- CLAIRE FIELD COUNTS VET GROWTH
- LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR ELECTRICITY SAFETY WEEK
- SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMEs) NEEDED FOR ELECTROTECHNOLOGY
- QUALIFICATIONS REFORM WEBINARS – REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!
- HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE DRAFT VET WORKFORCE QUALITY STRATEGY
- PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS 2021
- NOMINATIONS OPEN – NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
- NATIONAL SKILLS COMMISSION SEEKS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRESENCE
- REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT SEIZED
- CCN ANNOUNCES TOP 20 NEXT GENERATION TECHNICIANS UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE FOR 2021
- SAFEWORK NSW – WORKING AT HEIGHTS IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY BLITZ
- REVIEW OF ELECTRICITY NETWORK OPERATOR LICENCE FEE METHODOLOGY
- FIRE RISK OF BATTERY UNITS FOR UNDERGROUND BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
- AEMC SEEKS VIEWS ON GOVERNANCE OF DER STANDARDS
- A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: MANAGING THE DEMAND DROP
1. CLAIRE FIELD COUNTS VET GROWTH
Claire Field advisor to the tertiary education sector, provides yet another enlightening piece on VET growth for first three months of government-funded data for 2021 in Campus Morning Mail last week. The article states, “Following the release of the data on all 2020 VET activity (fee-for-service and government-funded), last week saw the release of the first three months of government-funded data for 2021. With five years of comparable data available it is possible to see trends over that period, as well as in the last twelve months, as governments invested in VET as a response to COVID-19.
Firstly, what is noticeable is that, despite all of the efforts of the VET sector to create national Training Packages tightly aligned to specific industry needs (and with state/territory government approval needed on the content of all Training Packages) – non-training package enrolments consistently comprise approximately 20 per cent of all government-funded activity.
While 80 percent are in TAFEs and other government providers, in 2021 these non-training package enrolments at independent providers increased 185 percent on 2020 figures.
Between January and March 2021, the Training Packages with the highest enrolments were …”
2. LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR ELECTRICITY SAFETY WEEK
It’s Electricity Safety Week this week! Get involved in Electricity Safety Week 6–10 September! With events tailored for industry leaders, electrical workers, contractors and apprentices, it’s a great opportunity to find out more about safety in the electrical industry.
Register for free events or enter the competitions to win one of 11 $100 trade equipment gift vouchers.
3. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMEs) NEEDED FOR ELECTROTECHNOLOGY
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) advises that the Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committee (IRC), “has commenced four new Training Package development projects to address priority skill needs of the industry and is forming a Technical Advisory Committee for each.”
SMEs are sought for the following projects, to help review and develop respective Electrotechnology Training Package materials:
- Rail Signalling – visit Rail Signalling project page
- Hazardous Areas – visit Hazardous Areas project page
- Electricity Meters – visit Electricity Meters project page
- Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology – Electrical – visit AD Engineering Technology -Electrical project page
Please register your interest via the project pages, by close of business Thursday, 16 September 2021.
For further details on the background and project deliverables, contact the Industry Skills Specialist, Paul Humphreys, M: 0429 670 588 | E: paul.humphreys@aistnds.org.au
4. QUALIFICATIONS REFORM WEBINARS – REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!
A reminder that DESE is seeking feedback on the reform of qualifications stating, “The Qualifications Reform Survey seeks your feedback on how new qualification design concepts might work in practice. The survey will close on Monday 20 September 2021 at 10 am (AEST)”.
DESE states that it will hold, “webinars to share information about the qualification design concepts as outlined in the explanatory information accompanying the survey. The webinars also provide an opportunity for you to ask questions about qualifications reform and the new approach to qualification design.
Registrations for the Qualifications Reform Webinars are now open! There will be two webinars held, please register your interest in attending a Qualifications Reform Webinar via the following links:
- Wednesday 15 September 2021 from 11.00am to 12 pm (AEST)
- Thursday 16 September from 2pm to 3pm (AEST)
If you have any questions, you would like us to cover in the webinar, please email them to Vet-Reforms-Engagement@dese.gov.au by close of business Friday 10 September 2021.”
5. HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE DRAFT VET WORKFORCE QUALITY STRATEGY
DESE is also seeking feedback on the draft VET Workforce Quality Strategy. The consultation draft of the VET Workforce Quality Strategy (the draft Strategy) is now available for feedback via an online submission process. The draft Strategy forms part of the Quality Reforms agenda, agreed by Skills Ministers to raise the quality of training delivered within the VET sector.
The draft Strategy has been informed by stakeholder feedback that we received earlier this year during consultations. This feedback may be helpful to read and consider when providing your response.
We are now seeking your feedback on the draft Strategy, and your views on whether the measures proposed will assist in supporting the quality of the VET workforce.
We welcome you to submit your feedback through the submission form. Your feedback will assist in developing the final version of the Strategy, expected to be presented to Skills Ministers later this year.
Submissions will be open until 5.00pm AEST Monday 27 September 2021.
Want to know more?
If you would like more information on Skills Reform visit skillsreform.gov.au. To receive further updates on opportunities to provide your feedback, including news about upcoming webinars, subscribe here.
6. PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS 2021
For the second year in a row, Training Services NSW are running the People’s Choice Awards. In this light, you have the opportunity to vote for your favourite People’s Choice finalist in each of the Apprentice, Trainee, School-Based Apprentice/Trainee, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award Categories.
Vote now and take part in selecting the best and brightest upcoming Ambassadors for the Vocational Education and Training sector.
Voting closes 5 p.m. Monday 27 September.
Overall category winners and People’s Choice winners will be announced on Saturday 9 October at 4:30pm over Facebook LIVE.
REVIEW THE CANDIDATES AND VOTE NOW
7. NOMINATIONS OPEN – NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Women in NSW has advised that nominations are open for the 2022 NSW Women of the Year Awards. The Awards celebrate extraordinary, everyday women from all walks of life.
Who can be nominated?
- We’re looking for ground-breaking thinkers, unsung heroes, and women who challenge inequality, who innovate, and inspire.
- We’re looking to recognise women and girls whose determination, bravery, skill and passion should be celebrated.
- We want to celebrate the incredible women among us who improve the lives of people in NSW.
What are the Award categories?
- NSW Woman of Excellence
- NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year
- Aware Super NSW Community Hero of the Year
- NSW Young Woman of the Year
- NSW Regional Woman of the Year
- The One to Watch Award, supported by the Advocate for Children and Young People.
The Premier’s Award for NSW Woman of the Year is selected by the Premier from the winners of the above categories.
Nominations close at 11.59pm on Friday 17 September 2021.
The winners will be announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony on 9 March 2022.
For more information, email WomenoftheYear@facs.nsw.gov.au
Eligibility Criteria and Terms and Conditions apply.
8. NATIONAL SKILLS COMMISSION SEEKS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRESENCE
The National Skills Commission has advised it is seeking feedback on ways to improve its digital presence. They are seeking your feedback to better understand how users use their website and how it can be improved.
The survey linked below should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Interested stakeholders are invited to complete the survey by COB Wednesday 15 September.
9. REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT SEIZED
Climate Control News (CCN)’s Editor, Sandra Rossi reports on the seizure of over $200,000 worth of refrigeration equipment imported without a licence. The article states, “A joint operation by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) and Australian Border Force (ABF) has led to the seizure of over $200,000 worth of refrigeration equipment imported without a licence.”
10. CCN ANNOUNCES TOP 20 NEXT GENERATION TECHNICIANS UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE FOR 2021
CCN Editor, Sandra Rossi, announces the Top 20 Next Generation technicians under 25 years of age for 2021.
Rossi is joined by Australian Refrigeration Council CEO, Glenn Evans, who talks about the importance of nurturing talent and raising standards in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry.
Watch the video: Video: Top 20 under 25
One of our top 20 – Woolworths Group apprentice, Colin McGilvray – explains why RAC is such a great career choice.
11. SAFEWORK NSW – WORKING AT HEIGHTS IN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY BLITZ
SafeWork NSW has announced that it will be conducting a state-wide working at heights (WAH) safety blitz, aimed at reducing the number of heights-related fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry. Acting Executive Director, Compliance and Dispute Resolution, Meagan McCool announced the launch in a Media Release (attached) on Friday, 3 September 2021.
The campaign notes, “Falls from heights is the number one killer on NSW construction sites, with most serious and fatal falls being from roofs, ladders and scaffolds – and from a height of 4 metres or less.
Despite targeted interventions in the construction industry over recent years, the number of workers compensation claims and serious injury incidence rates continue to rise. Ladder incidents increased by 34 to 368 major claims in 2020-21.”
The WAH blitz visits will coincide with a heights-safety advertising campaign and run until mid-December 2021, with inspectors checking both heights and COVID-19 safety.
For more Information
SafeWork has released some working at heights safety resources for industry including:
- Toolbox talk – Using scaffolds
- Toolbox talk – Using ladders
- Fact sheet – Roof edge protection
- Heights safety PC/site supervisor checklist
- Safetycast
12. REVIEW OF ELECTRICITY NETWORK OPERATOR LICENCE FEE METHODOLOGY
IPART has released its Draft Report, Electricity licence fees 2021-22 – Review of methodology for consultation. IPART invites public feedback on the draft report containing its methodology for calculating licence fees and the draft licence fee amounts.
Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy and TransGrid, (the licensed electricity network operators), are required to pay licence fees under the conditions of their operating licences.
Each year, IPART makes a recommendation to the Minister, and the Minister determines the annual licence fees. IPART are now reviewing our previous methodology, which was last reviewed in 2016, to calculate licence fees to apply from 2021-22.
VISIT THE REVIEW PAGE AND DOWNLOAD THE DRAFT REPORT
13. FIRE RISK OF BATTERY UNITS FOR UNDERGROUND BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The NSW Resources Regulator reports in its latest September Safety Bulletin (attached), how new generation batteries appearing in the mining industry may need increased risk management considerations. Many new vehicles fitted with new battery technologies are increasingly replacing diesel powered vehicles. The Bulletin reflects on areas of concern with their introduction, stating, “One such introduced risk area pertains to fire in the electric vehicle battery itself. Due to the chemicals involved in the construction of some batteries and the enclosures that house the cells, special measures may be required to fight a fire associated with the battery. This is more prevalent with some battery types where the chemistry of the cell may be susceptible to thermal runaway.”
14. AEMC SEEKS VIEWS ON GOVERNANCE OF DER STANDARDS
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has now opened consultation on the governance arrangements for setting the technical standards for distributed energy resources (DER) in the national electricity market (NEM).
AMEC News states, “With the continued growth of DER including rooftop solar systems and small-scale batteries installations, the grid is increasingly supporting two-way power flows back and forth from consumers.
This means the NEM requires technical standards for DER, which are critical to maintaining the security and reliability of the network and minimising negative impacts. For example, the technical standards ensure rooftop solar systems and batteries can withstand sharp changes in voltage and don’t automatically switch off.”
15. A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: MANAGING THE DEMAND DROP
EnergyInsider’s, 2 September 2021 article, a joint news service of Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and Australian Energy Council (AEC), reports on managing the demand drop in managing the grid. The article states, “The challenge posed by falling minimum demand was in the spotlight again this week with the release of the latest supply assessment by AEMO. The 2021 Electricity Statement of Opportunities highlights the major impact the increasing amount of distributed PV is having on managing the grid. Here we take a look at the report and what is predicted for the mainland National Electricity Market”
For more, contact Carl Kitchen, Australian Energy Council.