November 2010

Latest News

New Retail Qualification Roadshow in Parramatta

Service Skills Australia and the University of Western Sydney(UWS)will be at Westfield Parramatta on Tuesday 30 November and Thursday 9 December to promote the new integrated Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Retail Management) course available as a direct entry degree at UWS in 2011. The course combines academic learning with vocational skills from Certificate III in Retail and Certificate IV in Retail Management and allows the student to earn while they learn. Graduates will be qualified to enter retail management careers.

Further information Alastair Wilson awilson@serviceskills.com.au or (02)8243 1200 or come down and talk to representatives at Westfield Parramatta on 30 November or 9 December.

2010 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices

Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, hosted the 2010 Minister's Awards for Excellence at Parliament House, Canberra on 26 October. Ruth Browne, General Manager and Director or Corporate Education at Pivot Point Academy, received the Minister's Award for Excellence for Commitment to Australia Apprenticeships. The award recognises an individual who has completed an apprenticeship or traineeship and is now involved in training apprentices as part of their business or employment. The Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices were awarded to 20 businesses for their dedication to training and employment of apprentices. Further information: www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/awards/2010/ministers_awards_2010.asp

$24 million for Indigenous literacy and numeracy

Indigenous students across Australia are set to benefit from 15 new Intensive Literacy and Numeracy projects funded by the Federal Government who have committed an extra $24 million to Indigenous education. The projects will be implemented over the next two years in both government and non-government schools.At the announcement of the projects, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett said "These projects are designed to help halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievement for indigenous children by 2018" Mr Garrett said the Australian Government is highly committed to tackling Indigenous educational disadvantage and has made this a key goal of its Education Revolution. He added that "To improve the literacy and numeracy skills of Indigenous students is a big challenge and there is a real need for schools, communities, organisations and governments to work closely together" Further information www.deewr.gov.au/schooling

Increased Support for Australian Apprentices

Trade apprentices working in "skill shortage occupations" will receive additional tax exempt bonuses of up to $1700 from 1 January 2011. The bonus will support 200,000 trade apprentices as they reach milestones in their training. Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Chris Evans, said "This additional bonus brings to $5500 the total tax free Tools For Your Trade Payment provided to trade apprentices in skills shortage occupations." Funding is also being provided for a national mentoring program to encourage more apprentices to complete their training. Further information www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Training Package Updates

Launch of new training package and Right Way for the Beauty industry

Service Skills Australia will launch the new SIB10 Beauty Training Package along with the Right Way program for the beauty industry this evening. Industry, trainers and assessors, government and union representatives will join together to launch new training framework for the beauty industry along with the quality implementation framework through which Service Skills Australia will work to support the delivery of quality training to produce job ready graduates for our beauty industry. Further information contact Karen Banks kbanks@serviceskills.com.au

Community pharmacy update

Service Skills Australia are currently finalising the first draft qualifications and units of competency for the community pharmacy industry. These first drafts will be available online for feedback by the end of November and the project team will be running consultation activities early in 2011. Thank you to the stakeholders who have registered their interest to be involved in the updating of the new qualifications framework for the community pharmacy industry. Further information contact Karen Banks kbanks@serviceskills.com.au

SFL10 Floristry Training Package

Feedback wanted on Hairdressing validation drafts

Validation drafts for the revised SIH11 Hairdressing Training Package are available for your review on the feedback register on the Service Skills Australia website.The validation period provides our stakeholders with the opportunity to review and comment on the final draft components of the revised package to ensure that it reflects the current skill needs of the hairdressing industry. Validation will be conducted until 30 November 2010. Feedback can be left at www.serviceskills.com.au/feedback or email Lina Robinson lrobinson@serviceskills.com.au or (03) 8346 8535

Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package update

The minor terminology changes required for the SIT07 Training Package to comply with the Flexibility Policy have been drafted.

For the changes requiring the movement of one (1) or more core units into the elective units group, The Training Package's technical working group members have submitted their recommendations.

The recommendations ranged from:

• Clear consensus regarding the new core/elective structure. In these cases, the changes have been drafted.
• Further consultation required before a decision can be made regarding the core/elective structure. In these cases, the additional consultation will take place during the broader training package review scheduled for 2011.
• Some qualifications should be exempt from the Flexibility Policy. A case for exception is being drafted for NQC consideration.

Progress is also being made regarding the changes required to meet the Sustainability Policy. Both the Flexibility and Sustainability Policy changes will be submitted to NQC by 31 December via the NQC's Interim ISC Upgrade process.

 For further information contact Therese Ma tma@serviceskills.com.au

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package Update

The SIS10 Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package has been submitted to the State Training Authorities (STAs) for comment and feedback. SSA expects to submit for endorsement to the National Quality Council (NQC) in late November or early December. During the period of NQC consideration the Case for Endorsement and SIS10 Training Package Volumes will be made available to all stakeholders. For further information contact Karen Beattie kbeattie@serviceskills.com.au

Project Updates

Taking the Lead

The recently updated Taking the Lead website provides information and advice on developing core language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) skills in the service industries. Topics include:

• Skills Australia discussion paper - Creating a future direction for Australian vocational education and training
• The Productivities Commissions report - Links between literacy and numeracy skills and labour market outcomes
• DEEWR - Community based taster course program
• DEEWR - Language and numeracy practitioner scholarships.
• For more information www.takingthelead.com.au

RPL (Ease of access and Critical barriers Survey Results

Thank you to the 298 respondents (representing 140+ RTOs) who participated in our RPL survey.Responses to the question: Critical barriers to take up of RPL, can be grouped as follows:

• Lack of understanding / resources of assessors
• Inequitable funding mechanisms
• AQF requirements / inconsistencies with audit practices

Additional Feedback can be addressed to Bernard Moore bmoore@serviceskills.com.au

Events

Policy in the Pub: Creating a Future Direction for Australian VET