- NSW BUDGET TO ALLOCATE $57.4 MILLION TO HELP WOMEN AND MATURE WORKERS GET TRADE QUALIFICATIONS
- UEE NEEDS REFRIGERATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING UPDATE
- FEEDBACK SOUGHT – ESI TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND RAIL TRAINING PACKAGE
- SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 119
- SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 118
- SAFEWORK NSW – NEW CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE RISK ELECTRICAL WORK (9 NOVEMBER 2020)
- PROCESS MANUFACTURING QUALIFICATIONS CONSULTATION ANNOUNCEMENT
- NEW MEDICAL GAS LICENSING SCHEME BEGINS
- HYDROGEN STORAGE READY FOR BUSINESS
- PRODUCT SAFETY AUSTRALIA – ELECTRICAL SAFETY RECALL
- EXTENSION ON DRAFT DECISION FOR NEW RULES TO BETTER INTEGRATE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
- THE FOUR STAGES TO A TRULY SMART GRID
- STRATA BUILDINGS SAVE UP TO $60K EACH IN ANNUAL ELECTRICITY WITH GREEN SOLAR DEAL
- ENERGY NETWORKS AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW CHAIR
1) NSW BUDGET TO ALLOCATE $57.4 MILLION TO HELP WOMEN AND MATURE WORKERS GET TRADE QUALIFICATIONS
The NSW state government has announced it will pump $57.4 million into a new organisation in next week’s budget which it aims to get more women and mature workers in trades. The announcement was reported by SmartCompany. The articles stated that, “The New South Wales government will commit $57.4 million in the upcoming state budget to create a new centre to give more women and mature workers access to trades training.
In an announcement, the government said “the Trades Skills Pathways Centre will work with registered training organisations in the state to help experienced tradies obtain certification.”
The centre will also “look into delivering trades training in a flexible way” in order to give women and mature-aged workers better access to trades training while also balancing work and family responsibilities.
The four-year funding measure will be included in the NSW budget, which is due to be handed down on November 17.”
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“The centre will work closely with registered training organisations to look at how training can be delivered in a more flexible way,” Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee says.
Minister Lee said in the statement, “the program will go beyond traditional apprenticeships and traineeships to capture workers who may have missed the opportunity to obtain formal skills”, and highlighted the construction sector as one in which “a wealth of experience and potential … is currently going unnoticed”.
However, he told SmartCompany the centre will “review all trade skills training, including the construction sector”, focusing on trades with “skills in demand and good job opportunities”.
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The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program came into effect in early-October and will provide businesses of all sizes with 50% wage subsidies when they hire new Australian apprentices or trainees.
This article was updated at 4.30pm on Wednesday, November 11, to include further comments from Minister Lee.” A similar article appeared in Daily Telegraph, but has a pay wall. Those with a subscription can access at: DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORT ON NEW BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR TRADES
2) UEE NEEDS REFRIGERATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING UPDATE
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in its latest newsletter report more changes need to the Electrotechnology Training Package. It states, “The UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Release 2 finalised transition to the Standards for Training Packages 2012. During this process, stakeholder feedback indicated several new Units of Competency and Skill Sets were needed in response to changes in refrigeration and air-conditioning industry technologies, standards, regulations and practices.”
A new Training Package just off the presses of being recently endorsed needs more adjustment. In this case changes needed for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning that were important were held off to transition the Electrotechnology Training Package to the new template. The industry has had to wait for the transition in order to effect a content change to the Package. Little wonder why there is a continuous drumbeat of the relevance and efficacy of Training Packages.
AIS article puts it this way, “The UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Release 2 finalised transition to the Standards for Training Packages 2012. During this process, stakeholder feedback indicated several new Units of Competency and Skill Sets were needed in response to changes in refrigeration and air-conditioning industry technologies, standards, regulations and practices.
Recent disasters such as Grenfell Towers in the U.K and other recent commercial building fires in Australia have seen Australian regulators prioritising commonality of standards, regulations and skills development in Design, Installation and Maintenance practices in the commercial sector.
The AISC recently approved this work which will comprise three projects led by the Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee (IRC).
The projects will see the development of qualifications, related to:
- maintenance of air handling equipment for fire and smoke control system
- maintenance of emergency lighting and alarm systems
- installing, commissioning, servicing and maintaining variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air-conditioning systems
Given the fire which destroyed Grenfell Tower occurred June 2017, and was one of the UK’s worst modern disasters, and the likelihood the important changes needed in skills formation for the RAC technical community and pace of change of the Electrotechnology Training Package, it is most likely that the necessary changes will not see the light of day until 2022 at the earliest. It will take that long before the system; from endorsement of the Training Package content to RTO tooling-up and delivery, can implement the changes. Five years after a major disaster. Little wonder why there is disillusionment growing with the Training Package system amongst industry practitioners and RTOs.
For more information visit: REFRIGERATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING PROJECT
3) FEEDBACK SOUGHT – ESI TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND RAIL TRAINING PACKAGE
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) has circulated and advisory, that the “Technical Advisory Committee has considered all stakeholder feedback and finalised draft Training Package materials for the Industry Skills project. This includes updates to seven qualifications and 75 Units of Competency.
These draft products address changes to the skills needs of the industry resulting from increased automation of power systems, new technologies, current industry practices and increased regulatory and safety requirements.
The ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Industry Reference Committee is seeking your feedback to validate these draft materials to ensure the proposed products meet industry needs.
Detailed mapping information, tracking changes to the existing Training Package, is also available to view.
Please submit your feedback by close of business Friday, 4 December 2020.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Manager, KLAUSCH SCHMIDT
Industry Manager – Electrotechnology, ESI Generation, ESI – Transmission, Distribution and Rail, Gas Supply.
Email: klausch.schmidt@aistnds.org.au
Phone: 03 9604 7223
Mobile: 0417 568 967
4) SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 119
Smart and Skilled Update No. 119 (attached) – 13 November 2020, covers the following:
- Webinar series for Smart and Skilled Providers
- Final webinar for 2020: 10am Thursday 26 November 2020 – Registration required
For more information visit: https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/smartandskilled/index.html
Or, for technical support in relation to this update, contact Training Market Customer Support at Training.Market@det.nsw.edu.au.
5) SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 118
Smart and Skilled Update No. 118 (attached) – 11 November 2020, covers the following:
- Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policies
- 2020 Year 12 Summer Skills Program
- Skilling for Recovery – Updated Priority Part Qualifications List v2.0
- Location of Skilling for Recovery Priority Part Qualifications List moving forward
- Skilling for Recovery Priority Part Qualifications that contain superseding units
- Skilling for recovery – Updated documents
- NSW Skills List Update – Version 11.2 Released
- New qualifications on the Skills List
- Qualifications removed from the Skills List following review
- Updates to the NSW Skills List
- VTO changes affecting the NSW Skills List
For more information visit: https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/smartandskilled/index.html
Or, for technical support in relation to this update, contact Training Market Customer Support at Training.Market@det.nsw.edu.au.
6) SAFEWORK NSW – NEW CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE RISK ELECTRICAL WORK (9 NOVEMBER 2020)
Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson announces a news SafeWork NSW “campaign to reduce risk electrical work”. The Minister stated, “for the rest of 2020, Safework NSW inspectors will be conducting drop-in inspections across a range of sites to check they have the right controls in place to manage electrical risks.
The media release reports, that, “Since 2017 SafeWork NSW has investigated 34 serious electrical incidents with seven of these being fatalities.”
“This campaign is part of our mission to eradicate serious and potentially fatal injuries in the industry,” Mr Anderson said.
“Our inspectors will be turning up on sites across the State to make sure all the right measures are in place to protect both the sparkies and those working with them.”
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The Minister said, “Electrical work is complex and must always be done by a licensed professional, regardless of the cost and whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial.”
“Three of the primary causes of these incidents were contact with overhead powerlines, and unsafe or aged wiring.”
Along with providing education on best practices, inspectors will have the power to issue improvement, prohibition and penalty notices against those doing the wrong thing.
“If you see anything dodgy on site, take a picture and send it directly to SafeWork for follow up via our app Speak up, Save Lives.”
The project commenced on 9 November and run until 30 December.
For more information and advice on how to deal with electrical issues on construction sites please see SafeWork’s fact sheet on electrical risks at the workplace.” A copy of the media release is also attached.
Other important SafeWork NSW related information:
- DANGERS OF WORKING ON OR NEAR ENERGISED (LIVE) ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SAFETY ALERT
- CODE OF PRACTICE MANAGING ELECTRICAL RISKS IN THE WORKPLACE
Also visit our Electrical Safety Project website for more information: www.esproject.com.au – provides information about improving electrical Safe Work Practice and exemplar Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) for use in training, or adaptation by micro-businesses and self-employed in the utilities and electrotechnology industries.
7) PROCESS MANUFACTURING QUALIFICATIONS CONSULTATION ANNOUNCEMENT
Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) reports on the Process Manufacturing Case for Change Development Project. Consultation is now open for the MSM Manufacturing Training Package, process manufacturing qualifications. This work will investigate an improved structure for the Process Manufacturing qualifications to ensure they address the contemporary industry job requirements.
The following training package components are available for review:
- Certificate I in Process Manufacturing
- Certificate II in Process Manufacturing
- Certificate III in Process Manufacturing
- Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing
If you have an interest in the Training Package, please click here to access the training package components under review and complete the survey.
The surveys will be open from Monday 9 November and close at 5pm on Friday 20 November 2020.
Please submit your feedback via email to manufacturing@ibsa.org.au by 5pm on Friday 20 November 2020.
8) NEW MEDICAL GAS LICENSING SCHEME BEGINS
SafeWork NSW reports that A new licensing scheme for medical gas systems in medical facilities is now in place. This follows amendments to the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 and the Home Building Act 1989 that began on 1 November 2020.
There are now three new categories of specialist work in the Home Building Act 1989:
- medical gasfitting work (licence required from 1 May 2021)
- medical gas technician work (licence required from 1 May 2021)
- mechanical services and medical gas work (licence required from 1 May 2022).
Transitional arrangements are in place to allow people in the medical gas industry to gain the appropriate qualifications and licences in time for licensing requirements to begin on 1 May 2021 or 1 May 2022.
For more information, visit the Department of Customer Service website and the Fair Trading website.
To contact Safework NSW at the following email HBL_Information@customerservice.nsw.gov.au or call 13 22 20.
9) HYDROGEN STORAGE READY FOR BUSINESS
Sandra Rossi at Climate Control News (CCN) reports on the latest research and innovation initiative in hydrogen storage technology. The article states, “LAVO officially launched its business in Australia this week, with the aim of powering a cleaner, more sustainable future through its cutting-edge hydrogen storage technology, the LAVO System.
LAVO has the first and only commercial-ready hydrogen energy storage system in the world designed for everyday use by residential homes and businesses.
Developed by leading researchers at the University of NSW, LAVO’s technology has a storage capacity three times greater and a lifetime more than two times longer compared to market alternatives, offering a unique value proposition and strong competitive advantage.
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Australia is a world leader in rooftop solar penetration with over 15 per cent or 2.4 million houses with installations, creating significant opportunity for LAVO to make a notable and immediate impact. In addition to metropolitan homes and businesses, its hydrogen storage technology will provide regional and rural properties with much needed secure and reliable energy source for microgrid, edge of grid and off-grid solutions.
LAVO’s patented metal hydride absorbs hydrogen in a metal alloy to enable safe, long-term storage within a secure vessel.
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The company’s CEO and executive director, Alan Yu, said LAVO’s technology is a game changer.
He said hydrogen storage technology has a very bright future with a wide variety of everyday applications.”
For more information and detail visit: HYDROGEN STORAGE READY FOR BUSINESS
10) PRODUCT SAFETY AUSTRALIA – ELECTRICAL SAFETY RECALL
Queensland Electrical Safety Office and Product Safety Australia have issued the latest alert affecting Clipsal Socket Outlet 10mA RCD and Service Panel 10mA RCD.
“The RCDs are likely installed in hospitals, aged care facilities and schools. They may also be in homes where the occupant has medical home care.
Review any of your work since 1 July 2017 that involved installing Clipsal 10mA socket outlets and service panel RCDs. Let the home or business owner know about the risk of electric shock and advise them to contact Clipsal to arrange rectification.
Consumers should check and stop using these products and if you see or work on one let the home or business owner know. The devices were sold between 1 July 2017 and 15 October 2020. The recall relates to models with a manufacturing date code between 1 July 2017 to 15 October 2020. The date code is found on the grid on the bottom side of the product after removing the detachable cover, see example below.”
Recall alert notice attached or visit: ELECTRICAL SAFETY RECALL
11) EXTENSION ON DRAFT DECISION FOR NEW RULES TO BETTER INTEGRATE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) reports that, it “will extend the timeline to publish a draft determination on proposals to better integrate distributed energy resources into the electricity system. We have also consolidated the three rule change requests.”
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Distributed energy resources (DER) include rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles and energy management systems. These resources are often located on the consumer’s side of the meter, rather than as a centralised generation source, and are growing in Australia as consumers become more active in the power system.
“Finding solutions to enable the grid of the future is a priority for us,” AEMC chief executive Benn Barr said.”
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The rule change requests are aimed at better facilitating the efficient integration of DER for the grid of the future.
The proposed changes include:
- Pricing and incentive arrangements for distributed energy resources.
- Allowing distribution network service providers to charge for exports to the network.
- Planning and access to the grid for DER.
The AEMC published a consultation paper on 30 July 2020 seeking stakeholder feedback.”
A link to a consumer FAQ document is here.
For more information visit the media release: NEW RULES TO BETTER INTEGRATE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
12) THE FOUR STAGES TO A TRULY SMART GRID
In its latest EnergyInsider, it reports that, “Energy Networks Australia’s (ENA) has dusted off its crystal ball to take a close look at how solar, batteries and other local resources will change the Australian electricity system over the next 20 years. Incorporating dozens of local and international industry reports, trials and projects, interviews with experts and a few collective decades of experience, the result is our Smart Grid Roadmap.
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In the energy space, a constant continues to be the juggernaut that is Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The uptake of rooftop solar and increasingly storage devices is an unstoppable trend that is radically altering the energy landscape at home and internationally.
This DER uptake is forcing rapid transformation of a century-old electricity system. With so much change in the air, making a prediction is fraught with the risks of the unknown, but supported by an international review of papers, reports, trials and subject matter experts we feel confident that our Smart Grid Roadmap is pretty close to the mark. “
Read on and view the Smart Grid Roadmap at: THE FOUR STAGES TO A TRULY SMART GRID
For more, contact Dor Son Tan, Energy Networks Australia
13) STRATA BUILDINGS SAVE UP TO $60K EACH IN ANNUAL ELECTRICITY WITH GREEN SOLAR DEAL
Electrical Connection reports in its latest news letter that, “Switching to renewable energy sources, 64 strata buildings in NSW will change from coal-generated electricity plans to green solar electricity, saving a total of $681,000 annually and up to $60,000.”
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Examples of Sydney strata buildings that will make savings after they switch from their existing energy plans include: a 217-apartment residential building that will reduce its energy bill by an estimated $59,000 annually, a 339-apartment residential building that will save about $36,000 per year, a 26-lot commercial building that will save an estimated $40,000 per year and a Sydney building management committee that will save about $48,000 per year.
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Renewable energy is quickly becoming the most affordable energy option in NSW after the government announced it will work towards replacing all coal-fired power plants with renewable energy by 2042.”
For more information visit Sean Carroll’s report at the following link: GREEN SOLAR DEAL
14) ENERGY NETWORKS AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW CHAIR
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) has reported in its latest Media Release that Ben Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) has been appointed the new Chair of the Energy Networks Australia Board.
The media release states, ENA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Dillon, welcomed Mr Wilson to the role saying he was looking forward to working with the new Chair.
“Ben is well known and respected within the industry and has significant experience across gas and electricity networks in Australia and internationally,” Mr Dillon said.
“Ben’s appointment comes at an exciting time for our sector as networks continue to be the platforms that enable the decarbonisation of our gas and electricity supplies.”
For more information visit: ENERGY NETWORKS AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW CHAIR