January 2011

Latest News

Hairdressing Qualifications Recognised for International Skill Sharing

Australian hairdressers now have the opportunity to work in New Zealand, Canada or South Africa and have their qualifications and experience recognised through a new international framework.

Service Skills Australia represents Australia as one of the four founding countries who benchmark educational qualifications and industry standards through IPSN (International Professional Standards Network), to improve the mobility and educational levels of skills based occupations worldwide. The first recipients of certification from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa received their certification at the inaugural IPSN award ceremony in New Zealand in November 2010.

Jane Trewin fo the Gordon Institute in Victoria was the first Australian to recieve IPSN certification and will now ensure that future Gordon Institute graduates are offered the same opportunity. "From 2011 every hairdressing student who graduates through the Gordon will automatically apply for IPSN certification, which greatly increases their global networking and job opportunities" she said "Through new international networks developed in countries like Canada, South Africa and New Zealand, The Gordon's hairdressing students will now have even greater opportunity to develop and take their skills around the world with our hairdressing qualifications mutually recognised in these countries."

The opportunities created by the framework will also benefit Australia by increasing skill levels through networking and skill sharing and increasing the international mobility of talented hairdressing professionals.

For further informaton on IPSN hairdressing certification, please contact Lina Robinson at lrobinson@serviceskills.com.au

Draft Diploma of TAA Units Available for Viewing and Feedback

The draft material for the revised Diploma of Training and Education is now available for viewing and feedback on IBSA's website. This will be available until the end of January 2011 and may be downloaded here.

A summary of the proposed diploma and a rationale for the approach taken in the development of material to date are now available for public comment here.

Further information Robert Bluer robert@ibsa.org.au or Anna Ridgway anna@ibsa.org.au

Be Part of a High Performance Workplace Benchmarking Project

The Society of Knowledge Economics (SKE) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations are conducting a major study examining Leadership, Culture and Management (LCM) Practices for High Performing Workplaces.

Specifically, the project identifies the attributes of high performing workplaces and tracks the culture, leadership and management practices that result in higher firm performance (as measured by workplace productivity, innovation, fairness and employee engagement.)

Organisations (including training providers) with approximately 20 fulltime equivalent employees, are invited to register their interest at High Performance Workplace Benchmarking Project.

For further information please see the SKE webpage and the attached briefing note.

Training Package Updates

Retail Services Training Package Continuous Improvement Project

The new and revised Retail Services Units of Competency have been uploaded onto the Service Skills Australia website for comment. The Qualifications Framework will be available by the end of January 2011. Those interested in viewing and commenting on either component of the training package can leave feedback at the Service Skills Australia feedback register or contact Barbara Hawkins bhawkins@serviceskills.com.au or 0418 109 789

Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package

SIT07 Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package Version 2.3 was submitted to NTIS on 30 November 2010 using the Interim ISC Upgrade process.

Version 2.3 or the training package includes:

• Updating the packaging rules for flexibility
• Incorporating environmental, economical and social sustainability requirements into units.

Pre NTIS release versions of the training package are available on the Service Skills Australia website.

The Training Package Review has also commenced for Tourism. The Tourism Review is currently in the Project Scoping stage, which involves consolidating the key issues for the training package reform.

Progress updates about the Training Package Review will be provided through our website and monthly eNewsletter.

For more information contact Therese Ma at tma@serviceskills.com.au

SFL Floristry Training Package Endorsed

The SFL10 Floristry Training Package was endorsed by the National Quality Control Council on Tuesday 22 December 2010. The new Training Package consists of four qualifications with the introduction of the new Diploma of Floristry Design, and has expanded 20 units of competency to address higher level skills. The SFL10 Floristry Training Package will be available for purchase through Service Skills Australia in the coming weeks. The process of uploading units onto the NTIS website has now commenced.

Service Skills Australia will be running a number of implementation activities to support the transition to the new training package. These will include professional development workshops for trainers and assessors and developing the Right Way Program. If you are interested in participating in the workshops please email your details to Karen Banks at kbanks@serviceskills.com.au

Community Pharmacy First Drafts Now Available

the first draft of the Community Pharmacy qualifications and units of competency are now available for stakeholder feedback. The drafts are available on the project page of the Service Skills Australia website. Feedback is welcome from all stakeholders via email to kbanks@serviceskils.com.au the Feedback Register or by phone at 02 8243 1200.

consultation activities will consist primarily of discussion groups and small meetings in capital cities. If you are interested in participating please email Karen Banks at kbanks@serviceskills.com.au

SIB10 Beauty Training Package - Implementation Update

The SIB10 Beauty Training Package is now available on the NTIS website, with a release date of 10 December 2010. The state regulatory bodies are currently in the process of finalising transition arrangements, including providing advice on rolling over to the new training package and funding models. For more information on jurisdiction specific arrangements, please contact your local state training authority or registering body. For information on the SIB10 Beauty Training Package please contact Karen Banks at kbanks@serviceskills.com.au

SIS10 Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package Endorsed

The SIS10 Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package was endorsed by the NQC on 21 December 2010. Following on from this, a few minor editorial errors and re-numbering of volumes has been addressed. As a result the pre-NTIS release version of the SIS10 Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package is version 1.2 and will soon be available for purchase on CD-ROM through the Service Skills Australia online shop.

Project Updates

Taking the Lead

Taking the Lead is the one-stop-shop for information and advice on developing core language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills.

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