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VISTA November 2009 Newsletter - 17th Nov 2009
Welcome to the November 2009 newsletter Welcome to the November 2009 VISTA newsletter. The end of the year is nearly upon us and it is worthwhile starting to reflect on an extraordinary year. I am sure we will all be doing this through one framework or another. The year has been extraordinary in a number of ways. The dramatic February bushfires impacted on many people in the VET sector with many either suffering loss whilst a lot of VET professionals supported those affected through volunteer work. The intensity of the activity which started the year was maintained as the year went on but the drivers have been quite different. This year has seen the next stages of the Education Revolution roll out, the implementation of the Victorian Skills Reform take hold and concluding with the intensive re registration and AQTF audit schedule. Many individuals and many organisations have struggled to get heads above water but the education reform and skills revolution rolls on. Thanks to Dan McGuire, this newsletter brings together articles from a range of sources as the respective authors and commentators reflect on the VET system challenges for practitioners and for specific groups across Australia. The key issue arising for me, however, is the incredible resilience and commitment from VET professionals to support the implementation of challenging government policy and strategy directions despite the sometimes overwhelming pressure of continuous change. VISTA has a couple of key events to see the year out. There are still two places available for the facilitation event (24th November), and registrations are now open for those wanting to further their career development in the VET sector. Vivianne Nikou and Andrew Worner, senior recruitment consultants from the Slade Group will guide you through the VET career landscape, employment / promotion opportunities and how to position yourself to take advantage of these opportunities (2nd December). VISTA will also hold another MCG breakfast event on 8th December with Kim Bannikoff presenting.
Australia ‘leads in green skills’
The CEO of the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council says Australia leads the world in training on sustainability and green skills.
Former Melbourne University dean Brian Caldwell has sharply criticised the Federal Government’s “education revolution”, claiming it is headed for failure because it has not heeded lessons learned overseas. Read More...
The AQF challenge
The new AQF needs to be explicit about how it will be developed by building in an expectation of change, writes PhillipsKPA principal consultant Conor King. Read More...
Worsening VET results prompt call for rethink
Fewer VET graduates are progressing to further study, contradicting assumptions that VET is a natural pipeline for higher education and throwing doubt on the usefulness of lower-level qualifications, argues Griffith University’s Dr Leesa Wheelahan. Read More...
Carrots not necessary for traineeships
Many employers recognise the value of traineeships and don’t need incentive payments to take them on, a new NCVER report has found. Read More...
Training by enterprise RTOs “largely unrecognised”
Australia may be underestimating its VET completions by almost a quarter because official figures do not include in-house training by companies and government agencies. Read More...
Upturn presents new challenges
As the economy appears to be strengthening, VET providers should keep in mind their primary mission is preparing people for jobs, says new Skills Australia CEO Robin Shreeve. Read More...
Aboriginal content will keep kids at school
Standardised literacy and numeracy tests assume middle-class Anglo-Australian life experience – making them especially difficult for indigenous children in remote areas to comprehend, argues Dr Sean Gorman. Read More...
TAFE budgets rely on employers, overseas students
Overseas students, employers keep TAFE’s head above the water Read More...
$250,000 funding for RTOs Funding of up to $250 000 has been made available for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)under the Fast-Track Apprenticeships Program The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is calling for applications for funding from RTOs to develop and implement accelerated training models for apprentices under the program.
For details follow these links: Information for Registered Training Organisations Fast-Track Apprenticeships Annexure A - Application for Funding
For more information call the Fast-Track Hotline on (02) 6240 5985 or email fast-track@deewr.gov.au.
The WorkPlace Coach on Coaching If the CEO of Google – one of the world’s fastest growing companies told you to do something because it was the best advice he ever got, would you listen to him?
Hitting the Ground Running – the role of Virtual Enterprises in VET/VCAL learning It is widely recognised that VET and VCAL courses play an important role in the development of students by allowing them to be connected to the real world and other post-school options. But how do we deliver these courses in an innovative and stimulating learning environment? Virtual Enterprises Australia outlines the services it can provide to support schools, ACE , RTOs and TAFE providers
The Tasmanian Government has announced plans to expand education within the State’s prison system, particularly vocational training. Read More...
Perth prisoners graduate from business school
In a first for Western Australia, nine prisoners have received a Cert IV in Small Business Management following a partnership between a prison and a local TAFE. Read More...
The National Quality Council completed two projects in 2009 which aimed to improve the quality of assessment practices across the VET sector: Quality of Assessment Practices; and National Approach to Moderation to Improve Consistency of Assessment
You are invited to attend an information session to discuss the findings of these projects. Two sessions will be held at: Victoria University Room C-1105, level 11 City Flinders Campus 300 Flinders Street, Melbourne (Melways ref 1A K9)
Wednesday 25 November 2009 9.30 am - 12.00 pm and 1.30 pm - 4.00 pm
Register for conVerge09 3-4 December, 2009 Chisholm Institute of TAFE (Frankston)& Frankston Arts Centre The conVerge09 Conference Program and registration process are now open. Read More...
Workforce Architects Wendy Perry advises, "we are running a Workforce Architects program in Melbourne on 1.12.09 and I thought VISTA members may be interested. Are you able to include in your enews and/or email to people you think may be interested? Thank you."
Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) is running two new workshops and one existing workshop in November and December. See the below dates for 101 Ways to Make Training Active!, Escaping PowerPoint Purgatory and Reinventing validation: a business improvement model. Read More...
Manufacturing Skills Australia - Innovation Program Study Award
Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) is pleased to announce the establishment of our Innovation Program for the manufacturing and automotive industries. The purpose of the MSA Innovation Program is to extend the capability and performance of Australian manufacturing and automotive industries through education and training, and workforce development.
BSB07 Business Services Training Package continuous improvement project
Innovation, Management 2020, Frontline Management and Marketing, Advertising and Sales Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) has recently completed scoping projects as part of its continuous improvement of BSB07 Business Services Training Package in the following areas: o Management including Frontline Management o Innovation o Marketing, Advertising and Sales. Precision Consultancy has been contracted to update BSB07 in line with the project recommendations. This will include the development and validation of new and updated units of competency, new skill sets and changes to some qualifications. A detailed project overview can be found at www.ibsa.org.au - go to News & Projects, Current Projects. National consultations will occur February/March 2010, involving phone interviews, face to face meetings and workshops; and drafts will be available on IBSA’s website for feedback. If you wish to be placed on the project data base for consultation and project updates, please email Eddie Hardman at eddie@ibsa.org.au or Jayne Crook at Jayne@ibsa.org.au.
VISTA is the peak association for professionals working in the Victorian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
VISTA is committed to raising the status of the VET profession within the community; promoting a deeper understanding of applied learning pedagogy within VET; and supporting the professional skill and career directions of VET practitioners.
The VISTA Office is located at Suite 203, 21 Bedford Street, North Melbourne, Victoria, 3051 and can be contacted on ph (03) 9328 8349, fax (03) 93298999 or admin@vista.org.au
