For many years, but not this one, I have supported Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as a judge for the Australian Training Awards. It should be noted I’ve never been a judge for an award where there is potential conflict with my role, such as large training provider. However, as a judge I have seen first-hand over the years many terrific employers, students, teachers present as finalists.
What is wonderful is when you see a winner develop as a leader for the sector. That was on display last week at the inaugural Electric Vehicles TAFE Centre of Excellence educator network meeting.
TDA has been very pleased to help Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) get their TAFE Centre of Excellence up and running. The Electric Vehicle (EV) TAFE Centre of Excellence was the first TAFE Centre of Excellence to be announced mid-year. Last Friday electric vehicle TAFE educators across the country, including TAFE SA, TAFE in WA, TAFE Queensland, CQU also in Queensland, CDU in the NT, TasTAFE, TAFE NSW, and numerous TAFEs in Victoria met online to begin the process of collaborating to deliver a nationally focused ACT led TAFE Centre of Excellence. The leader of the EV TAFE Centre of Excellence is Richard Lindsay from the Canberra Institute of Technology and 2022 Australian Training Awards Teacher of the Year. Richard’s leadership of the TAFE Centre of Excellence is supported by a small group of other members of CIT’s workforce.
This network is already shaping up to be a very strong group. On Friday, the EV educators spent time beginning the discussion on all the various areas the TAFE Centre of Excellence will explore. This will include strategies for upskilling educators across the country, applied research, partnerships, RPL, and pilot programs for underrepresented student groups. During the remaining four years of funding at least twenty projects will be delivered.
On Friday what I witnessed were members of the network demonstrating commitment to delivering excellence in skills development of their trade and leading how their TAFE would engage. This is where “TAFE at the heart” really comes alive. Fundamentally it is about TAFE teachers doing what they do best – delivering excellence in learning and teaching and working collaboratively with each other. We’re looking forward to seeing how the network evolves over the next four years.
Now, back to the theme of awards. This Friday night is the 2024 Australian Training Awards in Canberra. Good luck to all members of the TAFE workforce. To TAFE SA and Charles Darwin University, two of the finalists in the large training provider of the year, we’re barracking for you both. To all the TAFE students and teachers competing to demonstrate they are the best – good luck. However, at the end of the day, the measure of success is the leadership displayed where it will make a difference for vital Australian industries.
Qualifications issued to 17,500 students are under threat as the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) ramps up regulatory action, cancelling the registration of two more colleges in the past week.
ASQA’s actions are targeting what it describes as “illegal behaviour and non-genuine providers” and follows the cancellation of Livium earlier this month.
Last week, ASQA has cancelled the registration of Gills College Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Elite College Australia and/or Sterling Business College.
Notices of intent to cancel qualifications have been sent to 3,364 former Gills College students who have an opportunity to respond to ASQA before any decision is made.
The impacted former students hold qualifications across individual support, early childhood education and care, community services, first aid, automotive, business, leadership and management, information and technology, kitchen management, hospitality management, travel and tourism.
ASQA also cancelled the registration of International Institute of Education and Training Pty Ltd (IIET), trading as EDU VET.
Notices of intent to cancel qualifications have been sent to 6,818 former students. The qualifications impacted include individual support, disability, aged care and community services and first aid.
Earlier this month ASQA cancelled the qualifications of 7,360 former students of Luvium Pty Ltd (trading as Australia Education & Career College).
ASQA received responses from 780 of the 7,360 former students in the seven-day response period. As of Friday, the regulator had decided to cancel 7,358 qualifications, with only two still being considered.
An expanded role for TAFE NSW and a more integrated tertiary system that focuses on the state’s critical skills priorities are key features of the NSW Skills Plan, released on Friday.
The NSW Skills Plan 2024–28: Building Skills and Shaping Success sets out the medium-term strategy to address skills needs, build the VET workforce and examine flexible models of delivery, including for apprenticeships.
The skills plan, the first since 2008, identifies six critical skills areas for the state – construction, net zero and energy transition, digital and cyber security, care and support, agriculture and agrifood, and advanced manufacturing.
The Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the plan will target funding and delivery to priority skills and critical skills demands.
“This means changes to how we fund and invest in skills to drive performance and enhance system outcomes.”
Key elements of the plan include:
The plan will be bolstered by a new Skills Outcomes Framework and will see a regular scorecard – the annual State of the System Report.
Join TDA’s TAFETalks session on optimising existing systems to deliver the National Skills Passport.
Tertiary education providers already invest significantly in data systems to track student progress and record alumni qualifications. Building a completely new system introduces additional risks and costs.
In this session, experts from Victoria University and TechnologyOne will explore key factors in developing a National Skills Passport. They’ll discuss how leveraging innovative solutions can enhance workforce mobility, reduce institutional security burdens, and streamline assessment processes.
The nationally accredited training system can be slow to respond to emerging technologies in the building, construction, property and water industries, and is not always fit for purpose, according to the initial findings of BuildSkills Australia’s VET Future Readiness Review.
As part of the review last month, the BuildSkills team travelled around the country, meeting with more than 110 workshop attendees, followed by a further 100 in a recent online webinar, as well as receiving almost 650 responses to its survey.
Of the employees surveyed, 72% felt the technologies, activities and ways of working in their occupation have changed significantly, with the changes predominantly around automation and digitisation.
Stakeholders agreed there needed to be a cultural shift to embed lifelong learning.
To deal with future change, it was suggested that there be more flexibility embedded into nationally accredited training products.
It was felt that the market system of non-accredited training had been responding well to technology changes, and that employees were learning and upskilling most often through on-the-job training.
BuildSkills is distilling these insights into a final report which will include recommendations.
HumanAbility has released its 2024 Workforce Plan, which provides a strategic roadmap designed to address the challenges and opportunities in the care and support workforce.
Modelling for Jobs and Skills Australia projects employment in the healthcare and social assistance sectors to grow by almost 26%, or 585,000 people, by 2034.
HumanAbility is also inviting participation in a survey about the VET workforce. There are two online surveys available: one for organisations and the other for teachers, trainers and assessors. They can be completed quickly and anonymously. The surveys are open until mid-December 2024. For more information, visit the HumanAbility website.
Separately, HumanAbility is evaluating CHCCSM013 Facilitate and review case management which requires students to complete 100 hours of independent work. However, some states cannot provide these placements due to regulations. HumanAbility is inviting stakeholders to attend one of several workshops or participate in an online survey.
The former CEO of TDA, Dr Martin Riordan, has been recognised with the inaugural World TVET Prize, as part of a new global skills network initiated by China.
The International TVET League was launched by the China Minister for Education and Vice Ministers in Tianjin last week, attended by education and skills ministers from more than 20 countries.
Australia’s Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles presented a video congratulatory message on the new International TVET League. The launch was attended by the Australian Embassy Minister Counsellor of Education, Allison Dell, First Secretary (Education and Research), Rachael Lynch and senior staff.
The World TVET Prize was awarded in three categories – individual (Martin Riordan), an eminent project (German college development in China) and an institution (Africa Polytechnic Association).
The South African Minister for Higher Education Nobuhle Nikabane made the presentation to Dr Riordan who paid tribute to the TAFEs that had continuing education partnerships in China, and thanked organisers for the honour and recognition.
The federal and ACT governments have announced an additional 340 fee-free places in construction and housing, to be delivered at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
The new places will take effect from January and will include up to 80 pre-apprenticeship places. This is in addition to the 6,000 free TAFE places already funded from 2023-2026.
In the ACT, the courses that can be studied fee-free include Diploma of Building and Construction, Certificate IV in Building and Construction, Certificate IV in Work, Health & Safety, and Certificate II in Construction Pathways.
TDA Corporate Affiliate, D2L is hosting a webinar next week on ways to create an inclusive learning experience for associations and members.
The webinar, Inclusive Learning: empowering every association member through accessible education, will be held Wednesday 11 December, 11.00am – midday AEDT.
Expert speakere are:
Powering Skills Organisation has opened consultations on its project that proposes changes to the UEE Training Package, aimed at simplifying and updating training products to better meet industry needs.
Consultation on Consolidation of Competency Development Units is open until 3 January 2025.
Feedback is sought on several draft revisions, including:
TAFETalks: Delivering the National Skills Passport
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 2.00pm – 3.00pm AEDT
Register here
Australian Training Awards
6 December 2024
National Convention Centre, Canberra
More information
Australian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group (ACDEVEG) 2024 Conference
9-10 December 2024
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
More information
D2L Webinar – Inclusive Learning: empowering every association member through accessible education
11 December 2024, 11.00am – midday AEDT.
Register here
National Apprentice Employment Network 2025 National Conference
11-13 June 2025
Brisbane
Save the date
WorldSkills Australia National Championships and Skills Showcase
12-14 June 2025
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
34th National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference ‘No Frills’
9-11 July 2025
Gold Coast
More information
TDA Convention 2026
SAVE the DATE
5-7 May 2026
Brisbane
2026 WFCP World Congress
23-28 November 2026
Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya
Save the date
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