- SKILLS REFORM – CONSULTATION WORKSHOPS
- NCVER REPORT – 2020 VET POLICY INITIATIVES NOW ON TIMELINE
- NSW TRAINING AWARDS 2021 – APPLICATIONS OPEN
- DOWNLOAD LATEST UTILITIES AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY SKILLS FORECASTS
- ARC – RAC TECHNICIANS’ GREATEST REPAIR JOB MIGHT JUST BE ON THE OZONE LAYER
- LOOK UP AND LIVE APP
- FUGRO’S VIRTUAL 3D NETWORK MODEL KEEPS TASMANIAN POWERLINES SAFE
- PARTICIPATE IN NECA BIENNIAL INDUSTRY SURVEY
- BIG BATTERY BONANZA?
1. SKILLS REFORM – CONSULTATION WORKSHOPS
Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) has circulated correspondence encouraging stakeholders and career aspirants to have a say on quality reforms through a series of workshops it is coordinating. The workshops cover the following including links for registering to attend them:
- Quality Reform Workshops
- Quality Reform Workshop for students and family/carers
- Quality reform workshops (standards)
Online Event: This event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, with connection details emailed before the event.
The circular states,
“A series of online workshops have been released to help you have your say on quality reforms in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
These workshops are designed for anyone who wants to provide feedback in relation to RTO practices and factors that support high-quality training delivery.
The quality reforms workshops seek your input to explore:
- The features of high-quality training delivery and providers
- The effectiveness of the current Standards for RTOs
- How to support the VET workforce for high-quality delivery.
We are interested in hearing your views on how we can support high-quality training delivery beyond compliance with minimum requirements and foster a shared understanding of quality across the sector. Find out more at www.skillsreform.gov.au.
Two issues papers – RTO quality and Supporting the VET workforce – are available with more information about the issues we will cover during the workshop.
The feedback we receive will inform decisions on future arrangements for the VET system.
1.1. Quality Reform Workshops
Dates/times available – a workshop about quality reform measures in the vocational education and training (VET) sector:
- Thursday, 18 February 2021, 10:00 – 11:30am AEDT
- Thursday, 18 February 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm AEDT
- Friday, 19 February 2021, 2:00 – 3:30pm AEDT
- Monday, 22 February 2021, 4:00 – 5:30pm AEDT
- Tuesday, 23 February 2021, 11:00 – 12:30pm AEDT
- Friday, 26 February 2021, 10:00 – 11:30am AEDT
- Tuesday, 2 March 2021, 10:00 – 11:30am AEDT
- Wednesday, 3 March 2021, 10:00 – 11:30am AEDT
Click this link to register (QRW)
1.2. Quality Reform Workshop for students and family/carers:
Date/time available – a workshop about exploring students and family/carers training experiences and views about what makes a good quality VET provider:
- Wednesday, 3 March 2021, 4:00 – 5:30pm AEDT
Click this link to register (QRF)
1.3. Quality reform workshops (standards):
Dates/times available – a workshop about exploring specific issues and improvements under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015:
- Wednesday 10 March 2021, 10:00 – 12:00pm AEDT
- Thursday 11 March 2021, 3:00 – 5:00pm AEDT
Click this link to register (QRS)”
2. NCVER REPORT – 2020 VET POLICY INITIATIVES NOW ON TIMELINE
NCVER reports that it has updated its VET policy initiatives timeline. It states, “The Timeline of Australian VET policy initiatives has been updated to include 2020 initiatives.
COVID-19 has had a major impact and influence on the education and training system and its policy landscape. This is reflected in the number of initiatives implemented in 2020 in response to the pandemic.
2020 also saw the commencement of some of the national initiatives announced in 2019 that came out of the recommendations made in the Joyce review.
The updated timeline now provides information about national, state and territory government programs and policy initiatives covering the last 23 years. Together with other products in the VET Knowledge Bank, it provides access to historical and current VET information and contributes to an understanding of Australia’s VET system.”
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“This timeline shows national, state and territory programs and policy initiatives over the past 23 years that may have influenced enrolments and completions of VET courses, apprenticeships and traineeships. It also includes economic events that may have impacted the education and training system and/or influenced its policy landscape. The timeline contributes to a better understanding of Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) system.”
3. NSW TRAINING AWARDS 2021 – APPLICATIONS OPEN
Training Services NSW advises that applications for the 2021 NSW Training Awards are now open. The website promoting the awards states, “The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services NSW within the NSW Department of Education to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector. The Awards honour and reward the achievements of students, trainers/teachers, training organisations, large and medium employers.”
The following awards apply for 2021:
- Individual Awards:
- Apprentice of the Year
- Trainee of the Year
- Vocational student of the Year
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student of the Year
- School based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
- VET in Schools Student of the Year
- VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year
- Organisation Awards
- Industry Collaboration Award*
- Large Employer of the Year*
- Medium Employer of the Year*
- Large Training Provider of the Year*
- Small Training Provider of the Year*
* These award categories are direct to state and do not go through a regional process.
Visit the eligibility and selection criteria that applies to each award: https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/training_awards/eligibility/index.html#1
Note: APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday, 14 March 2021 at 11:59 PM
For more information reach out to the NSW Training Awards team at nsw.trainingawards@det.nsw.edu.au or visit the website for more information: https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/training_awards/index.html
4. DOWNLOAD LATEST UTILITIES AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY SKILLS FORECASTS
Australian Industry Standards (AIS), the Sector Skills Organisation (SSO) covering the Utilities & Electrotechnology has advised of the availability of Skills Forecasts for the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) – Transmission, Distribution and Rail sector, ESI – Generation sector, Gas Transmission and Distribution sector, and Electrotechnology sector. The Skills Forecasts, which are oversighted by the respective industry sector Industry Reference Committees (IRCs) are required to update the Forecasts every three years. The Reports are an aid in pre-empting prospective skills demand that need to be considered and included and progressively included in the respective Training Packages. It also helps develop and understanding of the economic context of the industry, emerging technological changes, improvements in workplace work organisation, and potential training issues and prospects.
The Skills Forecasts Report for each industry sector can be downloaded via each of the following links:
- Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) – Transmission, Distribution and Rail sector: SKILLS FORECAST 2020 – TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND RAIL
- ESI – Generation sector: SKILLS FORECAST 2019 – GENERATION
- Gas Transmission and Distribution sector: SKILLS FORECAST 2020 – GAS
- Electrotechnology sector: SKILLS FORECAST 2020 – ELECTROTECHNOLOGY
For more information regarding the Industry work AIS is undertaking and status of projects for each industry sector, visit the following link: WORKING WITH INDUSTRY AIS
5. ARC – RAC TECHNICIANS’ GREATEST REPAIR JOB MIGHT JUST BE ON THE OZONE LAYER
The Australian Refrigeration Council’s (ARC’s) recent Media Release (attached) states, “the skilled work of licensed technicians to control the use of refrigerants is having a very real impact on the ozone layer and the environment.” The Media Release goes on to report the good news story about healing of the ozone layer that is underway, “A recently released United Nations report has found that the Montreal Protocol is not only healing the ozone layer, it is also helping to reduce global warming. …
The Montreal Protocol is an international environmental agreement between 197 countries and was the catalyst for the Australian Government initiating the ARCTick licence scheme back in 2005. The scheme controls the purchase and use of refrigerants which are ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gases by ensuring only qualified, equipped and professional people can work on systems containing these gases. Ozone depleting substances are powerful greenhouse gases and the report states that “their continued control will avoid approximately 25% of the global warming that was projected to occur by 2050.”
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“The work of ARC-licensed businesses and technicians has also contributed to 24.37 Megatonnes of CO2-e direct emissions reductions. The ARCTick licence scheme will continue to provide significant direct and indirect emissions savings over the next two decades, with further direct emissions reductions estimated at 58.02 Mt CO2 projected to 2030.
Whatever way you slice it, licensed technicians are making a positive difference to the environment and the world, and that’s something about which we can all be very proud.”
For the United Nations report visit https://ozone.unep.org/science/assessment/eeap
For further information, please contact Alex Doran, General Manager, Communications and Business Development at the ARC on 03 9843 1601 or email adoran@arctick.org
6. LOOK UP AND LIVE APP
Look up and live app now extends to six members: Ergon/Energex, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy and South Australia Power Networks covering Qld, NSW and SA. The App can help relevant personnel to plan work near powerlines. This tool may help minimise contact and reduce the risk of injury or death from electrocution and damage to equipment and the relevant electricity network.
The Look up and Live app is available on the App or Google Play stores — (see attached QR flyer) providing powerline safety at one’s fingertips. It’s a simple tool to assist personnel to safely plan and/or perform work around the electricity network by providing:
- Overhead powerline locations and imagery via an interactive geospatial map
- Powerline safety guidelines, including powerline exclusion zones
- Options for planning or performing work e.g. powerline visual indicators
- Information on de-energisation or relocation of powerlines
- Safety advice and high load forms
- Dial Before You Dig enquiry
The creators of ‘Look Up And Live’ are Energy Queensland who have partnered up with other Electricity Utilities who have agreed to provide access to their Powerline network data for customers to be able to utilise the Powerline safety planning tool. An instructional video has been developed for guidance on how to utilise the app: LAUNCH LOOK UP AND LIVE VIDEO
7. FUGRO’S VIRTUAL 3D NETWORK MODEL KEEPS TASMANIAN POWERLINES SAFE
Electrical Connection reporter, Sean Carrol writes of an interesting project TasNetworks has embarked on. The article states, “TasNetworks has awarded Fugro a new contract to deliver a 3D virtual network model and associated analytics for their power distribution network in Tasmania.
Fugro will create a ‘digital twin’ of the distribution network by capturing aerial lidar and imagery data and processing it using cutting-edge machine-learning and cloud-computing systems. The company started the project to acquire data in December 2020 and delivered its first data sets last month.
From here, TasNetworks representative will then be able to analyse the data and execute detailed engineering and vegetation clearance analysis using Fugro’s Roames World cloud-based platform.
Vegetation that comes into contact with powerlines can ignite fires, so Fugro’s data will be essential for managing and mitigating bush fire risk around the network. …” READ MORE HERE
8. PARTICIPATE IN NECA BIENNIAL INDUSTRY SURVEY
The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has advised it is conducting it biennial industry survey. If you work in the Electrotechnology industry you should consider taking the time to participate and contribute to the important survey. The media release states the following in relation to the survey promotion:
NECA’s 2021 Market Monitor biennial survey is the most comprehensive survey of the electrotechnology industry in Australia and has been taking the pulse of the electrical and communications industry for the last decade.
Your insights enable NECA to engage with industry, government and key stakeholders on the issues that matter most to you, identify future trends and build market insights for the benefit of our industry.
Individual survey responses are confidential and entrants will have the chance to win one of ten (10) VISA Gift cards valued at $500 each.
Have your say and make a difference to the future of your industry! The survey closes on Friday 16 April.
For more information about NECA’s Market Monitor industry survey email research@neca.asn.au.
9. BIG BATTERY BONANZA?
The joint Australian Energy Council and Energy Networks Australia, Energy Insider newsletter included an interesting article of plans to install the “world’s largest battery” in the Hunter Valley. The article stated, “The way 2021 has started you could be forgiven for thinking it is the year of the big battery. Last week, plans for the “world’s largest battery” were unveiled for the Hunter Valley, while Meridian Energy also announced a battery energy storage system to be co-located with the Hume Hydro Power Station.
These are just the latest in a series of battery project announcements, which include a four-hour 700MW/2800MWh battery planned by Origin Energy at its Eraring power station site, and AGL Energy’s plans for up to 1000MW of grid-scale batteries with Wartsila and Fluence entering agreements to supply the storage.
AGL’s battery plans include a 200MW BESS at the Loy Yang A power station and a 250MW battery at Torrens Island and further projects at Broken Hill, Wandoan, Sunraysia and Dalyrmple.
But these are just the latest in a series of big battery project announcements… READ MORE.”
For more, contact Carl Kitchen, Australian Energy Council