Edition 437, 7 November 2011

National

Universities and others ... diversity or division?

While the government pursues a number of fundamental reforms in tertiary education and training, one of ACPET's primary concerns is the apparent elevation of public universities to the detriment of the broader higher education and VET sectors, and the government funding decisions which flow from this.

Finalists announced for Australian Training Awards

ACPET would like to congratulate three of our members who are finalists in the 2011 Australian Training Awards – Kay Ganley from CHARLTON BROWN, Western College in Dubbo, and MEGT Tasmania have an apprentice finalist.

Council of Australian Governments reform agenda for VET

ACPET joined key VET sector and industry stakeholders in Melbourne on 2 November at a workshop led by Skills Australia, to discuss and confirm the industry response to the National Skills and Workforce Development Agreement.

Service Skills Australia research prjoect

RTOs who offer VET hospitality or retail industry-related courses are being sought by Service Skills Australia (SSA) to help identify potential participants in a research project related to the services industry.

Nominations open for Service Skills Australia Excellence Awards

The Service Skills Australia Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by individuals and organisations in the training and development of the service industries – tourism, hospitality, events, retail, wholesale, pharmacy, floristry, hairdressing, beauty, funeral services, sport, fitness and recreation.

Australian Capital Territory

Amendendments for ACT Requirements for Productivity Places Program 2012

A third amendment has been made to the ACT Requirements for delivery of Priorities Support Program (PSP) 2012.

Strategic Planning for Flexible Learning Conference

Don't miss this unique opportunity to gather with your industry colleagues and discuss how you can transform your institution's traditional practices and systems into engaging and responsive pedagogies – 15 & 16 November in Sydney.

2011 e-learning benchmarking survey of RTOs is underway

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework is seeking your feedback on if and how e-learning is used by your training organisation.

New South Wales

AIPE Chief Executive wins Institute of Export accolade

ACPET congratulates AIPE Chief Executive Amjad Khanche on being named the Young Exporter of the Year for 2011 by the Australian Institute of Export. Amjad received the prestigious accolade at the UNSW-sponsored awards evening on 20 October, which was attended by Premier Barry O'Farrell as guest of honour.

ACPET NSW hosts Chinese delegation

Last week ACPET NSW Executive Officer, Catherine Kearney, hosted a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture during their visit to Australia. The 16 delegates from across China represented colleges and schools in agriculture, broadcasting and television sector here to gain further insight into vocational education and training in Australia.

Looking to raise the bar on compliance in your RTO?

If you are a senior RTO manager with responsibility for compliance, this half-day workshop is for you. Join former national regulator Simon Hitchick in unpacking the requirements of the VET Quality Framework and engaging with an ASQA audit.

Have your say on NSW industry action plans

NSW organisations and residents are invited to have their say and contribute to the development of Industry Action Plans for the State.

Austrade update and latest newsletter

Thank you to those members who logged on to Austrade's Opportunities in the Indian Vocational Education and Training Sector Webinar last Wednesday.

Strengthen your skills in workplace delivery and assessment - Friday 11 November

Time is running out to register for the fifth in a series of workshops designed for VET practitioners around the Standards for NVR RTOs. Workplace delivery and assessment will help trainers and assessors who offer delivery and assessment in the workplace.

Still time to register: Bridging the gap between RTOs and industry

Thursday, 17 November – this workshop explore ways to get the most out of relationships between RTOs and industry and will help participants to identify, establish and maintain effective partnering arrangements for training delivery and assessment.

Northern Territory

Amended dates for the last 'Wemyss Workshops'

A reminder that the amended dates for the last 2011 workshops conducted by Lesley Wemyss are as follows:

Master Class in Assessment is now to be held on 9 December 2011.
Preparing for Audit is now being conducted on 16 December 2011.

Save the date – ACPET Northern Territory end of year function

Please save the date for the ACPET Northern Territory end of year function – 5.00–7.00pm, Friday 16 December 2011. Email invitations will be sent out soon.

Queensland

New Executive Officer for ACPET in Queensland

Welcome to Matt Traynor ACPET Queensland new Executive Officer. Matt has more than 23 years of management experience in the vocational education and training sector, in both the public and private sectors.

Matching education and training to industry needs

At a time when many sectors of Australian industry are experiencing critical skills shortages a new workforce driven framework has been developed to provide large employers, and small-to-medium enterprises, with the ability to get the right people with the right skills to meet their growing demand.

Discuss the feasibility of a professional association for VET practitioners with Hugh Guthrie

As members are aware, ACPET and others have been examining the establishment of a national VET professional body. Research has stressed the importance of the VET professional to the economic future of Australia, and raised issues about the nature of their qualifications and access to a wide range of continuing professional development.

Save the date – ACPET Queensland end of year function

Please save the date for the ACPET Queensland end of year function – 5.00pm–7.00pm, Thursday 1 December 2011. Email invitations will be sent out soon.

Australia’s migration regulations – keeping pace with change

Half-day workshop presented by Kieran O’Brien Monday 14 November 2011. Given the significant changes underway in Australia’s migration policy and regulation it is a challenge for providers to keep up-to-date.

International education and training market update

As at September 2011 there were 155,675 international students enrolled in VET programs in Australia. This represented a 17.5 decrease in the international enrolments over the prior 12 months (since September 2010). The ELICOS sector enrolments decreased by 17.6%. The higher education sector increased by 0.8%. Enrolments in the schools sector ecreased by 13.6%.

South Australia

ACPET PD: Developing policies and procedures for a multi-regulatory environment - 8 November

Do you have the task of developing or improving policies, or maybe adapting existing policies to additional regulatory requirements, but not sure what a good policy should look like? This workshop is for you!

$16 million training tender open for SA job seekers - applications close November 23

South Australian registered training organisations, industry and employers can now apply for a share of $16 million in funding to train job seekers across the state.

PPP-subsidised training opportunity for SA ACPET members

Get your organisation ready for the carbon tax with a PPP-funded Certificate IV in Carbon Management from Green Business Audit & Training.

Nominations now open for the Service Skills Australia Excellence Awards 2012

The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by individual trainers, registered training organisations (RTOs) and employers across Australia who are setting the benchmark in the delivery of quality skills training and workplace learning.

SA Skills for All update

The latest news on Skills for All reforms, applications and communications in South Australia.

SA Events

18 November - VET-learning11 - e-Learning Conference

29-30 April, 2012 - Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo Adelaide (TSCEA)

DFEEST Professional Development Calendar 2011

Tasmania

MEGT Tasmania Australian Finaslists

ACPET congratulates MEGT Tasmania on one of their students becoming an Australian Apprentice of the Year Award finalist.

The new look Productivity Places Program: PPP+

The Productivity Places Program has a new name and new way of doing business. PPP+ is a merger of the Productivity Places and Workplace Skills programs and provides a simpler and smarter way to access subsidies for training in Tasmania.

Victoria

Preparing video & audio tools for use in training

Wednesday 16 November 2011 – learn how audio and video can add interest and engagement to e-learning and training strategy deliveries.

Western Institute of Technology one of Australia’s fastest growing companies

ACPET would like to congratulate Western Institute of Technology on becoming a Business Review Weekly Fast 100 company – ranked 14th on the 2011 list.

November PD Events

As the academic year is winding down and Christmas is fast approaching, we are about to head into our final month of ACPET VIC PD sessions.

Western Australia

ACPET WA builds relationship with Minister of Training and Workforce Development

ACPET WA Executive Officer Trevor McCrystal and CEO Claire Field met last week with the Minister of Training and Workforce Development, Peter Collier, and Principal Policy Advisor, Margaret Ng, in an engaging and strategically focussed discussion to benefit Western Australia's entire training sector.

ACPET WA end of year sundowner - save the date

Invitations for the 2011 end of year sundowner will be emailed out very soon. In the meantime, please save 6.00–8.00pm, Monday 19 December in your diary. We look forward to winding down the year with you.

National Monday Update

In Focus

Member Notice Board