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Building, Construction, Resources and Infrastructure
Industry Training Advisory Body (BCRITAB)

Newsletter – April 2022

Contents

  • Job vacancies at 14-year high
  • Businesses wanted for engagement with students
  • Latest Smart & Skilled update
  • $15k available to apprentices facing hardship
  • Vale John Spierewka
  • Changes to ‘White Card’ training package receive ministerial approval
  • Skills organisation review released
  • Events Diary

Job vacancies at 14-year high


The latest National Skills Commission’s Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) shows that job advertisements rose by 3.7% (or 10,200) in March 2022 to stand at 282,400.

It’s the highest level of job vacancies since 2008.

Recruitment activity increased across all states and territories in March with the largest growth in Victoria (up by 3,200 or 4.4%), followed by Queensland (3,000 or 5.6%), New South Wales (2,100 or 2.4%) and Western Australia (1,000 or 3.4%).

The level of recruitment activity nationally remains significantly elevated compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, up by 67.8% (114,100 job ads).

In NSW, job ads are 53.9% or 31,600 higher than pre-COVID levels.

Businesses wanted for engagement with students


The Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) Team is currently looking for industry partners who would like to engage with Western Sydney’s Year 10 – 12 students.

Engagement can be in many forms and focus on ways industry can educate and inform students on the careers, skill needs and opportunities that exist within a business. Some examples of these types of engagement activities include:
  • Taking part in Industry panels at schools
  • Taking part in curriculum co design days
  • Allowing students to do a site visit
  • Taking on students for work experience
  • Mentoring students pursuing careers in your sector
  • Offering school based apprentice or traineeship opportunities
There are students wanting to pursue careers in many sectors. Preference and priority will be given to industry partners with need and employment opportunities available either immediately, for certain students and for partners with employment opportunities for students for 2023.
 
If this is something your business would like to be involved in please  click this link and register your details and preferences in terms of how and when you would like to engage with these students.

Latest Smart & Skilled update


The latest Smart and Skilled update is available from Training Services NSW.

It includes updates to ‘Skilling for Recovery’ policy and to qualifications on the NSW Skills List.

It also includes details of the Financial Cap Review for Skilling for Recovery extension full qualifications and general Smart and Skilled activity for the 2021-22 Activity Period.

See the March Smart & Skilled update

$15k available to apprentices facing hardship


First year apprentices facing financial or personal hardship will be supported with a $15,000 scholarship to undertake their trade and study under the latest round of the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships.

The NSW Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the state government will invest $1.8 million in the scholarships to support 120 people to either start, change or further their career.
 
“This year we have increased the number of scholarships on offer in recognition of the demand for training,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Whether you need to purchase new tools, cover fuel or car maintenance costs, or pay for additional training courses, these scholarships have helped people overcome personal barriers to finish their apprenticeships and go onto rewarding careers.”
 
The program will provide $5,000 each year for three years to support apprentices who demonstrate a high aptitude for vocational education and training and are committed to their on the job and formal training.
 
Applications close Friday, 27 May.

See details

Vale John Spierewka


There was sad news recently with the sudden passing of longstanding Training Services NSW figure, John Spierewka.

John, 59, was highly respected and much sought after for his knowledge of apprenticeships and traineeships. His passion for training and skills development in NSW was evident to everyone who knew him.

He will be greatly missed by the many people who worked with him and benefited from his friendship and professionalism.

We send our condolences to his family, friends and his many colleagues at TSNSW.

Changes to ‘White Card’ training package receive ministerial approval


Artibus has advised that it has received skills ministers endorsement for changes to the ‘White Card’ training package approved by the AISC at its December 2021 meeting.

Changes to the foundation skills and assessment requirements of CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry, were undertaken to better address industry concerns around assessment quality, online identity fraud, and appropriate language and literacy.

The changes also resulted in a code modification, from CPCCWHS1001 to CPCWHS1001.

The White Card is an essential feature of construction work in Australia, providing induction safety training for workers. This includes managers, supervisors, surveyors, labourers and tradespeople, as well as others with less regular need to access active construction sites. 

Skills organisation review released


The federal government has released the first performance review of the three Skills Organisation (SO) Pilot projects, established for mining, digital and human services.

The Skills Organisation Pilots Evaluation Project 1 – Implementation Review Report found that there was some lack of clarity about the long-term role of the SO pilots and their relationship with existing VET infrastructure at the time they were established.

The report says these uncertainties were resolved with the announcements regarding the establishment of Industry Clusters.

The review is the first of a two-stage process. It is being undertaken for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment by a consortium comprising Urbis Pty Ltd and ARTD Ltd.
Events Diary

NSW Women in Mining Awards Dinner
23 June 2022
See more


NSW Training Awards
9 September 2022
Sydney Town Hall
See more


Mining Careers Dinners 
Various cities and dates during May
For Years 11 & 12
See more

NSW Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Awards
Entries close: 25 March 2022
Awards Dinner: 10 September 2022
See more

2022 Skills Conference
Apprentice Employment Network NSW & ACT
15 June 2022
Dockside Darling Harbour
See more

 
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The Building, Construction, Resources and Infrastructure Training Advisory Body (BCRITAB) is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the NSW Government to provide advice on the training and skill needs of our industry sectors. It is one of 10 Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABS) that are a key source of industry training advice to the NSW Government.

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