- JOINT INDUSTRY LETTER FORWARDED TO MINISTER FOR BETTER REGULATION
- SKILLS REFORM CONSULTATION
- ESI TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND RAIL / ELECTROTECHNOLOGY TRAINING PACKAGES
- GAS INDUSTRY TRAINING PACKAGE – CONSULTATION
- SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE NO. 123 – 15 DECEMBER 2020
- GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS VET REVIEW – AQF
- MODEL WHS ACT CROSS-COMPARISON TABLE
- MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
NOTE: News Service returns in February.
1. JOINT INDUSTRY LETTER FORWARDED TO MINISTER FOR BETTER REGULATION
In response to the twin electrical safety campaigns the Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, The Hon. Kevin Anderson MP announced late last month, reported in the News Service in November, a joint industry letter has been sent to the Minister welcoming the campaigns and seeking a meeting to discuss the outcomes of the campaign and more. The joint letter was signed by the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) NSW, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) of NSW and the New South Wales Utilities and Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body (NSW UE ITAB). It will be recalled the campaigns the Minister announced involved reducing risk in electrical work (SafeWork NSW inspectors conducting drop-in inspections across a range of sites to check they have the right controls in place to manage electrical risks) and OFT promoting the importance of consumers having a safety switch and smoke alarms installed by licensed electricians in their homes.
The joint letter stemmed from preliminary work undertaken by the Electrical Safety Project (ESP) that developed a Best Practice Electrical Safety Charter and conducted two surveys, which identified major concerns with the quality of safe electrical work practices in the industry and the administration and management of electrical laws and regulations. We commend both NECA NSW and the ETU for their initiative in supporting the work of the ESP and expediting the joint letter.
To this end we look forward to the Minister following through on the request for a meeting with the joint parties to discuss the full results, the successes and non-successes of the twin campaigns both qualitatively and quantitatively. Also, to explore ways in which the Minister and his department can support adoption of the Charter as a complementary tool to its own range of initiatives to improve electrical safety in the industry.
2. SKILLS REFORM CONSULTATION
As reported in News Service 40, the Australian Government in Department of Education Skills and Employment (DESE) has embarked in December on a round of consultations. This article is a reminder that during the festive season the Department is seeking stakeholder views on what works well and what could be improved in these areas to ensure our VET system is high quality, relevant and responsive. You may have an interest in one or all these reform areas.
The webpage promoting the consultation phase states, “The VET sector supports and develops diverse skills across a broad range of industries. Importantly, a strong VET sector will ensure Australia has a highly skilled workforce ready for the job market, now and into the future.
Recognising the importance of a high quality VET system that works for everyone, Australian governments (both at the national and state and territory level) have agreed to immediately progress reforms in the following key areas:
- strengthening the role of industry and employers
- improving VET qualifications
- raising the quality of training
These reforms are the next step in improving Australia’s VET system, building on previous consultations and feedback received from across the sector.
We are asking for your views on how to improve the VET system. There will be multiple opportunities for you to provide your feedback, views and thoughts on improving VET. This will include discussion papers, workshops and online surveys. We will continue to update this page with opportunities to engage in the coming weeks and months.”
No closing date is advised of the consultation process. Stakeholders wishing to receive updates need to be registered. Use the following URL to register: REGISTER FOR SKILLS REFORM UPDATES
Visit the Skills Reform Consultation webpage for more information: https://www.dese.gov.au/skills-reform-consultation
3. ESI TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND RAIL / ELECTROTECHNOLOGY TRAINING PACKAGES
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) advises that the “the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail and Electrotechnology Industry Reference Committees, the Technical Advisory Committee for the Renewable Technologies project has drafted Training Package materials and would like your feedback.”
The materials include a new Skill Set and Units of Competency in the following Training Packages:
- Two units and a Skill Set for the Electrotechnology Training Package with a focus on safe work requirements for the rooftop solar industry and the identification and isolation of multiple supply systems
- One unit for the ESI Transmission, Distribution and Rail Training Package ensuring safety requirements and identification and application of control measures for alternate supplies on the distribution network.”
VIEW DRAFT UET MATERIALS AND SUBMIT FEEDBACK
Detailed mapping information, tracking changes to the existing Training Package, is also available to view. Please submit your feedback by close of business Thursday, 28 January 2021.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Manager: Erin Knudsen, M: 0418 434 302 | E: erin.knudsen@aistnds.org.au
4. GAS INDUSTRY TRAINING PACKAGE – CONSULTATION
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) advises that the “the Gas Industry Reference Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee for the Storage and Reinjection of Gas project has drafted Training Package materials and would like your feedback.
The materials include five new Units of Competency and two updated Units of Competency to address advancements in gas storage technology and the skills needs for those working in underground and above ground storage facilities to minimise safety risks and meet industry regulatory requirements.”
VIEW DRAFT UEG MATERIALS AND SUBMIT FEEDBACK
Detailed mapping information, tracking changes to the existing Training Package, is also available to view. Please submit your feedback by close of business Wednesday, 27 January 2021.
For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Skills Specialist: Raja Ginting, M: 0447 055 160 | E: raja.ginting@aistnds.org.au
5. SMART AND SKILLED UPDATE NO. 123 – 15 DECEMBER 2020
Smart and Skilled Update No. 123 (attached) – 15 December 2020, covers the following:
- Skilling for Recovery – Policy changes
- Smart and Skilled Course Finder supporting Skilling for Recovery
- Importance of provider data maintenance to ensure currency of Smart and Skilled Course Finder information
- Skilling for Recovery – Priority Full Qualifications Fee Waivers
- Skilling for Recovery – Priority Part Qualification Strategies
- Skilling for Recovery – Updates to Part Qualification Provider fact sheets
- Redeployment & Youth Training Needs Identification (TNI) Applications – New Skills Brokers Target Groups – For internal Departmental use only
- Provider survey on Skilling for Recovery Part Qualifications for Redeployment & Youth and Construction
Department has launched a dedicated “NSW JobTrainer” website, promoting all Skilling for Recovery approved qualifications and the providers that can deliver them, at www.education.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/jobtrainer.
The website links though to the Smart and Skilled Course Finder for more provider information, including training delivery locations, delivery modes and provider contact details.
Also, visit the Smart and Skilled qualification prices (Skilling for Recovery) following links:
Version 11.2
Smart and Skilled qualification prices, student fees, and additional payments over and above the subsidy (known as “loadings”):
- Smart and Skilled: Prices and fees – v11.2 [Pdf]
- Smart and Skilled: Prices and fees – v11.2 [Excel]
Skilling for Recovery – Priority Part Qualifications List (Version 2.1)
- Priority Part-Qualifications – v2.1 2/12/2020 [Pdf] Version 2.0
- Priority Part-Qualifications – v2.1 2/12/2020 [Excel] Version 2.0
For more information visit: https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/smartandskilled/index.html
Or, for technical support in relation to this update, contact Training Market Customer Support at Training.Market@det.nsw.edu.au.
6. GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS VET REVIEW – AQF
Sandra Rossi, Editor at Climate Control News (CCN) reports that, “The Federal Government has accepted all of the recommendations of a vocational education review undertaken by Professor Peter Noonan.”
The article states, “the Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), has recommended:
- Senior secondary students can study subjects at school that count towards a vocational training qualification or university degree;
- Recognition of micro-credentials to allow providers to offer short, highly-targeted courses;
- VET and higher education to have clear and flexible entry and exit points, as well as pathways within and between, to allow students to mix and match the subjects they study to meet their education requirements.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the government was providing flexibility to the qualifications system to meet student and employer demand.
…
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Michaelia Cash, said the government would continue to work closely with the sector and state and territory Ministers.”
For more information on this important development, visit the link: GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS VET REVIEW – AQF
7. MODEL WHS ACT CROSS-COMPARISON TABLE
Safe Work Australia has released a comparison table of model WHS laws. In its media brief it states, “The model WHS laws have been implemented in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Commonwealth. Some jurisdictions have made minor variations to make sure the legislation is consistent with their relevant drafting protocols and other laws and processes.
The model WHS Act cross-comparison table summarises the similarities and differences between the model WHS Act and the WHS Acts of the jurisdictions that have adopted the model WHS Act.
For information on the operation of WHS laws in your jurisdiction, please contact your WHS regulator.
The table is current as at 29 May 2020.”
The table can be downloaded at: MODEL WHS ACT CROSS-COMPARISON TABLE
8. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
On behalf of the NSW UE ITAB Board we extend to our News Service readers and their families our best wishes for the festive season. May it be happy and safe, and more importantly full of joy, good tides and merriment.
We thank you for the opportunity for allowing us to share with you the latest VET, Safety and Industry news via the News Service since the COVID-19 breakout. We hope you enjoyed the service and we look forward to continuing it in 2021.
For the festive season however, we will take a break too, and will return with the service in February, 2021. In the meantime Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.