Key dates and events
For all the latest vocational education and training (VET) news and events, Skills Tasmania Facts, Skills Tasmania's regular newsletter, has up-to-date information on state and national VET related matters, as well as news from the post-year 10 education and training sector, upcoming events (workshops, forums, conferences etc.), professional development activities in Tasmania and the latest funding opportunities. A key dates and events calendar (right) is updated with each issue. Visit the Skills Tasmania Facts - previous issues page for older issues.
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Innovation in training delivery and training business development can underpin the way the training sector supports long term growth opportunities for the Tasmanian economy. There are some wonderful innovative stories emerging from the National VET E-learning Strategy grants. One that springs to mind is ‘Beam Me Up, Barista: The Art of Good Coffee’ project by IndustryLink.
What appeals to me about this project is that it demonstrates how E- learning in VET is not necessarily about downloading pdf versions of learning manuals, rather it is about innovation and connection. Innovation in how new technology and high speed broad band can be used to connect learners and trainers irrespective of distance.
Technology enhanced learning is such a fertile space for innovation. Tasmania, as a state, has a spatially dispersed population. This is a real challenge for RTOs striving to build an effective business model, and employers seeking training for critical skills needs within tight cost margins. The ‘Beam me Up’ project illustrates how connections can still occur, despite distance. The project is based on the tenet that fundamental to teaching and training is the fact that people connect and trainers respond to learners needs, and despite distance, use all their senses to understand learner needs and respond.
We have many advantages in Tasmania to build a training system that is the envy of the rest of Australia. One of those advantages is our ability to connect, through technology and through relationships. It excites me when I see these examples of innovation-led practice that offer solutions through leveraging technologies to deliver industry current training. It also excites me when I see data trends emerging through ASQA that demonstrate that the national regulator results for Tasmania are significantly better than the national average. Skills Tasmania is committed to working with all Tasmanian training providers to maintain this upward trend of continuous improvement.
Since the last Skills Facts, we have been finalising our consultation on the Small Business Skills Plan. This is another area where adopting a single approach will be unlikely to achieve the best results, because small business is so diverse. We need to innovate and the new Small Business Skills Plan will support small businesses to undertake workforce planning and skill development to assist them to be successful and grow their business. From a training perspective we received two very clear messages from small business: (1) further assistance is required in developing the management and business skills of small business operators, and (2) we need to further support better access, through the Tasmanian training system to skilled and quality staff. It was also clear that small and micro businesses have different needs and relevant training and information needs to be targeted at each sector at key times in the life cycle of the business. My thanks are extended to those individuals and organisations that have assisted out work, in particular the TCCI and the Small Business Council.
Finally, I have enjoyed meeting with the Master Builders Association and one of our major group training organisations in the construction industry, this month. Their feedback has been key to how we improve the administration of our programs and reaffirmed our commitment to maintaining strong state wide presence through the field officer activities of our training consultants and industry liaison officer.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our conference, only a couple of weeks away now so please get those registrations coming in, and through your engagement, help us to make this conference one of the most important dates in the Tasmanian Training Calendar.
Among the awards this year are the newly established Women in Non-Traditional Trades Awards, one for an employer and one for an apprentice/trainee.
These awards are designed to recognise employers who support diversity and promote equity in the workplace; and to recognise apprentices and trainees who have recently completed, or are still undertaking, non-traditional qualifications.
For more information about these two important new awards and the other individual and organisation awards offered this year visit: http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/trainingawards/ or call Jacqui Maclaine on 03 6233 3194.
The major VET decision makers will be in attendance together with keynote speakers from Tasmania and inter-state – what a perfect way to network and discover about VET reform in the state and nationally!
For updated program details and to register online or by email visit:
www.skills.tas.gov.au/skillstas/events/conference/
We hope to see you on the 20th in Hobart!
Featured speakers:Pictured right (from L - R): Maria Langwell, Kris Andre and Brad Deas
Maria Langwell
Maria has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the vocational education and training sector, having worked across the vocational education and training and employment sectors for over 25 years in both NSW and Victoria. Maria worked at Western Sydney Institute of TAFE (NSW). After moving to Melbourne, she has held several influential positions within the VIC government’s education, employment and training fields, including oversighting the state’s Overseas Qualifications Unit and the key purchaser and contract manager of training places, delivered through the private training system in Victoria. In 2006, Maria decided to return to service delivery, initially working for AMES and more recently, as General Manager of Spectrum Education & Training, where she successfully led the College to be awarded the 2010 Victorian Small Training Provider of the Year. In 2011, Maria accepted the position of ACPET’s Executive Officer, VIC and TAS, the peak industry association with responsibility for supporting over 350 private colleges in their delivery of quality tertiary service provision across the two States. Maria was recently appointed ACPET’s General Manager, Business Development, to drive ACPET new initiatives and services.
Maria has a passion for enabling all to equally participate in opportunities that promote personal development and well-being. Throughout her career, her work has focused on supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially people from CALD backgrounds, to identify their inner strengths and to use these strengths as a tool for confidence raising and advancement. Whilst in public sector positions, Maria was the instigator of several government funded programs, which supported the most disadvantaged community members to gain vocational skills and employment.
She has completed a Diploma in Teaching, a Master of Education (Educational Administration and Management) and an Executive Master of Public Administration, together with programs at the Graduate School of Management, University of Adelaide and the Harvard Business Club of Australia.
Blue Dog Training, Queensland
Kris Andre and Brad Deas
Kris Andre has had over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Since 2005 Kris has been a Director of one of Queensland’s most successful Private Training Organisations. Blue Dog Training is recognised nationally as a leader in on line training. Kris has a Bachelor of Education and Training and oversees the quality training delivery in all areas of the business as well as participating in the strategic planning of the company.
Brad Deas with his business partner had a vision that training in the construction industry could be done better. After 8 years of operation Blue Dog Training is now recognised as a leader in quality trade training not just in Queensland but nationally. With his extensive experience as a successful builder, businessman and trainer Brad leads the business development of the company. Brad has taken the model developed for the construction industry and successfully expanded the business into the area of engineering to support the resource industry growth.
The National Centre for Sustainability (NCS) and project partners are delighted to offer the opportunity for 500 VET practitioners to complete the TAE 10 Sustainable Practice Skill Set nationally.
As part of the implementation of the National Green Skills Agreement, places are being fully funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICCSRTE).
The aim of this professional development program is to expand the base of Australian VET practitioners from across the range of RTOs and industry areas to develop skills and knowledge to develop and deliver skills for sustainability.
The Sustainable Practice Skill Set is comprised of 2 units:
This interactive, participatory 3 day workshop was described by participants in 2012 as “life-changing”, “inspiring” and “something
every Australian should know.”
Units provide credit towards the TAE50111 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training or TAE50211 Diploma of Training Design and Development.
Details for the three day workshop in Tasmania, which you can either attend in Hobart or Launceston, are as follows:
Location/date: Hobart, Tuesday, 16 July - Thursday, 18 July
Venue: The ‘Wellard Room’, Tasmanian eSchool (223 Clarence Street, Howrah, on the Eastern Shore)
Location/date: Launceston, Monday, 22 July - Wednesday, 24 July
Venue: ‘The Flight Deck’ (107-119 Paterson Street)
Time: 9am – 4.30pm
(Morning tea and lunch provided)
Provider: National Centre for Sustainability
Swinburne University of Technology
To apply for a place in this innovative and exciting program, please contact Beth Akister on (03) 9210 1909 or email eakister@swin.edu.au
Registrations are now open for the Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Community Network (TSPCN) annual suicide prevention forum on Friday, 17 May 2013 (Hobart), which will include local, interstate and international speakers, as well as workshops. This forum will be of particlualr benefit to community service and health related training participants - registration is just $20 for students and $75 for all others. For more information and to register visit: www.tas.relationships.org.au/news-and-events/suicide-prevention-forum-registration
Last month Skills Tasmania added some more good news stories to its 'Good news stories' web page (www.skills.tas.gov.au/skillstas/initiatives/goodnews), which, like all the stories on that page, focus on positive outcomes within the vocational education and training (VET) system.
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.
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
For these and other good news stories, or if you have a success story you think others could benefit from knowing about, please visit the Good news stories page: www.skills.tas.gov.au/skillstas/initiatives/goodnews
The National VET E-learning Strategy is seeking your feedback on if and how e-learning is used in your VET teaching or training, or by your training organisation. All VET Teachers/Trainers and registered training organisations (RTOs) who utilise e-learning in some way are encouraged to complete this survey, which closes on Friday, 31 May 2013. Details are as follows:
For VET teachers and trainers it is important that the survey measures the uptake of e-learning across the entire vocational education and training (VET) system. This means that even if you do not use e-learning in your teaching or training your response is important to us.
All VET teachers/trainers that participate in the survey will be eligible to win one of ten prizes of flash drives, webcams, smart pens, iTunes vouchers or book vouchers worth $100.
For RTOs the survey will measure the uptake, use and impact of e-learning in the VET system. The survey seeks information on your organisation’s total VET enrolments and use of e-learning. It should be completed by someone with knowledge of the organisation’s use of e-learning. It is also important that the survey measures the uptake of e-learning across the entire VET system. This means that even if your organisation does not use e-learning, your response is important to us.
All RTOs that participate in the survey will be eligible to win one of five prizes of flash drives, webcams, smart pens, GPS, iTunes vouchers or book vouchers worth $250.
To complete the survey visit: http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/content/engage/for_training_organisations.htm
(click on the relevant survey link button depending on whether you’re a VET Teacher/Trainer or RTO)
Before you start, please make sure you read the following definition of e-learning which is being used for the purpose of the survey.
E-learning uses electronic media to deliver flexible vocational education and training. It includes: access to, downloading and use of web, CD-ROM or computer-based learning resources in the classroom, workplace or home; online access to and participation in course activities (e.g. online simulations, online group discussions); directed use of the internet, mobile and voice technologies for learning and research purposes; structured learning-based email communication; and online assessment activities. It does not include: email dissemination of course information; email communication between a teacher/trainer and learner on a single learning issue; and online administration of learning activities.
‘Choose your own online adventure’ is an e-learning project that is giving teachers and trainers the opportunity to gain credit in the unit ‘Facilitate e-learning’ that is part of the Diploma of VET TAE50111. Participants in this project are gaining greater experience in facilitating e-learning to enable them to take advantage of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and to meet learner needs. This project is delivering guided learning experiences in the practical application of e-learning technologies including videoconferencing, virtual worlds and geo-location applications. More information on the progress of this e-learning project can be found at http://participationandskills.wikispaces.com/TAS107
The National VET E-learning Strategy website (flexiblelearning.net.au) upgrade to meet stricter levels of accessibility (WCAG 2) compliance is almost complete. These changes will affect current links to the former Australian Flexible Learning Framework website.
There will be four sub-sites that will remain as links to the main website: E-learning for Industry (read-only site); E-portfolios for Learner Pathways; E-standards – New Generation Technologies for Learning; and Flexible Learning Toolboxes
The upgrade includes the closing of all former sub-site links. The legacy content will be available from your state or territory E-learning Coordinator and Content Service Advisor, however some content may not be in an easy to use format.
Any current users of flexiblelearning.net.au need to check if they have links to content through their websites, wikis or course content in Learning Management Systems, as these links will no longer work after the sub-sites have been decommissioned.
This is your last opportunity to save any resources or content you use regularly, link to, or you find valuable. For further information or queries please send an email to webadmin@flexiblelearning.net.au
The e-learning project ‘Smart Accessible Remote Training’ that has been developed by a team at the Skills Institute is progressing well. The project is focussed on equipping students and job seekers around Tasmania with the required skills to be able to work on Australia’s largest infrastructure project - the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The project has seen the development or modification of training modules that will enable teachers to utilise a Smartboard’s interactive content, including 3D visualisations of various aspects of fibre optic training. This content will be streamed to iPads, creating a live, mobile resource, where students will interact with the teacher and Smartboard from the training room, the workshop and regional areas of Tasmania.
The project team have been working extensively on learning how to operate Smartboards and how best they can be used with other interactive technology.
Take a look at the profile page of this Tasmanian e-learning project to follow their trials, tribulations and successes. You can also check all the other Tassie and national project profiles at http://participationandskills.wikispaces.com/.
