- SIGNIFICANT BOOST FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN NSW
- NSW UE ITAB MAKES SUBMISSION TO THE NSW PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION
- NSWSMALLBIZ20 IS COMING!
- GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LOCAL JOBS PROGRAM
- NEW VOCATIONAL FACILITIES AT SEVEN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
- SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE NO. 111 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2020
- INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL FEE-FREE TRAINING
- GEARING UP FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UPDATED ELECTROTECHNOLOGY TRAINING PACKAGE
- NSW GENERATION: WHAT IMPACT INTERVENTION?
- NETWORK OPPORTUNITY MAPS UPDATED, WITH ENHANCED DOWNLOADABILITY
- AS/NZS3000 OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
- VICTORIA TO INTRODUCE CPD – SKILLS MAINTENANCE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FROM 2023
- ELECTRICAL WORK COULD HURT SOMEONE
1. SIGNIFICANT BOOST FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN NSW
The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash issued a media release on 16 September 2020 stating, “The Commonwealth Government and the New South Wales (NSW) State Government have launched the NSW JobTrainer Agreement.”
NSW will receive more money under the agreement. “JobTrainer will fund approximately 108,000 free or low-fee training places in NSW, with a combination of short and long courses for job seekers and young people, including school leavers.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the funding will be an important boost to a skills-led recovery in NSW.
“JobTrainer will play a central role in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, not just in New South Wales but right across the nation,” Minister Cash said.
“I thank the New South Wales Government for signing up to this important initiative.”
“The Commonwealth Government has been working closely with jurisdictions to establish the $1 billion JobTrainer Fund, including a $500 million investment from the Australian Government to be matched by the State and Territory Governments.”
“This will fund up to 340,700 additional free or low-fee training places to help Australians upskill and reskill in areas of demand.”
The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the “NSW Government had committed almost $160 million to match the Federal Government’s JobTrainer funding, which would be a key component to the State’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said this investment would help job seekers retrain or up-skill to enhance their credentials and support school leavers to enter the workforce for the first time.
“We have to skill the workforce to take advantage of future job opportunities which may be very different to jobs in the pre-COVID economy,” Mr Lee said.
“Education and skills are key pillars to the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, so it is a critical step to commit to these additional training places. I expect industries such as health, manufacturing and construction to be key training areas.”
Skilling for Recovery includes:
- Infrastructure-specific training to support the record spending on projects such as the Aerotropolis, hospital redevelopments and regional road upgrades
- Full-qualifications to retrain and become qualified
- Short course micro-credentials to upskill
- Support for apprentices and trainees
- A new online Skills and Employment Hub
- Regional employment brokers to connect industry and trainers with job seekers;
- Tailored support to re-engage young people in regional areas back into school, training or employment.
Training is expected to commence in the coming months.”
For more information about the JobTrainer Fund visit: https://www.dese.gov.au/jobtrainer-fund
*To access footage of TAFE NSW (TAFE NSW JOB TRAINER APPRENTICE TRADES PROGRAMS) please click here
2. NSW UE ITAB MAKES SUBMISSION TO THE NSW PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION
In the previous weeks’ News Services the NSW UE ITAB has highlighted the Green Paper issued by the NSW Productivity Commission. Submissions to the Green Paper closed on Friday 18 September 2020.
The Commission invited feedback on its paper. To this end the NSW UE ITAB made a submission on behalf of the Board of the ITAB. A copy of the submission is attached for information as it will go on the public register along with other submissions. If you have an interest in the Commission’s work in this regard, be sure to monitor developments and the Commission’s work in this regard.
The Commission advises that, “After gathering your feedback these recommendations will be further refined and presented to the NSW Government. They will become recommendations to support our state’s ongoing prosperity and lay the foundations for growth in the years to come.”
For more information: http://productivity.nsw.gov.au/green-paper
3. NSWSMALLBIZ20 IS COMING!
The NSW Government has announced that it is excited about it line up of spectacular events and activities kicking off on 1 October as part of NSW Small Business Month.
This year’s program includes a variety of free activities including webinars, business breakfasts, social media masterclasses, networking sessions and much more that are designed to support small businesses reboot, connect and recover in 2020.
David Koch to officially kick off NSW Small Business Month happening at 10am on Thursday 1 October.
Join Australia’s leading business commentator David Koch as we talk to business owners, advisors and industry experts in our Small Biz TV webcast at 10am on Thursday 1 October. Explore themes to help NSW businesses reboot, rebuild and recover. We talk to experts in banking, fintech and digital marketing and small business owners in arts and hospitality. The webcast kicks off a month-long series of activities to support businesses of all kinds and sizes for NSW Small Business Month.
Read more and register for the free Small Biz TV webcast.
WEBCAST DETAILS:
Name: NSW Small Business Month – Small Biz TV
Date: Thursday 1 October 2020
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Cost: Free
Where: Online
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/nsw-small-business-month-launch-hosted-by-kochie-tickets-120157826293
Website: https://www.businessmonth.nsw.gov.au/
For more information contact: Melda Kocataskin, Events Officer – Communications Strategy & Delivery Unit, NSW Treasury
T: 0408 962 477 E: melda.kocataskin@treasury.nsw.gov.au W: www.treasury.nsw.gov.au
4. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LOCAL JOBS PROGRAM
The Federal and State governments have announced a jobs program that covers 25 regions across Australia, of which seven (7) are in NSW. The Local Jobs Program focusses on upskilling, reskilling and establishing employment pathways for those looking to return to work following COVID 19.
The Government’s media announcement states, “COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on the Australian labour market. Together with longer term trends throughout the economy that are changing skill requirements in many jobs and occupations, this means that there is a new urgency in assisting job seekers to navigate this change.
Through the Local Jobs Program, Employment Facilitators, will work with employers and other key local stakeholders, to develop employment solutions at a local level and support Australians back into work.
…
Recognising the importance of local knowledge in getting people back into jobs quickly, the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program will:
- put in place local Employment Facilitators
- create Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces and
- provide Local Recovery Funds to support small scale projects, in 25 employment regions across Australia.
Who can participate in these activities?
Job seekers with a jobactive, ParentsNext, Transition to Work, or New Employment Services Trial provider will be eligible for the program.
Who is my region’s Employment Facilitator?
A list of Employment Facilitators can be found at www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program.
In some regions, Department of Education, Skills and Employment staff will be interim Employment Facilitators until the procurement process is finalised.
Where can I find further information?
Further information about the Local Jobs Program is available at www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program”
The NSW Regions are:
- Illawarra South Coast *
- Hunter *
- New England and North West *
- Mid North Coast
- North Coast
- Sydney Greater West
- Sydney South West
* These regions already have an Employment Facilitator
Attached: local jobs factsheet-updated
5. NEW VOCATIONAL FACILITIES AT SEVEN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
The NSW Government has announced that it is conducting a pilot to address the barriers student’s face when choosing a VET pathway. Seven Hills High School has been selected to introduce specialist vocational education facilities as part of the NSW Government’s $34 million election commitment.
The media release states, “Within three years, purpose built facilities and classes will allow students to pursue careers in Community and Health Services, Construction (Electrotechnology and Plumbing), and Transport and Logistics.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said equipping students to fill the jobs of the future is an important part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan.
“Specialised training facilities are critical to ensuring NSW students can receive world-class skills training and be provided the skills of the future,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges for our state. It’s crucial we look to reskill, retrain and support school leavers to access opportunities in industries where there are skills shortages and emerging employment opportunities.
“Seven Hills High School will now be well placed to take advantage of major projects in Western Sydney, including the construction of the Aerotropolis, which will require a steady pipeline of skilled tradies for decades to come.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the high school will operate with a renewed focus on Vocational Education and Training (VET) from 2023.”
A number of NSW ITABs including the NSW UE ITAB are involved in the pilot. For more information visit: NEW VOCATIONAL FACILITIES AT SEVEN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
6. SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE NO. 111 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2020
Please find attached Smart and Skilled Update No. 111, which covers the following:
- Review of the NSW Quality Framework
- Consultation on proposed changes
- How to participate
- Changes to the NSW Skills List as a result of recent consultations
- Ongoing annual review of NSW Skills List qualifications based on activity and outcomes
- Introduction of the NSW Skills List Management Policy
- Status of qualifications on the pre-qualified list
- Qualifications to be removed from the NSW Skills List
- Qualifications to be placed onto the pre-qualified list
Related attached documents:
Also attached to this email are the following related documents, as described in the update:
- Draft revised NSW Quality Framework
- Draft Student Checklist Resource
- NSW Skills List Management Policy
For technical support regarding this update, please contact Training Market Customer Support at Training.Market@det.nsw.edu.au.
For more information visit the Smart and Skills section of Training Services NSW website: SMART AND SKILLED
7. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL FEE-FREE TRAINING
Training Services NSW has announced that it will provide fee-free training for nationally accredited infection prevention and control training. Stating, “We understand that there are challenges to running and operating COVID-safe businesses.
The NSW and Commonwealth Governments have committed a combined $25.5 million to fund fee-free nationally accredited infection prevention and control training. The training will provide workers with the skills they need to better identify and respond to COVID-19 risks in the workplace. It will support implementation of your business’s COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Training is available across NSW and is delivered by approved Smart and Skilled training providers. Click here to find a provider in your region. Visit the Training Services NSW website for more information on infection prevention and control training.”
The Units of Competency delivered as part of the “Infection Control training” program are:
- HLTINFCOV001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures, or
- HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
For additional information refer to SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE – NO. 105 13 July 2020.
8. GEARING UP FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UPDATED ELECTROTECHNOLOGY TRAINING PACKAGE
Energy Space reports that it is gearing up to have its learning support resources ready for RTOs when the Electrotechnology Training Package (UEE) proceeds to implementation. Stating, “It’s learning resources for the updated UEE Training Package are in the processes of being amended and aligned to meet the new requirements, specifically the new and challenging workplace requirements that have been included therein.
Additionally, it offers a suite of delivery and assessment resources developed by the industry for industry, with a focus on work ready skills. They have been designed free teachers and trainers up to teach rather than spending their time writing content, marking assessments or collating mapping.
Benefits of having ready made industry linked resources include but are not limited to;
- Resources are available for each unit individually so you can use much or as little as you’d like
- No additional cost related to Training Package changes
- App based workplace evidence collection through eProfiling
- Real time feedback to learners, with hundreds of quizzes and activities
- Assessment resources are subject to a national validation process involving hundreds of teachers/trainers!
- Interactive learning and content
- Currently used by 1 in 4 electrical apprentices around the country”
For more information contact Juan Maddock, Executive Director Exemplar Learning (mb) 0458 440 505 or (email) jmaddock@exemplarlearning.com.au
Or visit the website to book a demonstration: https://www.exemplarlearning.com.au/electrical-rto
9. NSW GENERATION: WHAT IMPACT INTERVENTION?
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and the Australian Energy Council report of the Federal Government’s announcement on new initiatives to increase generation capacity. The media release states, “The Federal Government has announced it’s prepared to have dispatchable capacity built to replace the retiring Liddell power station in NSW if the private sector does not “step up”.
Affordability and reliability were flagged as key factors. Unsurprisingly, the Liddell taskforce report finds the final impact on prices and reliability will depend on market conditions and the willingness of market participants to invest. The issue is whether the potential for the government to intervene in the market could prove counterproductive and impact the decisions of private investors.
…
On the back of the Liddell taskforce report, completed in April but only just released, the government has set a dispatchable capacity target of 1000MW for the private sector to commit to by the end of April 2021 and have online by the 2023-24 summer. If this doesn’t occur the government intends to intervene to ensure new gas-fired replacement capacity is built.”
The issue
The concern about having sufficient dispatchable plant is driven by the fact the NEM is expected to see 15GW of large thermal plant leave during the next 20 years, as plants come to the end of their operational life or become economically unviable due to loss of revenue changes in the way they are required to operate and/or increased operational and maintenance costs.
It is expected to be replaced by 26-50GW of new large scale renewable generation backed by 6-19GW of flexible, dispatchable power.
Plants will be replaced by more flexible, dispatchable capacity like gas peaking plants, pumped hydro and batteries. While the ESB notes that remaining, older thermal plant could gain additional profits by staying in the market following other closures, they can also be expected to need to operate more flexibly and could see significant increases in their operating costs.”
For more information on this important subject for NSW review the article at: NSW GENERATION: WHAT IMPACT INTERVENTION?
For more, contact Carl Kitchen, Australian Energy Council
10. NETWORK OPPORTUNITY MAPS UPDATED, WITH ENHANCED DOWNLOADABILITY
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) have released interactive investment and constraint maps, which identify the most valuable locations to invest in renewable energy, demand management and battery storage. The ENA article states, “Energy Networks Australia, in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, has released the 2020 distribution update of the Network Opportunity Maps.”
“Explore the ‘data story’ walking you through the constraint map updates here or jump straight to opportunities around Sydney, ACT or Melbourne.
The Energy Networks Australia website now includes full versions of zone Substation service region GIS files, in addition to annual planning and half-hourly load spreadsheet data.”
Note: “With changes to the transmission data release timetable, the next data update will be in early 2021 as a combined release for distribution and transmission businesses”.
11. AS/NZS3000 OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
AS/NZS3000 is out for public comment for it’s second amendment. Comments close on the 17 November 2020.
If you would like to review the draft EL-001 Wiring Rules and make comment go to the following link: https://sapc.standards.org.au/sapc/public/listOpenCommentingPublication.action
The URL also lists a series of other AS and NZS standards for review and feedback and worth a visit to learn of the standards under review. For example:
- EL-010 Overhead Lines Committee has seven standards under review
- ME-002 Gas Cylinders Committee has one standard under review
- ME-062 Ventilation and Airconditioning Committee has one standard under review
12. VICTORIA TO INTRODUCE CPD – SKILLS MAINTENANCE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FROM 2023
Victoria’s Electrical Safe Victoria (ESV) office has commenced a series of state wide consultations regarding implementation of a prospective Skills Maintenance and Skills Development system for renewal of electrical worker licenses from 2023.
The link to the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2020, Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and related documents are available at: https://esv.vic.gov.au/about-esv/energy_regulatory_framework/legislation-and-regulations/ris-es-registration_licensing_regs2020/
The website page states, “The proposed Regulations, to be made under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 (the Act), are intended to replace the Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010, which sunset on 31 December 2020.
The proposed Regulations will also prescribe, for the first time, some types of electrical linework as being work that may only be carried out by licensed electrical lineworkers.
The proposed Regulations will also enable ESV to require licensed electrical workers to complete skills maintenance and skills development activities before being able to renew their electrical worker’s licence. These requirements are commonly referred to as continuing professional development or CPD requirements.”
Copies of the relevant documents are also attached and include, If you like links to the actual documents you can download yourself, as follows (by clicking on the link):
- The complete RIS notice
- Letter from Better Regulation Victoria (BRV) to ESV
- Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS)
- Proposed Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2020
Or
- Obtain a copy of the RIS and the proposed Regulations by calling ESV on 03 9203 9700.
13. ELECTRICAL WORK COULD HURT SOMEONE
SafeWork NSW wish to remind us that electrical safety obligations apply and electrical work can hurt someone. Their website has some interesting statistics in this regard, stating that, “The biggest dangers are shock, arc flashes and arc blasts, which can reach a temperature of 19,000°C – hotter than the surface of the sun.”
It reports of the period 2012 to 2015, the following incidents were related to electrical work:
- 2,054 workers injured
- 6 permanently disabled
- 5 dead
Almost any job around energised equipment could end in tragedy. Protect your workers, don’t take short cuts and never assume an electrical system is safe.
SafeWork NSW has developed a series of videos to help raise awareness and encourage the adoption of safe systems of work. Stating, “Electrocution is the second leading cause of traumatic fatalities in construction in NSW.”
There are specific laws about working safely with electricity. Here we summarise those laws and give you some practical tips.
- Assess the risk
- Disconnect unsafe electrical equipment
- Regularly inspect and test electrical equipment
- De-energise equipment before working on it
- Working live is prohibited
- Restrict access
- Keep records
- Use RCDs
- Keep away from powerlines
For more information and access to the series of videos visit: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/electrical-and-power/electrical-work