Issue 1/2012 APRIL
NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the first edition of our Newsletter for 2012.
In this issue:
FACEBOOK!
OTHER NEWS
WA Training Awards – Applications Now Open
National Broadband Network – Satellite Service
MSA 2012 Environmental Scan
UPCOMING EVENTS
19 April - Launch of the AgriFood VET in Schools Horticulture Project
29 June - Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council (WA) Inc. - Industry Workforce Development Conference
Other Events
18 April - Workforce Development workshops for meat industry HR Managers
18-20 April - VNCA Conference 2012
14-15 May - Training Providers Forum
Training Council News and Activities
Our CEO
Some of our stakeholders may not be aware that Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer in late January and has commenced medical leave in mid March. It has been a rough journey for her over the last few months and the emotional strain was clearly evident.
We are, however, very pleased to let you know she is responding well to chemo therapy treatment. Even though she has a long road to recovery ahead, she remains positive and optimistic. She shares frequent blog updates on how she’s progressing and also visits the office once a week to catch up with us.
We wish to thank everyone who extended their well wishes and support to her over this time. If you wish to pass on your well wishes, please send it through to the Training Council office and we will pass it along on your behalf.
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Muresk Reference Group
Brad Armstrong and Fred Chambers attended the Muresk Institute Agricultural Roundtable facilitated by Price Waterhouse Coopers held in early March. Fred (in lieu of Kay Gerard) is representing the Training Council on the Department of Training and Workforce Development, Muresk Reference Group.
One outcome of the Roundtable is a “Mapping Pathways” project. This is in the process of being commissioned by the Department from the Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council, in collaboration with the Resources Industry Training Council. The outcome of this project will be clear information regarding the agricultural and agribusiness skills and occupational outcomes that are currently in the industry, the current gaps in provision and the skills and competencies that are common between the agricultural, agribusiness and mining industries (Or more broadly, the Primary industries).
For more information please contact:
Brad Armstrong
Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council
P: 08 9477 5055
Or
Fred Chambers
Rural Skills Australia
P: 08 9776 1847
fredc@ruralskills.com.au
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Senate Inquiry into higher education and skills training
Late last year the Training Council made a submission to a Commonwealth Senate Inquiry into higher education and skills training for agriculture and agribusiness in Australia.
Following this, the Training Council were invited to participate in a public hearing with the Senate committee members. Brad Armstrong and Geoff Richards attended the hearing and addressed a variety of questions relating to points made in the Training Council submission.
The session was very positive and provided an excellent opportunity to explain the role of the Training Council (and its relationship with AgriFood Skills Australia) while highlighting significant issues, barriers and opportunities for education and training in agriculture and agribusiness.
A Hansard transcript of the hearing can be found at: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=COMMITTEES;id=committees%2Fcommsen%2Fa004d504-9259-4f2c-b49c-e19fbe0fb3b2%2F0000;query=Id%3A%22committees%2Fcommsen%2Fa004d504-9259-4f2c-b49c-e19fbe0fb3b2%2F0001%22
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WA Farmers Federation Centenary Conference
Brad Armstrong, Project Manager of the Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council (FFTITC), Agrifood sector, attended the WA Farmers Federation Centenary Conference sponsored by WFI, at the Burswood Entertainment Complex on 21-22 March 2012.
The day following the conference a ‘Blueprint for Agriculture’ session was hosted by WAFF and the National Farmers Federation. The FFTITC is currently discussing the possibility of hosting a similar session(s) for wider industry engagement. For more details contact Brad by either telephone (08) 9477 5055 or email brad.armstrong@fftitrainingcouncil.com.au.
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2012 MINTRAC Conference
Brad Armstrong, Project Manager of the Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council, Agrifood sector and Cheryl Stinson, HR Manager of Coles WA and Vice Chair of the Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council Board attended the 2012 MINTRAC Conference that took place in Melbourne between 28 & 29 March.
The conference was well attended and Brad gave a presentation on Workforce Development in the Meat Industry. His presentation was well received by everyone in attendance.
MINTRAC is offering a Bunbury-based workshop to assist meat processing companies to address the requirements of preparing a workforce development plan.
The workshop will be led by Response Learning and include a one-day workshop, ongoing webinar support and an accreditation option.
The workshop will address the following:
- an overview of workforce development planning and its importance to the business
- explanation and discussion of the processes which underpin workforce development planning
- opportunity for workshop participants to align their current practices to the concept of workforce development planning
- tools and exemplars to assist participants to undertake analysis of areas such as: workforce demographics and available skills; the identification of labour and skills gaps; job entry, career development and redeployment opportunities
- examples of completed workforce development plans
- sources of post-workshop information and assistance.
Workforce Development Planning for HR Managers
Accredited (BSBPMG504A Manage workforce planning)
This dynamic one day workshop with follow-up webinars is designed to provide substantial workforce development planning skills in the context of your business including inventory of human capability; organisational/sector profiling; assessing capacity and capability; forecasting; likely requirements; monitoring workforce trends and preparing a workforce development plan. It is an accredited workshop (BSBPMG504A Manage workforce planning).
Date: Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Time: 8.30am-5pm
Venue: Lighthouse Beach Resort, Ocean Drive, Bunbury WA 6230
Cost: $220 per person
For more information please contact Alison Kirwan by either phone 02 9819 6699 or email akirwan@mintrac.com.au.
New Advisory Group launched for the Forest and Forest Products Sector
The Training Council recently launched a new forum for discussion of workforce development issues in the Forest and Forest Products Industry in WA. At its inaugural meeting chaired by Diane Smith, Project Manager for the Training Council, participants were provided with information about key funding initiatives for training and were encouraged to discuss issues of concern for the industry.
The advisory group agreed to meet at least three times a year to discuss opportunities for improving the skill base of industry. For more information about how you can participate contact Diane at the Training Council on 9477 5055 or email diane.smith@fftitrainingcouncil.com.au.
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Industry Advisory Groups
The Training Council continues to offer food, fibre and timber industry stakeholders the opportunity to discuss workforce development issues in an open forum. Recent meetings have been held for the following sectors:
- Animal Care & Management
- Food and Beverage
- Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management
- Textile, Clothing and Allied Services
- Forest and Forest Products
- Furnishings
- Rural Production.
These forums are a key source of industry advice to the Department of Training and Workforce Development that influences State policy and funding decisions relating to skills development in our industries.
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Featured Board Member: Fred Chambers
Fred has a long interest and history in industry training and Australian Apprenticeships. He became aware of the VET reform agenda when he transferred from the Commonwealth Employment Service to the Industry Training Branch of the (now) Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations. In those days the Branch was responsible for the funding of Industry Training Councils and Fred was a board member of the very first Rural ITC. The Department later relinquished this role and in 1998 closed the CES.
After the closing of CES, Fred joined the Marketing Branch of Central TAFE for a short period before establishing its Australian Apprenticeships Centre, CATS (Central Apprenticeships and Traineeships). From CATS Fred took up his current position as an Education and Training Advisor with Rural Skills Australia and had a long association with the WA Primary Industries Training Council, becoming a board member just prior to its transition to the Food Fibre and Timber Industries ITC (FFTITC) . Fred joined the FFTITC Board initially as a proxy and has been a full member for nearly 3 years. Fred is particularly passionate about skills recognition, Australian Apprenticeships and agricultural careers advice and works closely with the FFTITC in meeting the needs of our industries.
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FACEBOOK!
Just a reminder that we are on FACEBOOK!
Our FACEBOOK page can update you on the latest Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council news, events, as well as progress on our current projects. If there’s something you wish to bring to our attention, post it on our ‘Wall’.
Visit our page by clicking here. If you like what you see and want to be involved, click the ‘Like’ button.
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Projects & Training Packages
AgriFood VET in Schools Horticulture Project Launch
AgriFood Skills Australia has partnered with the WA Department of Education and the Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council (WA) Inc, to raise the profile of careers in the Agrifood industry and increase the number of students undertaking vocational education opportunities in the Agrifood sector while at school in WA.
The aim of the project is to engage school communities, industry and government by providing relevant and innovative learning experiences to enable access to relevant career pathways in the horticulture industry.
The above will be achieved by offering 5 public high schools the opportunity to establish new ‘School Vegetable Gardens’ whilst delivering Certificate I in Agrifood Operations (AHC10210) using ASA and DoE project funding.
The 5 high schools awarded with the funding in August 2011, were:
- Canning Vale College
- Dongara Senior High School
- Eaton Community College
- Hamilton Senior High School
- PACT – Safety Bay Senior High School
The above schools will be presented with Certificates of Participation by Minister Sid Sidebottom, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, at a launch taking place on 19 April – immediately following the opening of Garden Week 2012 at Perry Lakes Reserve, Floreat.
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Skill & Workforce Development Project Fund
In late 2011 the Training Council created a Workforce Development Project Fund with funds set aside for projects to assist industry and to support project activities that will improve workforce skills development, combat skills shortages and training needs within the industry.
Successful applicants were:
- Extra Edge Community Services
- National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council
- Polytechnic West/Glass and Glazing
- Tree Guild of Western Australia
- WA Shearing Industry Association Inc (WASIA)
- Workplace Employment and Training Services (Inc.)
One of the progress stories is from Extra Edge Community Services, who developed a resource to promote careers in the food, fibre and timber industries. There will be an online presentation available to all Workforce Development Centres (and other users) in WA, promoting food, fibre and timber industry careers. To view the presentation, click on the link below:
http://prezi.com/k7pmzl0se8kl/haveyou-thought-about/
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LMF02 Furnishings Training Package Redevelopment
Manufacturing Skills Australia has appointed a consultant, Mr Andre Lewis to review and redevelop the Furnishing Training Package during 2012-13. The first stage of the project will look at the qualifications framework to identify what qualifications are being used and why others are not.
The second stage will be to review the competency standards to ensure relevance to current industry practice and government policy. Each competency must define LLN requirements, nominal hours and packaging arrangements.
In all there are 42 qualifications in the Training Package of which only 3-4 make up 80% of enrolments. The redevelopment will look at creating broader qualifications around fields of work and will consider the appropriateness of qualifications for delivery in Schools.
If you are an industry person and would like to be involved in one of the six Technical Reference Groups please contact Andre Lewis: Andre Lewis & Associates, 07 3286 3601, mobile 0434 273 310, andre@andrelewisandassociates.com.au
The role of the technical reference groups will be to filter information sourced through the broader consultation process. The following reference groups are proposed:
- Furniture Production
- Soft Furnishing Production
- Structural and Engineered Furnishings Products
- Glass and Glazing
- Furnishing Design and Technology
- Complementary Furnishing Occupations.
Broad consultations in WA will also be facilitated by the Training Council through the Furnishings Industry Advisory Group.
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FPP11 Forest and Forest Products Continuous Improvement Projects
ForestWorks has a number of training development projects planned for 2012 including:
- Operator Maintenance Skills
- Adv Diploma of Forest Industry Sustainability
- Fire Management
- Log Truck Driver Skill Set
- Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage
- Review of Sawdoctoring and Woodmachining qualifications
- Finger jointing skill set
- Review of Timber treatment training
- Strengthening safety aspects of timber stacking and handling
If you would like to provide input into any of the above projects please contact Lee-Anne Bowles at ForestWorks 03 9321 3502 or email lbowles@forestworks.com.au
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AgriFood Skills Training Packages – Continuous Improvement Projects
Version 3.0 of the AgriFood Skills Continuous Improvement Plan has been released. The revised plan is available on AgriFood’s website at http://agrifoodskills.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/training_packages/continuous_improvement_plan_.pdf.
Other continuous improvement projects are ongoing as outlined in the Continuous Improvement Plan. If you would like more information about any of these projects, please contact:
Angela Petty
AgriFood Skills Australia
P: 02 6163 7212
angela.petty@agrifoodskills.net.au
or
Brad Armstrong
Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council
P: 08 9477 5055
brad.armstrong@fftitrainingcouncil.com.au
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Other News
WA Training Awards – Applications Now Open
Do you have an apprentice or trainee that excels in their studies and work?
Are you proud of what your business has achieved through training and skilling your workforce?
Are you an RTO who has delivered high quality training throughout the year?
If so, please consider putting in an application for the 2012 WA Training Awards.
Individuals can apply for:
WA Apprentice of the Year
WA School-based Apprentice of the Year
WA Trainee of the Year
WA Vocational Student of the Year
WA Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Training Award
WA Trainer of the Year
Employers can apply for:
WA Small Business of the Year
WA Employer of the Year
Registered Training Organisations can apply for:
WA VET in Schools Excellence
WA Training Initiative
WA Small Training Provider of the Year
WA Large Training Provider of the Year
WA International Training Provider of the Year
The WA Training Awards is a fantastic way to recognise achievements in vocational training.
Winners will share in over $100,000 in cash and prizes, and could have the opportunity to compete against the best in Australia at the Australian Training Awards in Melbourne on 16 November 2012
Winners of the WA Training Awards 2012 will be announced at a presentation ceremony hosted by the Minister of Training and Workforce Development, Peter Collier, at the Perth Convention Centre on 14 September 2012. The closing date for applications is 11 May 2012. For more information on the awards, please click here.
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National Broadband Network – Satellite Service
People in homes, small businesses and indigenous communities in some of the most remote areas of Australia will be among the first users of a new broadband satellite service provided over the NBN.
NBN Co's Interim Satellite Service will be available to eligible individuals and small businesses on the mainland and across Tasmania from July 2011, with the first priority being given to those who currently have no alternate access to broadband services. Eligible households, small businesses and communities will then need to order their service via a participating retail service provider.
For more information on the Interim satellite service:
Read the media release on Interim Satellite Service.
Download frequently asked questions regarding the NBN Co Interim Satellite Service.
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MSA 2012 Environmental Scan
Industry Skills Council, Manufacturing Skills Australia recently released its 2012 Environmental Scan. The comprehensive document details the experience, priorities and concerns of Australia’s manufacturing and automotive industries. This report is developed annually and is used by governments, Skills Australia and training organisations to inform workforce development, policies and activity. To access the Scan, please click here.
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Upcoming Events
Training Council Events
19 April – Launch of the AgriFood VET in Schools Horticulture Project
The launch will take place around 10:30am after the opening of Garden Week 2012 at Perry Lakes Reserve, Floreat. You are more than welcome to show your support by attending.
29 June 2012 – Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council (WA) Inc. - Industry Workforce Development Conference
Invitations for the conference will be sent within the month of May, keep an eye out for yours.
If you would like to provide suggestions on topics for the conference please feel free to contact the office on (08) 9477 5055 or email
admin@fftitrainingcouncil.com.au.
Other Events
18 April - Workforce Development workshops for meat industry HR Managers
For more information, click here.
18-20 April – Vet Nurses Council of Australia Conference 2012
The VNCA Conference is due to take place at Surfers Paradise in QLD. For more information, click here.
14-15 May - Training Providers Forum
The Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development will host the Training Providers Forum 2012 on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May at the Burswood Entertainment Complex. The forum will be opened by the Hon. Peter Collier MLC, Minister for Training and Workforce Development. The Training Providers Forum is a two day conference aimed at all those involved in workforce development and the delivery of training. To find out more, click here.
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