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Today is Reconciliation Day and last Thursday was Public Education Day. For the TAFE workforce both days are significant.
Reconciliation Day is about listening to and improving outcomes for First Nations people. Today TDA is launching a series of stories about our TAFE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. It is their voices that can be heard in these stories from all over Australia. You can read the first stories in this Monday Newsletter and each week until NAIDOC week in July we will bring you new stories of TAFE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and their leadership.
The theme ‘now more than ever’ continues to resonate strongly in the defining purpose of public education in providing opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students. This is made possible through our role as public educators.
Public Education Day, an AEU event, is important. There is never any debate in school education nor in higher education that public education has a vital role in fostering opportunity for all. However, often we hear that in vocational education and training, public education should just be treated the same as all other players.
Fee-free TAFE has offered significant opportunities for all underrepresented learners to gain skills and qualifications. The fact it is delivered through public education is important.
So, today let’s celebrate all our staff in TAFE for the role they play in empowering people through education to contribute positively to our Australian society. It is the values they hold as public educators that ensure each learner can gain the benefit of tertiary education.
Commonwealth, state and territory skills ministers have discussed key issues for the country’s VET system including a blueprint for growing the VET workforce.
The skills minister’s meeting in Sydney on Friday also received a briefing from the Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), Professor Barney Glover on the organisation’s 2024-25 draft work plan.
Key issues discussed included:
See the skills minister’s Communique
Wednesday, 12 June 2024 2.00-3.00pm AEST
Following on from the success of the great debate at the TDA Convention 2024, join TDA’s TAFETalks to further explore the impact of last 20 years of VET policy on TAFE.
In his final public appearance as Managing Director of National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Simon Walker will present key policy developments and data trends over the last two decades and prompt a broader conversation on the future of TAFE and the sector in light of the current policy agenda and the 2024/25 Federal budget.
Craig Robertson, CEO of the Victorian Skills Authority, and Mary Faraone, CEO of Holmesglen Institute and TDA Board Chair, will offer reflections on Simon’s insights. Engage with the panel of three experts in this interactive session.
The Queensland government has outlined a new five-year plan to strengthen the state’s training system, provide more free TAFE places and deliver on commitments under the National Skills Agreement.
The Queensland Skills Strategy 2024-2028 sets out a broad plan that includes expanded training across the state, more subsidised higher-level qualifications, and new and upgraded TAFE facilities, backed by $370 million in funding.
The strategy extends Labor’s Free TAFE program, funding up to 70,000 free TAFE places including 30,000 new places.
It will also fund one million publicly subsidised training places in areas such as health, social services, hospitality, clean energy and construction.
There will be a strengthened pathways from school to work through a new TAFE-led Career Ready VET in Schools program for secondary school students.
The strategy emphasises the role of new TAFE Centres of Excellence that will explore new higher-level apprenticeships and applied research.
The Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum foreshadowed a new Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) framework that will determine the approved registered training organisations (RTOs) for the state.
“A new SAS framework will support both the state’s short and long-term goals, including critical skills delivery aligned to the National Skills Agreement and skilling up Queenslanders for the good jobs being created through our Big Build and booming sectors like health, housing and education,” Mr McCallum said.
The CEO of TAFE Queensland John Tucker said, “We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland Government, industry and partners to not only help Queenslanders change their lives and achieve their career aspirations, but also enhance the social wellbeing and economic sustainability of our state.”
TDA continues to celebrate the achievements of First Nations staff within its member organisations through our First Nations Focus story collection.
From the beginning of Reconciliation Week until the end of NAIDOC Week, we are focusing attention on the vital role First Nations staff play within TAFE.
Today we are releasing two more stories to highlight the great work of individuals and teams happening nationwide.
A Homecoming for Jo Savage
Supporting the vocational education and training goals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been Jo Savage’s mission at TAFE Queensland for more than two decades.
Through hard work, determination and passion, Jo rose through the ranks and ensured that giving back to her community was at the heart of her every move.
Mentors provide customised and supported pathways
There’s a big spark ready to ignite First Nations’ futures at North Metropolitan TAFE. Discover how the Koomba Birdal program is connecting First Nations students and mentors to light the path to a bright future.
TDA and its members are proud to support the work First Nations staff are doing with students, colleagues and communities to make a difference.
Tuesday, 28 May 2024 2.00-3.00pm AEST
Like all regulators, ASQA takes a risk-based approach to its regulation in line with best practice regulation and the Regulator Performance Guide.
Given TAFE’s emphasis on student outcomes, and the outcomes-focus of the revised Standards for RTOs, we will find out from the regulator how this risk-based approach recognises the different characteristics of providers in the sector and how it can enable TAFEs to focus on learning and teaching through effective self-assurance of the outcomes being sought.
What does this mean for TAFE’s relationship with the national regulator?
Join us on 28 May at TAFETalks to hear firsthand from ASQA’s CEO and Deputy CEO on the differentiated regulatory approach and what it will mean for TAFEs and the VET sector more broadly.
TDA extends its heartfelt thanks to the 591 delegates, speakers, and sponsors who made #TAFEattheHeart, TDA Convention 2024, a success. Keynote presentations, videos, and photos are now available here.
Stay tuned for more photo updates coming soon.
Enrolments in fee-free nursing in Queensland are opening up life-changing job opportunities in one of the state’s fastest growing sectors.
The ABC reports that since opening free learning courses last year, enrolments for a Diploma of Nursing have increased by almost 40% in the region, boosting the number of students to more than 360.
TAFE nursing graduates will also be able to enter into the second year of a Bachelor of Nursing at university with a reduced HECS debt at a time of high cost of living.
TAFE North Queensland community and health faculty manager Melanie Clarke said the opportunity to study had been life-changing for students dreaming of working in the industry. She said that graduates were picking up new roles quickly.
Since 2019–20, the number of students enrolled in the course has jumped by 86% across TAFE Queensland’s North region, the ABC said.
See Fee-free TAFE course brings more students to study nursing and fill jobs amid cost-of-living crisis
Image: More than 82,000 students Australia-wide have benefited from fee-free TAFE.(ABC North Qld: Cameron Simmons)
The important role of enrolled nurses in aged care has been recognised, with changes to the number of care minutes required in the sector, to take effect in October.
Under the changes, residential aged care providers will have flexibility to meet up to 10% of their registered nurse (RN) care minutes target with care time provided by enrolled nurses (ENs).
The adjustment recognises the important role of ENs in aged care, and will improve recruitment and retention of these skilled workers. It will also help residential aged care providers facing workforce shortages to deliver their care requirements.
The changes take effect from October 1 and have been supported by a range of industry stakeholders including TDA and its nursing education network, NENAC.
TAFE Queensland’s Coomera Creative campus has hosted a gathering of digital skills experts to discuss some of the critical issues in developing the future ICT workforce.
The Future Skills Organisation (FSO), the Jobs and Skills Council for finance, technology and business, took part in the visit and saw, first-hand, the innovative teaching and learning practices being delivered by TAFE Queensland.
The CEO of FSO Patrick Kidd OBE OAM said he was particularly impressed by students in the Diploma IT Software Development, Diploma IT Networking/Cloud and Cert IV Cyber Security programs who shared their stories and the invaluable skills they have gained.
“The visit to the Coomera Campus reinforced the pivotal role that TAFE plays in the VET system, alongside private and community VET providers.
“The dedication we saw is not only exciting for our nation, but also crucial for the success of our learners and industry,” Mr Kidd said.
Industry partners, Blockchain Collective, provided crucial insights into the current demands and future trends – part of its aim in ensuring that training programs are aligned with real-world needs.
Blockchain Collective Founder Austin Lewinsmith said the firm sees itself as a bridge between industry and education, with a focus on real world job outcomes for students.
“Our partnership with TAFE Queensland has really set the tone for a model that shows real change for Blockchain and emerging technologies in the Queensland market.
“It would be amazing to see collaborations between all TAFEs and state governments across the nation rolling out these programs and getting industry more involved at the grass roots stage of education,” Mr Lewinsmith said.
Despite a significant federal Budget allocation for education, skills and training, there is no explicit support for the Adult Community Education (ACE) sector, the peak body, Adult Learning Australia, says.
CEO Jenny Macaffer says ACE remains the ‘Cinderella’ of the skills, training and education – often overlooked and underfunded despite its immense contribution to adult education, training and skill development.
“While other pillars of education such as schools, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and universities receive attention and resources, ACE continues to operate on the fringes, struggling to meet the growing demand for accessible and inclusive learning opportunities for adults,” Ms Macaffer said.
ACE comprises community learning centres, community colleges, neighbourhood houses, Aboriginal community cooperatives, learn locals, and community service organisations involved in learning and education and other local entities spread across the nation, including urban, regional, rural and remote areas.
Applications are open for a free Virtual Cloud Computing Bootcamp, conducted by AWS.
This is a three-day intensive, virtual program 3-5 July, aimed at university and TAFE students interested in developing their AWS cloud skills, and learning more about opportunities in the technology industry.
Participants will attend seminars, take part in technical workshops, be mentored by an Amazonian, and complete a group project. Upon completion of the three days, on top of having amassed a wealth of information and career readiness, students will also receive a certificate of completion and a digital badge.
This is a selective program and AWS is looking for students from across Australia, from a diverse range of backgrounds and areas.
The application form is outlined on their website as well as an extensive list of FAQs.
The National Training Register (NTR) Enhancement Project is building modern, responsive, transparent technology to underpin Skills Reform and support a modern VET sector.
There are four key areas that sit under the NTR enhancement project umbrella. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is co-designing each product with relevant stakeholders including RTO peaks, regulators, and state/territory governments. These enhancements aim to make systems more intuitive, reduce manual processes and save you time.
The four key areas include:
For further detail on the project, please visit DEWR’s NTR website here.
TAFETalks: ASQA’s new regulatory model. What does it mean for TAFEs?
Tuesday 28 May 2024, 2pm AEST
Register here
TAFETalks: Impact of last two decades of VET policy on TAFE
Wednesday 12 June 2024, 2.00-3.00pm AEST
Register here
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
2024 Skills Conference: Empowerment & Connection
12 June 2024
Dockside Darling Harbour, Sydney
More information
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2024
Cultivating Creativity, Connections & Confidence in the Australian Tertiary Education Sector
12 June 2024
RMIT, Melbourne and online
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 ‘Skills for Life’
23-25 July 2024
Hilton Adelaide
More information
VET National Teaching & Learning Conference 2024
‘From Competence to Excellence – Strive to Inspire’
15-16 August 2024
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Register here
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
AVETRA 2024 Conference
3-4 October 2024
University of Technology, Sydney
Save the date
2024 National VET Conference
31 October – 1 November 2024
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
More information
Powering Skills Organisation
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
www.humanability.com.au
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