1. WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA SELECT COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE IMPLEMENTATION
The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations AND Minister for the Arts issued a Media Release on 2 August 2022 announcing the Government would establish a Select Committee of the House of Representatives to examine the implementation of Workforce Australia.
The Media Release states, “The Albanese Labor government is establishing a Select Committee of the House of Representatives to examine the implementation of Workforce Australia.
The Government believes in a robust and flexible mutual obligation system that gets people job ready while they’re claiming JobSeeker. …
We are concerned we have ended up with a system that is driven more by the details of contracts with providers than the legislation the previous government brought to Parliament.
Anecdotally, it appears the user experience of the system varies wildly from person to person and provider to provider.
The new Select Committee will examine the first 12 months of the new system.
It will take evidence on where best practice is occurring and where it is not. It will recommend where we can make long-term reforms, as well as where we can make more immediate improvements.
The Government announced improvements to the system before it went live last month – including implementing a “clean slate” policy so people who accrued penalties or demerits under the old system started fresh. …
The Select Committee will report back to Parliament in September 2023.”
2. TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE – 2022 NSW TRAINING AWARDS
This is a night to celebrate, so put on your dancing shoes and get ready to recognise the best of VET in NSW!
The Annual Awards honour and reward the achievements of students, teachers, training organisations and employers.
WHEN: Date: Friday 16 September Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Dress Code: Cocktail Lounge Suit our colour this year is white with a splash of colour; feel free to incorporate it into your outfit.
TICKET PRICE:
General Admission tickets are $90 each including GST
REGISTER NOW: PURCHASE HERE
3. INDUSTRY CLUSTER ‘NEGOTIATIONS’ SET TO COMMENCE
TAFE Directors Australia 8 August 2022 TDA Newsletter reports on the latest progress in the establishment of the Industry Skills Clusters. The article states, “A key milestone on the path to the new Industry Clusters is due this month when shortlisted applicants will enter into a process of “negotiation and clarification”.
An update from the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) says that the detailed evaluation of applications submitted under Stage One is currently being finalised by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The outcome of Stage One will be announced after finalising the evaluation, completing subsequent negotiations and awarding Stage One grant funding. A negotiation and clarification phase with shortlisted applicants will commence this month.
Stage Two of the process is expected to open from September. This will see newly established Industry Clusters invited to provide an operational and delivery strategy detailing how they will carry out the full range of functions.
4. MAPPING OUT AUSTRALIA’S PATH TO TECH JOBS FUTURE
The Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, in a Media Release of 2 August 2022 referred to a tech sector report that supports the Government’s target of 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030.
The Media Release states, “The report comes as the Government takes its first step to meeting its tech jobs target, introducing legislation to create an interim Jobs and Skills Australia, a body dedicated to understanding and addressing the nation’s skills crisis.”
“Getting to 1.2 million: Our roadmap to create a thriving Australian tech workforce is the product of a collaboration between tech industry groups brought together at Australia’s Digital Employment Forum. …
Launching the report at the forum in Canberra (2 August 2022), the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the Australian Government would act on its 5 calls for action.
These are:
- Increasing understanding and awareness of job opportunities
- Fixing gaps in education and training products and pathways
- Improving the diversity of the tech workforce
- Targeting skilled migration to areas of high need and greatest shortages
- Improving industry-level supply and demand analysis
“The report finds that Australia will need an additional 650,000 tech workers by 2030 to meet the 2030 target and we can only do that if the tech industry and the government works closely together,” Minister Husic said.
“One of my early priorities as Minister will be to organise a roundtable to meet with key stakeholders in the tech sector to work towards shared goals.”
5. SLOWER INDUSTRY EXPANSION SHOWS NEED TO ADDRESS LABOUR SHORTAGES
Manufacturers’ Monthly, 1 August 2022 edition includes an article highlighting continuing chronic labour and skill shortages.
The article states, “The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Australian PMI dropped by 1.5 points to 52.5 in July, indicating a weaker rate of expansion compared to the previous month.
“The supply and labour constraints afflicting the Australian economy are weighing heavily on the manufacturing sector. Production and employment both fell in July, as manufacturers struggle with chronic labour shortages and supply chain interruptions,” Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said.
“New orders rose this month, but our manufacturers simply can’t meet this demand without more workers. Manufacturing has a key role to play in reducing the inflationary pressures facing Australia. To unlock the industry’s full potential, we need to promptly address skilled labour shortages.”
Key Findings for July 2022
Manufacturing activity slowed in July. Most sub-sectors eased but the metal products sectors recovered strongly.
Labour challenges, supply chain disruptions and high energy prices remain the major structural constraints on manufacturing.
6. GROWING SKILLS AND STEM CAREERS THIS NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK
The Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, announced in a 4 August 2022 Media Release that this year’s National Science Week, which be held 13-21 August.
The Media Release states, “The Australian Government is celebrating the work of our scientists this National Science Week, working to close the gender gap and inspire the next generation to be part of the highly skilled STEM sector.”
“Australia is home to some of the best and brightest scientists and researchers – and it’s an incredible talent pool that we want to grow,” Minister Husic said.
“The Government is determined to address the gender gap in our science and research sectors, to ensure that girls and women can see a place in that STEM talent pool and then to take a deep breath and dive in.” …
“National Science Week is a key part of the Government’s approach to science engagement and inspiring Australians to pursue a career in STEM.
“As the new science minister I want to assure you that science is back in government. Science and the scientific community will play a vital role in guiding evidence-based policy for the Albanese government,” Minister Husic said.
National Science Week features more than 1000 talks and activities around Australia, by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums and science centres.
In 2022, the Australian Government is supporting 35 National Science Week projects across Australia with $500,000 of funding.”
READ MORE HERE or visit the National Science Week website for in-person and online events, virtual tours, DIY science and more, all across Australia: www.scienceweek.net.au
7. SMART & SKILLED UPDATE NO. 174 – 177 AUG 2022
Smart and Skilled Update No. 174 – 177 (download) – August 2022.
The Smart and Skilled Update covers the following:
- Initiatives under the North Coast Education Flood Recovery Support Package
- Student eligibility criteria
- Initiative 1: Fee reimbursements
- Initiative 2: Fee free training for new students
- Update to Skilling for Recovery qualifications on the NSW Skills List
- Childcare Sector – Additional qualifications
- Hospitality qualifications added to the Skilling for Recovery Full Qualifications list
For more information visit: FUNDING AND SUPPORT – SMART AND SKILLED
For support with issues such as system/information access and functionality, reporting 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
8. JOURNEYING THROUGH VET – A CASE STUDY OF FOUNDATION SKILLS LEARNERS
NCVER has released its latest research report on a case study of foundation skills learners. The Report authored by Michelle Circelli, Michelle Hall, Zhenyuan Li, Adrian Ong, and Patrick Lim and published on 4 August 2022 explores information about those who undertake nationally recognised foundation skills programs after school and to investigate their training and employment outcomes.
A description of the report states, “Adult language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills as well as employability skills (e.g, collaboration, problem solving) often referred to as foundation skills—are key ingredients that help people get a job, remain employed, look after their mental and physical health, and participate in their community. The role of VET in helping people develop these skills is of interest.
Using Total VET Activity and National Student Outcome Survey data this research explores the enrolment paths, program completions and employment and further study outcomes of learners who had enrolled in nationally recognised foundation skills programs between 2016 – 2019. The research highlights the complex enrolment journeys foundation skills learners take through VET. …
Key messages from the report:
- Foundation skills learners often embark on complex journeys through the VET system, with these involving multiple enrolments in LLND or employment skills programs and, in many cases, other VET programs.
- Learners who enrol in foundation skills programs in some combination with other VET programs are more likely to complete any nationally recognised VET program than those who only enrol in foundation skills programs.
- Learners who complete a foundation skills qualification have poorer employment outcomes than their non-foundation skills qualification completer peers. This is not to say the training is not beneficial. For example, the foundation skills qualification completers who were employed after training were significantly more likely than their non-foundation skills peers to indicate that they found the training relevant to their current job.
- There are a broad range of reasons why learners enrol in foundation skills programs: understanding their underlying intention or motivation for enrolling must also be considered when gauging a program’s success or otherwise.”
READ AND DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT HERE
9. ELECTRICAL WORKER DEATHS – SAFEWORK NSW MESSAGES ELECTRICIANS
SafeWork NSW has recently issued an important message to all electricians in NSW following the death of two electrical workers in separate incidents.
The message stated in relation to the first incident, “An electrician died while carrying out electrical work underneath a house. The incident occurred as a result of electric shock after making contact with a live wire”.
The second related to an apprentice. “In a separate incident, an electrical apprentice died as a result of electric shock when carrying out electrical work within the roof space of a detached garage at a residential property”.
To prevent similar tragic incidents from occurring in the future, SafeWork NSW provide advice as to the recommended action that should followed when carrying out electrical work.
“ACTION REQUIRED
SafeWork NSW is urging all workers (electrical and non-electrical) to SWITCH OFF all power at the property’s switchboard (meter box) and take steps to prevent the power being switched back ON until the work has been completed and the area has been vacated.
Remember to always apply the safe work principle: Test for ‘dead’ before you touch. Be aware that some properties may have illegal connections which do not switch OFF under normal circumstances. Treat all wiring as live unless proved otherwise by a licensed electrician.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Switching OFF power at the meter box does not turn off electricity supply from the street to the meter box. This means the incoming overhead service lines and the consumer mains will still be live.
- Supply cables from solar panels to an inverter unit will be live when the solar panels are generating electricity. Check to see whether the property has a battery storage system and isolate it accordingly.
- Before entering the roof space or subfloor space of a house, let someone who is onsite and contactable know where you are going and how long you will be.
- Electrical wiring work must only be carried out or supervised by a licensed electrician who has the necessary training and experience.
- If you find any damaged wiring, exit safely and let the owner or property manager know so that proper repairs can be organised.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please refer to:
- SafeWork NSW safety alert: Electrical hazards when working in ceiling spaces
- Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace
- Incident Information Release: Electrical incident
- AS/NZS 4836:2011 – Safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment
The involvement of yet another apprentice in NSW in a serious electrical incident is concerning. The NSW UE ITAB and the Electrical Safety Project will be seeking more detailed information from SafeWork NSW, so that a closer examination of the facts can be revealed and where needed, brought to the attention of other relevant authorities including Office of Fair Trading and Training Services NSW.
More details of the incident are required and should be made public, within the acceptable confines of personal confidentiality, but sufficient to assist authorities, the industry and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to learn and provide lessons to militate future incidents.
10. OCTOBER IS NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH
Safe Work Australia has announced October, is National Safe Work Month.
The theme is, “a time to commit to building a safe and healthy workplace”. It’s time to start planning events and activities at your workplace and with your team today.
Safe Work’s promotion for the activity is, “Being healthy and safe means being free from physical and psychological harm. No job should be unsafe, and no death or injury is acceptable. A safe and healthy workplace benefits everyone. This is why, during October each year, Safe Work Australia asks businesses, employers and workers across Australia to join National Safe Work Month and commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.”
Each week in October will focus on a different health and safety area. The themes are:
Week 1 – Injuries at work
Week 2 – Mental Health
Week 3 – Managing WHS risks and preventing harm
Week 4 – Safe and healthy work for all
Safe Work Australia has developed and made available customisable resources to download from the website: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe.
Resources include:
- National Safe Work Month 2022 – theme and campaign kit released
- Have your say about National Safe Work Month 2022
11. LEGAL CHANGES IMPACTING HVACR
Climate Control News (CCN) Editor, Sandra Rossi reports 3 August 2022 edition on the latest legislative changes that have been passed in a number of number of Australian jurisdictions regarding Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) services.
The article states, “In the wake of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London, the LaCrosse Tower fire in Melbourne and the evacuation of Sydney’s Opal Tower, new legislation has been passed in a number of Australian states and territories.
While the shortcomings that precipitated these new laws were not HVACR-related, the resulting legal changes directly affect HVACR businesses and professionals.
The initial transition and grace periods have now passed, or will shortly come to an end.
The result is that various specialist services provided within the HVACR sector can now only be provided by or under the direct supervision of engineers registered under the new registration schemes.
The registration requirements are broad. Not surprisingly, registration is now required for technical design and consulting services that have always typically been provided by highly qualified professional engineers.
Registration requirements may also apply to a range of seemingly less-specialised construction, production and maintenance activities.
12. EV SMART CHARGING ISSUES PAPER STAKEHOLDER WEBINAR MATERIALS AVAILABLE
The Energy Security Board (ESB) announced in its 5 August 2022 ESB Updated, that it had held a stakeholder webinar to outline the reforms explored in the EV Smart Charging Issues Paper.
It included insights and perspectives from Energy Consumers Australia, AGL and Tesla.
The Board advises that the materials from the webinar are now available online. The stakeholder forum was presented with information on Electric Vehicle (EV) smart charging. Opening the session with, “Why an EV smart charging policy?” Stating, “Over the next few years EV uptake is projected to grow substantially and become a key form of CER. This growth has implications for planning and forecasting of energy demand across the NEM”.
The Forum explored customer perspectives, customer insights, EV perspectives and the theme forming part of the EV Charging Issues Paper followed by a Q&A session.
EV SMART CHARGING ISSUES PAPER IS AVAILABLE HERE
13. HUGE 1,000MWH BATTERY AT SITE OF CLOSED COAL PLANT GETS NSW PLANNING APPROVAL
Giles Parkinson, editor of Renew Economy, reports in the 4 August 2022 of a huge battery installation near a former coal generator plant site in NSW.
The article states, “A huge 500MW/1000MWh battery at the site of the shuttered Wallerawang coal fired power station near Lithgow has won planning approval from NSW state government authorities.
The Wallerawang battery – to be developed by Greenspot – is one of the biggest of a number of big batteries proposed for NSW, the country’s biggest and most coal dependent grid, and which is plotting for a dramatic and rapid transition to renewables and storage.
Planning approval was announced by the state planning authority on Thursday, noting it was located on the site of a former 1240MW coal generator that closed in 2014, on land that contained a recently harvested pine plantation, was shielded from nearby homes, and is close to existing energy infrastructure.
…
It is located just outside the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where the first auctions for grid access rights for wind, solar and storage projects will be held later this year, but it is located on the main transmission line linking the zone with the major load centres in Sydney.”
14. ACT TO QUIT GAS BY 2045, SHIFT TO ALL-ELECTRIC HOMES AND BUSINESS
Deputy editor, Sophie Vorrath reports in the 4 August edition of Renew Economy that the ACT is all-in on transitioning the territory’s energy supply to electricity.
The article states, “The ACT government has unveiled plans to phase out the use of fossil gas in Australia’s capital territory by 2045, with the release of a paper modelling the transition to full electrification of homes and businesses over the coming two decades.
In an announcement on Thursday, ACT chief minister Andrew Barr said the move to quit gas was a part of the Territory’s decarbonisation journey, led by its shift to 100% renewables and hurried along, perhaps, by soaring gas prices.
“Gas prices have risen by around 25 per cent since 2016 and are expected to continue to rise,” Barr said.
“In short, the days of cheap gas in Australia appear over and renewable electricity is now the cheapest and cleanest way to power our homes and businesses.”
In line with the ACT’s recent commitment to quit fossil fuel cars, Barr said the Territory’s electrification would be “a long-term and gentle transition,” to give Canberrans plenty of time wrap their minds – and budgets – around the move.
“We’re not switching off the gas network overnight. Like the transition from analogue to digital TV, or the phase out of leaded petrol, this will be a staged and managed transition,” he said.
…
“The move to quit gas in the ACT follows a similar move by the Victorian state Labor government last month, starting with the introduction of incentives for households to shift to electric appliances, and the removal of the planning requirement for new developments to be connected to gas.”
It should be noted that the Energy Networks Australia (ENA) also issued a Media Release on the 4 August 2022 regarding the same matter, titled, “Closing door on green gas options risks costing ACT customers more”.
Stating, “The ACT’s Gas Transition Pathway will deny customers choice of energy supply, may cost them more in power bills and will remove the low-cost opportunity to utilise existing infrastructure to decarbonise gas.
Released today, the policy proposes banning new gas connections for households and encourages customers to switch to electrical appliances.
Energy Networks Australia CEO Andrew Dillon said it was disappointing the ACT Government was not allowing for renewable gas options.”
15. EMISSION REDUCTIONS – IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL TRANSITIONS
EnergyInsider, a joint publication of Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and Australian Energy Council (AEC) in its 4 August 2022 service examines the options for broader decarbonisation of the economy in its latest paper issued 4 August 2022 (Australia’s Energy Future: 55 BY 35 – Regional Transitions).
The explanation of the paper states, “This paper looks at the implications of a 55 by 35 emissions reduction target and the transition to net zero for regional economies in the light of the progressive closure of coal power plants.
It recognises that there is a policy case for a focus on these regions, given that coal power plants (and in some cases associated mines) are major employers in those regions. Without support, there are risks to the economic well-being of not just the former plant workers but also the broader region due to a multiplier effect. This risk is somewhat, but not fully, mitigated by the fact that worker entitlements and the process of decommissioning and rehabilitating sites mean that the industry will be injecting substantial funds into the local economy for several years after the plant has ceased operations.
Case studies from around the world illustrate the difference in outcomes when there is a strong government focus on supporting those who have lost work and fostering new employment opportunities in an affected region. Some of the most widely cited success stories, such as Germany and Spain, have required billions of euros in support and programmes that last for decades rather than months or years.
There is a fairly positive example in an Australian context – the Latrobe Valley Authority, set up after the closure of Hazelwood, led to lower unemployment rates in the region 12 months after plant closure compared to the period just before.”
For more information, contact Australian Energy Council
16. QLD READY FOR GREEN ENERGY
The 2 August 2022 Australian Pipeliner reports that Queensland has responded to the increasing global interest in renewable energies by developing its Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap.
The article states, “Queensland has responded to the increasing global interest in renewable energies by developing its Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap 2022-2023.
The state is already well-positioned to play a big role in the development of the hydrogen industry due to the readily available resources, existing quality infrastructure and passed experience as an energy supplier to offshore markets.
The roadmap has been designed to cover short, medium and long-term goals and is focussed on developing a robust workforce that is capable of adapting to the shifting needs of the hydrogen industry.
Another advantage of the roadmap is the benefits it will provide to local communities in terms of energy supply, skills and training. It includes using insights and data to predict and plan for the needs of the hydrogen industry workforce as time goes on.
Training option detailed in the roadmap are intended to allow workers with flexible skillsets to respond rapidly when new required skills emerge as the industry evolves.
Queensland’s Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer, who launched the roadmap in a speech while visiting Sydney, has said that the state has already set a strong foundation by investing $50 million in state-of-the-art infrastructure that will supply hands-on experience and invaluable training with new and emerging technologies.”