees.

The Scholarship amount is not transferable or redeemable for cash.

Applications close: 5pm Friday 16 September 2022

Eligibility and selection requirements apply and are available for review at the landing page below.

FIND OUT MORE HERE AND HOW TO APPLY

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9. TOOLS TO RESKILL WORKFORCE

A program which offers contextualised education programs to industry and government organisations to help them meet current and future skills shortages.

The article states, “Mentem by UNSW assesses an organisation’s needs and provides learning programs, training and coaching that incorporates formal education from UNSW expertise to reskill businesses for the long-term.

Vice-Chancellor and president, Professor Attila Brungs, said Mentem has been established at a critical juncture, with labour shortages expected to be a key focus of the federal government’s upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit, and with the country’s unemployment rate hitting a very low 3.5 per cent and many industries struggling to find staff.

“Universities play a key role in making sure our workforce has the skills it needs. Providing businesses with the tools they need to expand and grow is an important part of Australia’s skills planning architecture,” Brungs said.

“UNSW’s world-leading research capability gives us deep expertise in the current and future impact of shifts in various industries.

“By combining this level of academic rigour to a business environment at scale, we can ensure Australia has a workforce capable of meeting the needs of the sectors critical to our nation’s productivity and prosperity.”

According to Professor Chris Styles, UNSW Business School Dean, the university’s 73-year history of world-leading education experience makes Mentem uniquely placed to deliver skills across a large spectrum of disciplines.

“The government recently signalled its bid to have Australia predominantly powered by renewable energy. To do this, we must rapidly scale up our renewable energy workforce,” he explained.”

READ MORE HERE

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10. ARC BROCHURE PROMOTES DOING THE RIGHT THING

The brochure was previewed at the recent ARBS 2022 trade exhibition, and is now available as a free download from the ARC and RRA websites for licensed technicians to include with their digital quotes.

ARC chief executive officer Glenn Evans said the brochure was designed to help fridgies explain to their customers why they should only deal with ARCtick licensed technicians.

“We all know how difficult it can be for a licensed technician to compete on price with someone who may be cutting corners, not recovering used refrigerants, and trimming the price accordingly,” he said.

“To help redress that balance, fridgies can attach this brochure to their quotes to explain that only ARCtick licensed technicians safely and legally recover gases from fridges, air conditioners and heat pumps.

“Instead of having to explain it themselves, technicians have ARC, RRA and the Australian Government telling their customers why it’s so important.

“The message to consumers is clear: be lawful, be safe and be part of the refrigerant transformation – it’s the right thing for you and the environment.”

The brochure can be downloaded in digital A4 pdf format, for easy attachment to a digital quote, from ARC Technical Resources – Miscellaneous.

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11. PARTICIPATE IN QLD’S ELECTRICAL SAFETY WEEK

Queensland Electrical Safety Office is promoting electrical safety week, which runs from 5 – 9 September 2022.  The promotion for the week states, “Get involved in Electrical Safety Week…! With events for industry leaders, electrical workers, contractors and apprentices, it’s a great opportunity to network and learn about safety in the electrical industry.”

• ELECTRICITY SAFETY SUMMIT – 6.30AM TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2022

An in-person breakfast for electrical industry leaders that will also be livestreamed.

Hear from experts about global supply and emerging technologies, including Veronica Mauri from the Electrical Licensing Committee and learn how to build team resilience from author of The Resilience Shield, Tim Curtis.

View all the speakers and full program – HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

• ELECTRICAL APPRENTICE SAFETY FORUM – 8AM WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2022

A free breakfast for electrical apprentices that will also be livestreamed.

Darius Boyd, former Brisbane Broncos player and author of ‘Battling the blues,’ will share his mental health struggles, signs and symptoms to look out for and self-care strategies.

View all the speakers and full program – HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

• ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR WEBINAR – 9AM THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2022

A free live webinar for electrical contractors, electricians and anyone working in the electrical industry.

Hear from Tim Curtis, ex-SAS and author of The Resilience Shield on how to measure, build and sustain resilience and get the latest advice and updates from electrical safety experts.

View all the speakers and full program – HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

• ELECTRICAL AND ASBESTOS SAFETY IN RENTAL PROPERTIES WEBINAR – 10AM FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2022

A free live webinar for landlords and property managers.

Hear from our experts on how to keep your property electrically safe and what to do if you have asbestos in your buildings.

Don and Julie Sager will share the heartbreaking story about the loss of their son Adam to mesothelioma. Sean O’Connor will share the story about the loss of his sister Kerryn after she was electrocuted while handling an electrical appliance with a hidden failure.

View all the speakers and full program – HERE

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

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12. SAFEWORK NSW – MODULE 8 FOR YOUNG AND AT RISK WORKERS

The workshop also helps supervisors recognise and manage the major harms associated with the building and construction industry.

When: Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm AEDT

The virtual workshop is designed to further develop a construction site supervisors skills, in:

• understanding work health and safety obligations for young and at risk workers
• employer considerations for managing a diverse workforce
• work health and safety considerations for young workers to make before starting work

This virtual workshop is designed for anyone who:

• is employed as a construction site supervisor, manger, foreman, etc
• formally or informally supervises less experienced workers

Construction Site Supervisors have critical responsibilities and duties for health and safety on a construction or building site. This virtual workshop is designed for you to learn from our experienced team of Safety Inspectors. Let’s make safety easy to do in Construction.

REGISTER FOR MODULE 8 HERE

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13. BUILDING MINISTERS SUPPORT NEW HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS

The article states, “Following the NCC announcement, minimum energy efficiency requirements for new houses and apartments are increasing from the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) equivalent of 6 to 7 stars.

A new whole of home annual energy use budget applicable to the home’s heating and cooling equipment, hot water systems, lighting, swimming pool and spa pumps and onsite renewable energy systems will also be introduced. This will make homes more comfortable, help households with cost-of-living pressures, and support Australia’s transition to net zero.

In making this decision Building Ministers took advice from the Australian Building Codes Board, based on their extensive regulatory impact analysis and consultation over the last year.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister says the new home minimum energy efficiency requirements will mean new homes are more affordable to heat and cool, and more comfortable.

“These measures have clear benefits for households. Energy efficient houses are more comfortable to live in – cheaper to heat in winter and cool in summer,” she says.

“The new energy efficiency standards also support Australia’s transition to net zero emission by 2050 by reducing the costs associated with new generation infrastructure.”

READ MORE HERE

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14. “HONEYMOON OVER” AS ANOTHER SMALL “SOLAR FRIENDLY” RETAILER SUCCUMBS TO ENERGY CHAOS

The article states, “The Australian Energy Regulator said late on Thursday that Elysian Energy’s authorisation to trade was being halted effective September 02 2022, after the company was placed in external administration.

This has, in turn, once again triggered the Retailer of Last Resort mechanism, which will automatically transfer the failed retailer’s customers – 5,000 in Victoria and another 2,500 in other NEM states – to the likes of Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, ActewAGL Retail, and Aurora Energy.

The customer transfer in Victoria will be handled separately by that state’s Essential Services Commission, while in the other NEM states the RoLR role will be undertaken by the AER. Customers are free to change retailers after being reallocated.

Elysian’s main point of difference in Australia’s increasingly less crowded energy retail market was a subscription service model offering, that billed a set monthly fee for a capped amount of energy usage, and then a low rate for anything over that amount.

The company also offered a decent, above market rooftop solar feed-in tariff in most states, and its Solar Savings package won the Gold Mozo Experts Choice Energy Award in the “solar-friendly electricity” category in 2021.”

READ MORE HERE

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15. SURFING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE WAVE

The article states, “With Electric Vehicles back on the policy agenda it is critical their integration with the grid creates value, not headaches, for the wider energy grid.

We can either surf the wave of new EVs or get dumped on the sand bar.

It is essential to make the right technical decisions in the near term and allow trials and evidence to guide future decisions around tariffs and smart charging arrangements.

You can’t surf if there are no waves.

The EV sector in Australia is somewhere between embryonic and nascent. The EV Council’s 2022 State of EVs report shows a threefold increase in EV sales between 2020 and 2021, up to two per cent of sales[1]. This increase has occurred in the face of well documented supply chain challenges, particularly for right hand drive EVs, limiting the volume of sales.

A major factor influencing the uptake of EVs globally is the strength of policy support. At the recent EV Summit in Canberra, Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced plans to release an EV strategy discussion paper. Among other things, the paper will explore EV infrastructure, incentives, and options to introduce vehicle fuel efficiency standards.

The new focus on EV policy in Australia will likely increase EV sales significantly, even if it doesn’t immediately produce the stunning outcomes in northern Europe. Some factors naturally hold back the uptake of EVs in Australia, such as the tyranny of distance heightening range anxiety. However, many of us also stay and play in our urban coastal areas or own a second vehicle that rarely travels far.”

READ MORE HERE

For more, contact Dominic Adams, Energy Networks Australia

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[1] Electric Vehicle Council, State of Electric Vehicles, March 2022.