Skills Tasmania is always on the lookout for 'Good news stories' that illustrate a positive outcome within the VET system and which we can share with other providers and participants. Whether you’re a registered training organisation (RTO), a group training organisation (GTO), an Australian Apprenticeships Centre (AAC), an employer or employee involved in vocational education and training (VET), an apprentice/trainee or someone who undertook or is undertaking accredited training – if you have a success story you think others could benefit from knowing about, we’d like to know about it! They can be an inspiration to others or anecdotal examples that represent a solution to an issue you’ve had that others may overlook or not be aware of in the first place. To submit your good news story please email jean.hollis@skills.tas.gov.au (Wednesday-Thursday).
Fire fighting training helping to save our parks and remote protected areasApril 2013
Nearly 160 Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) staff were involved in the massive 2012/13 fire fighting effort. With almost half of them having undertaken public safety training in the last few years they were well prepared for the massive task.
The push to train their staff came out of the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Commission and the need to achieve endorsement as defined by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), the peak body for public sector fire, land management and emergency service organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
PWS fire operations manager Adrian Pyrke said “This program has resulted in an increased number of Fire Crew staff able to plan, document and conduct prescribed (planned) burning operations, an increased number of staff able to deliver pre-season preparedness sessions for staff and a greater capacity to provide coaching and mentoring for regional staff such as ranger, field officers and administration staff who have other primary roles.”
Brian Hevey, the Public Safety trainer/assessor for HANDA Training Solutions and HANDA’s former RTO Manager worked closely with Iris Todd from PWS, to develop a learning and assessment strategy that includes on-the-job recognition complemented by fire-ground assessment and mentoring. The program then provides training and coaching in areas where skills need acquisition or development.
“It’s great to work with an organisation that values its people by providing these development opportunities for them,” Mr Hevey said. “The program has kept me busy on days, nights, weekends and public holidays. PWS has provided every opportunity for me to get to the fire-front, whether I’m assessing firefighters and sector leaders on the fire-ground or members of IMTs at an incident control centre. This is a great example of a successful training partnership between private and public entities and the result is a true win-win; my RTO gets plenty of work; PWS recognises and rewards the professionalism of its staff; and each person has the opportunity to achieve a qualification for their efforts.”
Fire administration officer Adele Wright has obtained two qualifications in the past 24 months, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Certificate IV in Public Safety (Leadership).
“Both complement each other in my routine work and fire roles and I feel I think far more strategically than I did before I completed the qualifications,” Adele said.
“The Certificate IV Training and Assessment qualification supports the mentoring and coaching role I often undertake as logistics officer in Incident Management Teams. I am now contributing to the assessment of peers through support and evidence portfolio compilation.”
Adele, along with PWS training coordinator Iris Todd, have been appointed to an Inter-Agency (I-A)Training Committee and they have written a very comprehensive I-A Training Review which has been accepted by the rest of the group and endorsed by the Multi Agency Coordinating group.
Rapid Response Skills Initiative and ForestWorks’ Workers Assistance ProgramApril 2013
When Craig Twining was retrenched as a cable operator in native forest harvesting in May 2011, he found new employment with Venarchie, contracting at St Helens as a civil operator.
Craig already had forest industry licences in excavator operation but required civil endorsements to further his career with Venarchie. Through Skills Tasmania’s Rapid Response Skills Initiative and ForestWorks’ Workers Assistance Program he was able to undertake training in a set of skills that fitted him for work with his new employer, including:
Craig’s training was made possible through the support of his employer, Venarchie, the organisation and guidance of Mark Blackwell at Forestworks and through funding subsidies coordinated by Mike McGee from the Rapid Response Skills Initiative.
Craig is already using his new skills and can now work in other areas of the business
November 2012
Project Managers displaced from the forestry industry and now employed by Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd are receiving training that augments their previous skills and education. Their registered training organisation NDA received a 90% contribution towards the cost of training from Productivity Places Program (PPP+)
Their employer, Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd, is responsible for developing and operating a number of irrigation schemes throughout the state. The training will support the contemporary project management used by Tasmanian Irrigation and assist with the efficient delivery of multiple water projects.
October 2012
Hannah Vasicek, a Diploma of Business student, studying with Jenard using a place subsidised through the productivity places program, has been successful at the Australian division of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Hannah is also finishing her university studies and has her own small business, Francesca Collections, selling through her online shop and at the Salamanca Market
Asset Training for MigrantsMay 2012
Early in 2012 funds provided through the Productivity Places Program (PPP+) helped to make possible an innovative program to train long term unemployed migrants for roles in the asset maintenance industry. Anne Hamilton and her staff from the Migrant Resource Centre’s (MRC) Connect worked with Russell Allie from Asset Training to deliver a Certificate II in Asset Maintenance.
Training was provided for ten long term migrants from Bhutan, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tibet. Participants were selected from a pool of some 70 potential clients. They were selected on the basis of their proficiency with English and their commitment to training.
All Participants successfully completed the course after completing a rigorous but rewarding schedule of workshop training, hands-on practice with equipment, a minimum five day work placement and assessments.
Laxman Budathori (pictured), speaking on behalf of his fellow participants, said that what it means is that they can now look forward to permanently settling in Tasmania rather than being forced to move interstate to earn an income to support their families both here and abroad. Many of the participants had been demoralized by not having been able to find work. Their work placements introduced them to not only a potential career but also Australian work culture, slang and accents which could have been daunting if not with the help their supportive host employers, MRC Connect and Asset Training.
Host employers for their placements included Swan Services, the Royal Hobart Hospital, Glenview, Strath Haven and Metro. Many participants found employment where they did their placements.
Key points from Lean Action Learning Project31 October 2011
Take six enthusiastic people from three very different businesses; put them through a 10 month program that tackles real workplace projects and the rigour of lean manufacturing and the passion of South Australian Consultant Bob Cother.
What you get is six workers attaining a Certificate IV in Competitive Manufacturing and three businesses with tangible benefits in improved performance, elimination of waste and better production systems. By working in conjunction with Adelaide based registered training organisation, T.I.M.E. Mr Cother devised a pathway that took participants through the Lean Action Learning and delivered a nationally recognised qualification.
The Lean Action Learning program conducted by Mr Cother brought together two participants from Tamar Valley Dairy, Rio Tinto Alcan and ACL Bearings.
With each participant working on two projects, one in their own organisation and one in another organisation, they were able to bring fresh eyes to high priority production challenges and identify solutions with achievable outcomes. Benefits include reduced stores and inventory, smoother work flows and improved reliability of supply to customers and improvements in energy efficiency.
According to Bob Cother the action learning model has significant benefits for businesses in setting a practical model of learning in the workplace. It's a natural way for adults to learn, they gain formal skills through personal development, it's exciting and it works.
Tamar Valley Dairy, Rio Tinto Alcan and ACL Bearings have all committed to supporting further Lean Action Learning projects.
The project was supported by Skills Tasmania and the Department of Economic Development and the Arts.
Photo
front: Manuel Matteo & Jose Florez (Tamar Valley Dairy); Ian Paterson (Skills Tasmania); John Collins (Rio Tinto Alcan); Bob Cother (Cother consulting); Jessica Rouse (Rio Tinto Alcan); Rob Miley (Department of Economic Development Tourism & the Arts)
Rear: Allen Wells & Paul Grant (ACL Bearings)
(Photo credit Bob Cother)
27 June 2011
Australia’s largest producer of renewable energy is cleaning up its act when it comes to training.
Hydro Tasmania is using e-learning to reduce training road miles, accommodation costs and, indirectly, road kill. The Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) celebrates the outcomes of Hydro Tasmania’s E-learning Innovations project.
Funding and support from the Framework and Skills Tasmania has enabled the energy company to team up with the Skills Institute in Tasmania to create an online course for trainee generation technicians.
Once trained, the technicians are responsible for generators and equipment in both stored water and run-of-the-river power stations. Due to the remoteness of many power stations, often high up in mountains, learners have had to travel hundreds of kilometres to a central location to carry out their training. With e-learning, learners are now able to study the safety and quality control elements of their qualification online.
The e-learning can be accessed at the power station and comprises flash-based comic strip presentations, ‘LEGO’ men, virtual coaches and games (created with the Framework’s ARED device). Assessment is carried out through online knowledge tests and scanned documentation.
Project manager Ralph Berry said using e-learning was a win, win situation.
“Hydro Tasmania is a clean energy company so it’s important all aspects of its business are ‘green’ including training. Online training is reducing road miles, overnight accommodation costs, animal strikes such as the endangered Bennetts wallaby, and the risk of running off the road.”
The e-learning has been tested on existing employees and is now being used by all new trainees. Hydro Tasmania has set itself a target of ‘close to 100% of its internal and external courses to be online’ in the next five years.
Read more about the case study
If you would like any more information on this story or Tasmania’s E-Learning Innovations project please contact Fiona Huskinson at Skills Tasmania on: (03) 6233 2140.
27 June 2011
Thanks to the initiative of Construction North teacher Chris Brown, Skills Institute Kick Start program participants have been given the opportunity to gain a Certificate II in General Construction, as well as providing a significant community benefit to their local region.
Chris, on behalf of the Skills Institute, initiated a successful partnership with City Mission and the Rotary Club where Kick-Start participants worked on the concrete works of a garage for an accommodation facility that supports young people wanting a fresh start in life.
Through the partnership, City Mission and the Rotary Club provided the opportunity and the concreting materials, whilst Skills Institute Kick-Start participants gained practical work experience by providing the labour to complete the works.
Kick-Start participants not only gained practical skills and a qualification but were also able to see a tangible and valuable outcome from their efforts.
The aim of The Skills Institute Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Kick Start) is to build workforce capability and opportunities for employment in the trades and selected industries through pre-apprenticeship training.
For more information on this story please contact: Jan Edwards on (03) 6233 7219 or visit: www.skillsinstitute.com.au
