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The Department of Workplace Relations and Employment (DEWR) is to be commended for bringing forward changes to the new RTO Standards that should improve the pipeline of qualified people for the TAFE workforce. State and Territory Skills Minister have approved these early amendments.
At last, we see changes that recognise those who hold qualifications in education can be members of our TAFE workforce without having to do the full Cert IV TAE. There is still the requirement for these educators, who must be eligible to hold registration as a secondary school teacher, to attain the Assessor skill set (or an equivalent). However, this is a significant improvement to the current barrier of having to attain the full Cert IV. That means these professionals will be able to both train and assess in TAFE.
This is a major step forward in putting education capability back into vocational education and training. While the changes have been made because of the problem in attracting staff for secondary schools to teach VET it will be beneficial to TAFEs. It was only last week that the TDA Foundation Skills Network continued to talk about the value that that such qualified educators would bring to TAFEs and the limitations on being able to employ them.
The second important change that should improve attracting more people for many TAFE trade areas is that industry experts are now able to be better used. The changes recognise that industry experts who are actively working toward the Cert IV TAE can deliver training and contribute to assessment under supervision. While most TAFEs had already implemented their own under-supervision programs this change makes that easier.
Additionally, in areas where industry experts are needed and not necessarily going to transition into educators, the standards now explicitly enable their expertise to be utilised alongside a trainer or assessor. This is helpful. We always recognised the value of industry coming into and being part of student learning. Therefore, another good change.
These early amendments are now on the DEWR website. The rest of the new RTO Standards will apply from 1 January 2025. Several TAFEs are currently piloting aspects of the new standards. As an aside, these TAFEs are getting together tomorrow to compare experiences to date.
Contact TDA on memberservices@tda.edu.au if you wish to know more.
Former federal judge and President of the Fair Work Commission, Iain Ross, and former Commonwealth departmental secretary, Lisa Paul, will lead a strategic review of Australia’s apprenticeship system.
The Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor has announced the wide-ranging review which will focus on the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System and how it is performing in addressing a range of challenges for apprentices and trainees.
The review will look at issues including:
Mr O’Connor said that while financial supports for apprentices and trainees are scheduled to change from 1 July following a decision by the former Coalition government, this latest review will assist the government to implement “a more effective, sustainable and long-term incentive system for apprentices and trainees.”
“We know that almost half of all apprentices don’t complete their training,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Addressing the completion rate is not just vitally important for individuals and employers, but also for the Australian economy.”
Justice Iain Ross served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 2012 to 2022, as well as President of the Fair Work Commission (formerly Fair Work Australia) over the same period. He was previously a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Assistant Secretary of the ACTU.
Lisa Paul was the Secretary of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations from 2007 to 2013 and Secretary of the Department of Education and Training from 2014 to 2016. She was appointed Chancellor of the University of Canberra in January.
The review will accept written submissions until 15 May 2024 and will establish a national program of online and face to face consultations in the coming weeks. It is expected to report back later this year.
See the Minister’s media release
Apprenticeship review team: Iain Ross and Lisa Paul
The TDA Convention 2024, under the theme of TAFE at the Heart, runs over two full days from 8-9 May 2024 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel. Early bird registrations close on 23 February 2024 so register this week to take advantage of this offer. Further information on registration is available here.
Exploring TAFE Centres of Excellence
The TDA Convention 2024 program will be an early opportunity to explore the thinking behind the new TAFE Centres of Excellence, including the ‘turbo-charged’ nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence which were announced as part of the National Skills Agreement.
Delegates will hear from keynote speaker, Boudewijn Grievink, Program Manager Internationalisation for Wij zijn Katapult in the Netherlands on the success of the European Centres of Vocational Excellence (COVE) in areas such as water and urban greening. This will be followed by a thought provoking presentation from Dr Margot McNeill, Chief Product and Quality Officer at TAFE NSW on innovation and self-accreditation which will be fundamental aspects of TAFE Centres of Excellence.
The session continues with a panel bringing together three States to explore their early models on how their Australian TAFE Centre of Excellence will support new ways of collaborating, innovate the delivery of tertiary education, enable teaching excellence and curriculum development, and provide one main point of access for high quality and responsive skills development for critical and emerging industries.
TDA is delighted that Steve Brady, Managing Director, TAFE NSW, Joanne Payne, Managing Director of Central Regional TAFE, WA and David Coltman, Chief Executive of TAFE SA will be lead that discussion. They will be joined by industry partners.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sydney in May 2024 for TAFE at the Heart! Please register here by 23 February to secure your early bird ticket..
Get involved at the TDA Convention 2024 by nominating your extraordinary staff members for a TAFE Staff recognition award.
TDA’s TAFE Staff Recognition Awards recognise and honour the achievements of TAFE staff across Australia. The awards will be held during the TDA Convention 2024 on the evening of 8 May 2024 at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney.
See here for more information and online nomination forms. Nominations close on 1 March 2024.
Skills ministers have agreed to a series of initial changes to the Standards for RTOs that will allow a wider range of people to deliver training in an effort to ease pressure on the VET workforce.
The changes, agreed at a meeting in August, are designed to be introduced as early as next month, and follow extensive consultation with stakeholders.
The changes will include:
The changes are part of a wider review of the Standards for the Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that will continue over coming months.
In an article in the TDA newsletter ‘Most new training providers struggle to meet strengthened standards’ (5 February), we stated: “The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has revealed that around 90 per cent of applications by training providers for registration have been initially rejected, following tougher requirements including a strengthened ‘fit and proper person’ test.”
ASQA wishes to clarify that the 90 per cent figure related to applications for registration by prospective training providers that it had checked and were incomplete and not accepted when submitted.
As was stated in the article, applicants are then given three days to address these gaps before their application is deemed invalid.
The VET sector has played a smaller role in delivering critical skills in areas of finance, technology and business over recent years, and there are industry concerns that some training is not relevant to workforce needs, according to the Initial Workforce Plan from the Future Skills Organisation (FSO).
The FSO – the Jobs and Skills Council for finance, technology and business (FTB) – says the combined sector workforce comprises around one-in-five Australian workers.
The Initial Workforce Plan, released last week, says that VET has been a source of around half of training for entrants into FTB occupations, but its prominence has been declining over the last five years.
“Consultation with stakeholders reinforced the need for the training system to keep pace with changing skills demands, but also indicated that industry does not have a strong understanding of VET and tends to prefer employing higher education graduates into FTB,” the report says.
It says there is an industry perception that the ICT training package is not meeting industry needs.
“It appears that the FNS and BSB training packages are meeting learner expectations, but not consistently delivering skills required by industry.”
While demand for FTB skills and workers is growing, enrolments and completions in the VET system are falling.
Since 2016, FTB occupations have seen a 5-20% greater skill change compared to all occupations, with demand for digital skills driving the change.
TAFE SA graduate Shani Engelbrecht’s artworks, exploring culture and identity, were showcased at Perth’s Hatched: National Graduate Show.
Shani, who completed her Bachelor of Creative Arts – Visual Arts (Honours) through TAFE SA and Flinders University, says being chosen for the Hatched exhibition has helped to reaffirm her career pathway. Her collection features a video, “To Pass as White,” and a textile collage, “Bula Vinaka Mum” drawing inspiration from her Fijian Indian mother’s migrant experience.
The exhibition’s recognition reaffirms Shani’s career choice. Engaging in diverse mediums, Shani aims to provoke thought and emotion, aspiring to foster dialogue and validation through her art while anticipating career opportunities.
TDA invites you to join experts from TAFE NSW and TDA Corporate Affiliate, Learning Vault, for our next TAFETalks which will tackle the pressing issue of skill shortages in our evolving economy.
Our speakers will explore solutions addressing growing skills gaps in today’s workforce, focusing on lifelong learning, upskilling opportunities, and technological advancements including digital credentials.
Participants will gain insights into navigating the shifting landscapes of employment models and career pathways, focusing on bridging the gap between education and employment in the digital age.
For further information, please click here.
Registration is now open for the World Congress of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP), being held 22 to 27 September 2024 at Montego Bay, St James, Jamaica, West Indies.
VOCEDplus has launched its revamped website, which boasts a more enriching user experience with exciting new features. Among the new elements are:
There is a free webinar on the new-look website on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024.
See the new VOCEDplus website
The challenge and the outlook for associations will be the topic of a webinar hosted by TDA Corporate Affiliate, D2L.
The webinar, There’s a Brighter Way for Associations at a Crossroads’, will take place 20 March 2024 at 12 PM AEDT.
It will be led by Tony Maguire, regional director for Australia and New Zealand at D2L, with speakers including Angela Shelton, CEO, Answers for Associations and Kelly Jones, Director, Property Council Academy.
TAFETalks: Overcoming skills gaps in a skills-based economy
28 February 2024, 2-3pm AEDT
More information
TDA Convention 2024, ‘TAFE at the Heart’ – Register now!
8-9 May 2024
Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney
Call for presenters open now
Early bird registrations
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
2024 Skills Conference: Empowerment & Connection
12 June 2024
Dockside Darling Harbour, Sydney
More information
33rd National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills’
‘VET partnerships powering a dynamic workforce’
10-12 July 2024
North Metropolitan TAFE, Perth
More information
National Apprentice Employment Network
National Conference
23-25 July 2024
Location TBA
Save the date
VET National Teaching & Learning Conference 2024
‘From Competence to Excellence – Strive to Inspire’
15-16 August 2024
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Save the date
National Skills Week 2024
‘It’s a Game Changer’
19-25 August 2024
www.nationalskillsweek.com.au
47th WorldSkills Competition
10-15 September 2024
Lyon, France
More information
WFCP World Congress 2024
22-27 September 2024
St James, Jamaica, West Indies
More Information
Go to individual JSC websites for event details.
BuildSkills Australia
State & Territory Workforce Planning Roundtables
21 February-26 March 2024
buildskills.com.au
Future Skills Organisation
National Forum – ‘Building a skilled workforce’
14-15 March 2024
Monash College, Melbourne
futureskillsorganisation.com.au
Powering Skills Organisation
Insights Update, 8 March 2024
Energy Pathway Roadshow: Collaborating for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Events in Darwin, Alice Springs, Perth, Bunbury, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong and Brisbane.
poweringskills.com.au
HumanAbility
State and Territory Roadshow 2024
Events in all states and territories
www.humanability.com.au
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