NSW releases VET recovery roadmap
The NSW government has issued a guide as to how the VET sector will operate under the NSW Recovery Roadmap as COVID lockdowns start to ease.
Under this Roadmap, VET and Higher Education can return to face-to-face training in line with a COVID-19 Safety Plan and in compliance with Public Health Orders.
70 percent Roadmap
The easing of some restrictions for fully vaccinated people will come into effect on 11 October.
Providers are encouraged to continue to deliver online, however face-to-face training delivery is able to proceed.
Providers should enable staff to continue to work from home where practicable.
80 percent Roadmap
From the Monday after NSW hits the 80 per cent (aged 16 and over) double dose vaccination target, eased restrictions will allow those who are fully vaccinated to have more freedom and access more services. This would include attending face-to-face training.
Providers are encouraged to continue to deliver online and virtual training where possible, and are encouraged to return to face-to-face training delivery where practical training cannot be delivered online. This could include clinical based training or practical assessments, particularly for those graduating in 2021.
Providers will need to consider how they will support vaccinated and unvaccinated staff and students. The NSW Government is preparing guidelines to support training providers with managing the return. This may include negotiating unvaccinated staff to continue working from home where possible and those vaccinated, working on site for practical based training.
Changes from 1 December 2021
From Wednesday 1 December, NSW will reopen under the Roadmap to Recovery where all citizens regardless of their vaccination status will have access to services including attending training in person.
Training Providers may open up for all students to return to face-to-face training on campus at this stage. More information can be accessed through the NSW Recovery Roadmap.
General Guidance
Physical Distancing – VET is exempt from the 4 square meter rule. VET providers should apply 1.5m physical distancing inside and outside of venue facilities.
Mask Wearing – masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings under the 80 percent roadmap, but not from 1 December when masks will no longer be mandatory for most indoor and outdoor settings.
VET Delivery in School Settings – VET staff delivering face to face training in schools will need to be double vaccinated from 8 November 2021. They will also be required to wear masks, check in via QR code and any other requirements under the COVID-19 safe plan for the school site.
Return to VET Guidelines – the NSW Government is preparing more advice and will be assisting Providers with sharing the Return to VET Guidelines including guidance on how to manage COVID-19 related risks in preparation of return to face-to-face training.
If providers have any questions, they are encouraged to contact their Strategic Relationship Manager, their local office on 13 28 11 or visit Training Services NSW.
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$1m scholarship fund to help tradies become TAFE teachers
The NSW government will spend $1 million to provide scholarships to encourage industry experts to become teachers at TAFE NSW.
The Training and Assessment Scholarships will allow 200 industry professionals to upskill with guaranteed employment at TAFE NSW.
Positions include full-time, part-time and casual basis, spanning over 130 locations across NSW and online.
The Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee told the Financial Review that the offer of part-time and casual teaching positions through the program would help attract experts to the sector to train the next generation.
‘‘The reality is if you’re on the tools and you’re a tradie you probably get paid more than you can from teaching,’’ Mr Lee said.
‘‘We want to break down those barriers. You can still run your business during the day but you can come and teach at TAFE at night or one day a week.’’
See more on the Training and Assessment Scholarships
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Federal government extends apprentice wage subsidy
The federal government has announced an extension to its Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy program that will help encourage apprentices and trainees to complete their training.
The new $716 million Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) program will provide a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of the apprenticeship up to a maximum of $1,500 a quarter, and a 5 per cent wage subsidy in the third year up to a maximum of $750 a quarter.
The BAC program which provides a 50 per cent wage subsidy commenced in October last year and will run until March next year, and is expected to support 270,000 commencements.
See more on the new Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program
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First workers signed up under trade pathways program
The first group of workers has been signed up under the new Trade Pathways program, which will enable skilled but unqualified workers to gain a trade qualification.
The construction industry will be a priority, with the sector targeted for up to 750 positions over the next 12 months.
The Construction Pilot represents the initial element of the Trade Pathways program. It will deliver Certificate III construction industry qualifications on the Smart and Skilled - NSW Skills List, and will operate until June next year.
The Trade Pathways Program will work with training providers to assess a workers' previous qualifications and work experience to determine if gap training is required.
The program was announced in November 2020 with funding of $57.4 million over four years. Its aim is to address skills shortages by targeting partially skilled workers, mature age workers and women who have not taken up the opportunity to gain a trade qualification.
For more information, email: TradePathways@det.nsw.edu.au or visit the website
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Training providers invited to deliver Summer Skills qualifications
Smart and Skilled training providers are invited to apply to deliver a range of part qualifications for the 2021-22 Summer Skills program.
Funding is available to deliver part qualifications to 2021 school leavers aged 16 and over, and other young people, aged 16 to 24, who are not at school.
Smart and Skilled providers can submit an intent to participate in delivering part qualifications from the Skilling for Recovery (SfR) Priority part qualifications list.
Funding is being prioritised for industries including Construction, Hospitality, Agriculture, Community services, Business/ Admin, IT/Digital and Retail.
Successful providers can enrol students from 8 November 2021 with all training to be completed by 30 April 2022.
See the latest Smart and Skilled update
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Careers NSW seeking industry expert volunteers
If you have worked in the building, construction or infrastructure industries and are able to spare a few hours a month, there is a chance to become a volunteer industry expert with Careers NSW.
This new body has been established to provide careers guidance to people at all stages of their careers, including students and people looking to change careers or develop their skills.
Careers NSW is undertaking a pilot program in the construction industry, and it's looking for people with industry experience who are able to share their knowledge with those looking to enter the industry.
It means a few hours a month sharing insights about what it’s like to work in the industry, the skills needed, the opportunities to progress, and how to get a start.
More information about the volunteer roles including an application form and contact information is available here.
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Silica safety submissions due by today
Today is the final day to make submissions under the first round of consultations on the Silica Safety Project, being overseen by Artibus.
The Construction IRC is developing five units of competency to support skills and knowledge advancement to minimise the risks of exposure to silica dust. The draft units of competency are available for first round consultation via the Silica Safety Project Page.
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Mining jobs defy the trend
Job vacancies in the mining industry have bucked the decline elsewhere in the economy, increasing by 2,500 in the last quarter.
Analysis for the NSW Minerals Council shows an additional 16,751 job ads identified as mining related between June and August, up from 14,201 in the previous quarter.
The significant increase in mining vacancies is in contrast to decline elsewhere in the economy, as COVID-19 has forced business lockdowns.
The mining industry has continued to operate largely unaffected through the pandemic, in part due to the Resources Sector National COVID-19 Protocol developed in March last year.
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Forum to examine the future of VET in schools
The future of VET in NSW schools will be discussed in a free, online webinar featuring the head of TAFE NSW and one of the architects of the state's VET reform.
Hosted by TAFE Directors Australia, TAFETalks: Breaking down the barriers – the future of VET in Schools, is on Wednesday 20 October at 2.00pm ADST.
It will feature the Managing Director of TAFE NSW, Steffen Faurby, and the Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Professor Peter Shergold.
Professor Shergold was the joint author, with David Gonski, of the recent report, ‘In The Same Sentence: Bringing higher and vocational education together’, commissioned by the NSW government.
See more
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NSW set to receive first wave of international students
Up to 500 fully vaccinated international students are likely to return to NSW by the end of the year under a pilot program announced by the NSW government.
Accommodation provider Scape will house the returning students for a 14-day quarantine in Redfern in premises approved by NSW Health and NSW Police.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade John Barilaro said the staggered return of students was the first stage of a pilot that would slowly expand as vaccination rates rise.
TAFE NSW, 11 universities and five private higher education providers are part of a group that will coordinate the student return.
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NERO sheds new light on jobs and regions
The National Skills Commission (NSC) has released the ‘Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation’ or ‘NERO’ dashboard which shows detailed jobs information across Australia.
The NERO data hub provides monthly information on 355 occupations across 88 regions. Until now, such detailed information was only easily available every five years through the ABS.
NERO uses an emerging methodology, ‘nowcasting’, to highlight workforce trends faster. This differs to forecasting in that it does not rely on predicting or anticipating market trends.
The NERO data can be filtered by either occupation or region and is available for download.
See the NERO dashboard
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