23 Feb 2022 - Skills Facts 270

Skills Facts 270 has been released with all the latest news from Skills Tasmania...

In today's newsletter:

• JobTrainer Fund grant program now open
• Mentoring for Success program update
• Tasmanian Training Awards coming soon
• Foundation Skills industry survey
• New Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth

JobTrainer Fund grant program now open

Applications close 2:00pm, 4 March 2022.

Applications are now open for JobTrainer Fund grants to provide free nationally recognised training in areas of priority for Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government is matching the $10.5 million investment made by the Australian Government, allowing thousands more Tasmanians access to free training under the $21 million fund.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be:

• a Skills Tasmania Endorsed Registered Training Organisation (where an RTO’s endorsement is restricted, the restrictions will apply).
• scoped for the qualifications, courses or units for which they are applying, and the scope must include Tasmania as a delivery site.

Successful applicants will be able to provide free JobTrainer Fund training to job seekers and young Tasmanians aged 17-24 (including school leavers). For training in aged care, childcare, disability care and digital skills qualifications, there are no limitations on eligibility, which means that all learners, regardless of their age or employment status, are eligible for free JobTrainer Fund training in these industry areas.

For more information, including the list of approved qualifications and application process, visit the Skills Tasmania website.

JobTrainer is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian governments.

Mentoring for Success program update

The Mentoring for Success Program supports an increase in apprenticeships and traineeship commencements and completions.

The data is clear that apprentices and trainees who are employed by Group Training Organisations (GTOs) have a better completion rate than those directly employed by SMEs.

The program opened 1 March 2021 and supports increased use of GTOs by new small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in all industries across the state.

Grants of up to $6000 are available for GTOs who place an apprentice or trainee with an eligible host employer. While apprentices and trainees can start at the age of 17, they must be 18 or older at the time the application is made for the grant.

At the end of January 2022 there were 85 applications received, meaning more Tasmanians undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships and new SMEs connecting with GTOs to support them in mentoring the apprentices and trainees to successful completion.

The program was due to close on 28 February 2022 but has now been extended by up to 12 months or until fully subscribed (whichever comes first).

Information on the program can be found here.

The Mentoring for Success Program delivered by Skills Tasmania in the Department of State Growth.

Tasmanian Training Awards coming soon

Hosted by the Department of State Growth through Skills Tasmania, the Tasmanian Training Awards are held annually to acknowledge and reward outstanding achievements in vocational education and training (VET), recognising individuals and organisations that strive for success and best practice.

The awards provide an opportunity to showcase the broad reach of VET in Tasmania with categories for apprentices, trainees, vocational students, teachers and trainers as well as training providers and employers. The gala awards presentation dinner in September is a highlight of the training sector calendar.

This year there are 14 award categories:

• Apprentice of the Year
• Trainee of the Year
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year
• Vocational Student of the Year
• School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
• VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year
• VET in Schools Student of the Year*
• Equity Apprentice or Trainee of the Year*
• Equity Vocational Student of the Year*
• Industry Collaboration Award
• Small Employer of the Year
• Large Employer of the Year
• Small Training Provider of the Year
• Large Training Provider of the Year

Special Award:

• The Trevor Leo Award

Important dates:

• Nomination Guides for all categories will be available on the Tasmanian Training Awards website in mid-March. The guides cover essential aspects of the programme including eligibility, conditions of entry and how to apply.
• Nominations open on Monday, 28 March and close at 11:59pm on Monday, 30 May 2022.
• Gala presentation dinner Friday, 9 September 2022 at Wrest Point.

Winners (in aligned categories) will be nominated for the 2022 Australian Training Awards to be presented in Adelaide in November 2022.

*There are no Australian Training Awards equivalents to the Equity Awards or the VET in Schools Student Award.

The success of the training awards is underpinned by the generous support of our sponsors and supporters.

For further information please contact Jacqui Maclaine on (03) 6165 6008 or jacqui.maclaine@skills.tas.gov.au or visit the Tasmanian Training Awards webpage

Foundation Skills industry survey

Tasmanian employers and industries are invited to help improve foundation skills for workplaces across Tasmania.

A review of Tasmanian industry Workplace Development Plans identified 10 out of 17 industries as needing support with the development of foundation skills in the workplace.  

Foundation skills include language (oral communication), literacy (reading and writing), digital literacy, numeracy and learning skills.

TasTAFE is partnering with 26TEN to better understand the foundation skills employers need and expect in their staff.

You can help improve foundation skills in Tasmanian workplaces by completing a new employer and industry survey which will help us develop new training strategies.

The survey can be completed here.

New Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth

As part of the recent Tasmanian Government Ministerial portfolio changes the Hon Roger Jaensch MP is now the Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth.