Mar 21, 2024
NSW Public Sector ITAB March 2024 Newsletter
In this month's newsletter
- Change of date for May GTAN and WTAN industry forums
- NSW Government Extends Support for Vocational Education Pathways Program
- NSW Fee Free – giving people the skills businesses need
- NSW Government funds Emergency Service Training Program
- New Direction for VET Qualifications in Australia
- Review of Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System Underway
- National Jobs and Skills Council Update
Change of date for May GTAN and WTAN industry forums
The next Government/Public Safety and Water industry network forums have been rescheduled to Tuesday 28 May 2024 due to a number of conflicting industry events on the original date. Invitations to register will be sent to you in April.
March 2024 GTAN AND WTAN Forum Resources now available
Facilitated by the NSW Public Sector ITAB, the Government and Water Trainers and Assessors Networks (GTAN and WTAN) meet regularly to share and discuss issues impacting skilling and training within government, public safety and water industries across metropolitan, regional and rural NSW.
The ITAB would like to thank all presenters who contributed to the GTAN & WTAN forums held on 5 March 2024 and to the growing number of network members who attended. I would particularly like to thank Danielle Clarke (TSNSW), Catherine Khalil (Lake Macquarie City Council), Gemma Beall (TAFE NSW), George Wall (BuildSkills Australia), Lisa Procter (Beca-HunterH2o), Rod Batterham (Liverpool Plains Council), and Lisa Andersons & Melissa Wortman (DCCEEW) for their contributions and continuing support of the Public Sector ITAB.
We received excellent feedback from participants who appreciated the opportunity to hear the insights of these guest presenters and all network members regarding Industry skills and training matters. The recordings and presentation slides are now available.
GOVERNMENT TRAINERS AND ASSESSORS NETWORK (GTAN)
(Includes all government agencies, Local Councils, Correctional Services, Public Safety, Police & Defence)
Date: 5 March 2024
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
View Recording
View Presentation Slides
WATER TRAINERS AND ASSESSORS NETWORK (WTAN)
Date: 5 March 2024
Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm
View Recording
View Presentation Slides
NSW Government Extends Support for Vocational Education Pathways Program
The NSW Government has announced the continuation and expansion of its Educational Pathways Program (EPP) for an additional two years, aiming to boost student engagement and vocational education opportunities across the state. Currently operating in 148 public high schools, the program will extend to 20 more schools, covering nine regions.
The EPP, designed to enhance education and career outcomes, introduces high school students to a variety of vocational training and employment pathways. It complements existing career activities by adding resources like Head Teachers Careers and School-Based Apprenticeships (SBAT) and Traineeship Engagement Officers. Students benefit from direct connections with local employers and support through school-based apprenticeships or traineeships.
In its recent performance review, the EPP reported significant achievements, including a 129% increase in students undertaking SBATs, over 1,000 students re-engaging in education, participation of more than 7,800 students in TAFE NSW vocational courses, and 1,079 students earning pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship credentials.
Read the full article on TSNSW website.
NSW Fee Free – giving people the skills businesses need
The NSW Government is enhancing access to training for a broad spectrum of residents, including young people, job seekers, First Nations People, unpaid carers, women pursuing careers in non-traditional trades, and specific visa holders. Through the NSW Fee-Free initiative, running from January 1 to June 30, 2024, eligible participants will have the opportunity to enrol in priority courses without the burden of fees.
This initiative targets courses that bolster priority industries and will be available at TAFE NSW, alongside other Smart and Skilled contracted training providers, including Adult and Community Education providers. However, access is contingent on the availability of NSW Fee-Free places and meeting eligibility criteria, which includes the commencement of training in a priority course within the specified timeframe.
Interested individuals are encouraged to enrol in a priority qualification before June 30, 2024, to gain access to this limited NSW Fee-Free opportunity.
Further information can be found on the NSW Department of Education website.
NSW Government funds Emergency Service Training Program
The NSW Government is reinforcing its commitment to disaster preparedness by funding a new $250,000 training program for emergency services. This initiative encompasses over a dozen exercises scheduled throughout the state in 2024, aimed at enhancing the readiness and response capabilities of various agencies in the face of emergencies.
Featuring 14 simulations, the training will cover a wide array of scenarios, including urban search and rescue, mass fish deaths, mass casualty events, and agricultural rescues. A key objective is to improve interoperability among agencies, ensuring effective collaboration during disaster responses.
Highlighted exercises funded under the program include the NSW State Road Crash Rescue Challenge, urban and marine search and rescue operations and flood and dam failure simulations. These exercises will build on existing training programs with a focus on interoperability to allow agencies to work together in simulated scenarios.
The activities are also designed to rigorously test the recently updated State Emergency Management Plan (EMPLAN), which outlines NSW's strategic approach to managing emergencies.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib emphasized the importance of evolving preparation and response strategies to manage the inevitability of accidents and natural disasters more effectively.
Read the full article here.
New Direction for VET Qualifications in Australia
Australia is poised to transition from a "one size fits all" approach to vocational education and training (VET) qualifications to a system more aligned with the specific purposes of training, following a reform proposal by the Qualification Reform Design Group. This initiative addresses the current system's complexity and prescriptive nature, which includes around 1,200 qualifications and 15,000 units of competency, often leading to confusion and underutilization.
Under the leadership of Craig Robertson, CEO of the Victorian Skills Authority, the design group proposes a differentiated qualifications system to better serve new labour market entrants seeking introductory skills as well as those looking to upskill or reskill. The new system would group qualifications under three main purposes:
- Specific trade qualifications necessary for safety or licensing,
- Qualifications preparing learners for multiple related occupations within an industry,
- Qualifications focusing on cross-sectoral or foundational skills applicable across industries or leading to further education and training.
Acknowledging the ambitious and significant nature of these changes, the next steps involve Jobs and Skills Councils designing and testing new qualification models throughout 2024, aiming for implementation in 2025.
For more information visit the DEWR website.
Review of Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System Underway
The Commonwealth is conducting a strategic review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System to enhance the support for individuals starting and completing apprenticeships and traineeships. This comprehensive review will involve extensive stakeholder consultation to develop a more effective and sustainable incentive system, with a particular emphasis on promoting gender equality and diversifying participation in trades traditionally dominated by men.
The review, led by the Honourable Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM, aims to address the effectiveness of wage subsidies and their impact on skill shortages. Skills Ministers have engaged with the review process, offering their insights to ensure its success. Further information and opportunities for written submissions are available on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations' website and through the Consultation Hub.
National Jobs and Skills Council Update
Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) are a national network of industry owned and led organisations, designed to provide leadership in addressing national skills and training needs. They have been established to supply industry with a strong and strategic voice within the VET sector as part of broader government-led skills reform.
Activity related to key JSCs affiliated to Public Sector industries is outlined below.
Public Skills Australia: Updates to the POL Police Training Package have recently been endorsed and are now released on Training.gov.au. Visit the PSA website to register your interest in the work of PSA or place an enquiry.
BuildSkills Australia: BSA is completing their round of Industry forums across the country. Visit the website to register your interest in consultation or to submit ideas on how to improve industry training products. Reach out to George Wall for any specific water sector issues.
Future Skills Organisation: Visit the FSO website to view news and events and read reports such as the Impact of generative AI on skills in the workplace.
