2 Oct 2024 - Skills Facts 291
In today's newsletter:
- New Grant round open - Building a Skilled Workforce
- 2024 Tasmanian Training Awards
- Agriculture Industry Skills Compact
- WorldSkills Australia update
- Youth Jobs Strategy released
- New resources for students with disability
New Grant round open - Building a Skilled Workforce
Skills Tasmania is calling for eligible Registered Training Organisations to apply for grants through the Building a Skilled Workforce – Existing Worker and Jobseeker funds.
Grants are available to subsidise the cost of delivering training, assessment and associated learner support services for Tasmanian existing workers and jobseekers in 2025.
The grant program encourages existing workers and jobseekers to undertake training with the aim of securing employment and improving their employability through supporting career transitions, upskilling and reskilling. This program will also support improved accessibility to training for regional learners and Tasmanians facing disadvantage.
Applications close at 2:00pm (AEDT), Wednesday 9 October 2024.
Further information: Skills Tasmania – Funding
In-line with the release of these grant programs, Skills Tasmania has released an updated Snapshot of Training Needs which summarises what we have heard from stakeholders (including through Industry Skills Compacts) about Tasmanian industry and learner needs and identifies current priorities for subsidised Vocational Education and Training in Tasmania. Skills Tasmania will use this snapshot as a reference when assessing applications for contestable training programs.
Agriculture Industry Skills Compact
The Agriculture Industry Skills Compact and associated Priority Action Plan has been finalised between the Tasmanian Government and stakeholders in the Tasmanian agriculture industry.
The compact was signed by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TasFarmers), Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (University of Tasmania), Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc, Primary Employers Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government, committing to sharing responsibility for building an accessible, job-focussed and responsive training and workforce development system for the agriculture sector.
Further information:
Agriculture Industry Skills Compact and Priority Action Plan: Skills Tasmania – Industry Partnerships and Collaboration – Agriculture
2024 Tasmanian Training Awards
The 2024 Tasmanian Training Awards Gala Presentation Dinner was held in Launceston on Friday 6 September, celebrating excellence in vocational education and training in Tasmania.
Congratulations to the following award winners:
Apprentice - Benjamin Barker
Trainee - Imogen Tyers
Aboriginal Student - Harley Mansell
Vocational Student - Andrew Bartlett
School-based Trainee - Aleira Chalker
VET Teacher/Trainer - Renee Hinds
VET in Schools Student - Connor Maguire*
Equity Vocational Student - Jennie Garland*
Equity Apprentice - Ryan Frosi*
Small Employer - Howrah Plumbing
Large Employer - Nexus Inc
Small Training Provider - Athena Training Academy
Industry Collaboration - Bethlehem House – Civil Job Start Program
Winners of this year’s Tasmanian Training Awards (in aligned categories) will have the opportunity to represent the state at the Australian Training Awards in Canberra in December.
*There are no national equivalents to the VET in Schools Student Award or the two Equity Awards.
As well as the 13 training awards, two special awards were presented:
The Trevor Leo Medal –Michael Frost
The Trevor Leo Medal is presented to an individual (or organisation) who has made an outstanding contribution to vocational education and training over a sustained period. The 2024 recipient of the Trevor Leo Medal is Michael Frost.
The Lance Barnard Award – Hadi Rezaie
The Lance Barnard Memorial Award is presented to an apprentice or trainee employed in Tasmania under Group Training Arrangements. The award is given for encouragement and recognition of excellence. The 2024 recipient is Hadi Rezaie.
Further information: Skills Tasmania – Tasmanian Training Award – 2024 Award winners
WorldSkills Australia update
Since 1981 WorldSkills Australia has been a member of an international movement operating skills-based competitions at regional, national and international levels. The competitions are held over a two-year cycle.
The 2024 WorldSkills International Competition was held from 10-15 September in Lyon, France. The world’s largest international skills competition, featuring 1400 competitors from 70 countries and regions, concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony on Sunday, 15 September. Australia’s team, the Skillaroos, came home with a Bronze Medal in Welding, 14 medallions for excellence and ranked 14th out of 59 countries.
Meanwhile, back in Australia the 2024 WorldSkills Australia Regional Competitions are continuing. TasTAFE is hosting Tasmania’s regional competitions at campuses around the state. Eligible gold medallists will have the opportunity to represent Tasmania at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in June 2025.
Further information:
TasTAFE - WorldSkills
WorldSkills
Youth Jobs Strategy released
The Tasmanian Government’s first Youth Jobs Strategy has been released.
The strategy will work to ensure the right supports, partnerships and policies are in place to help young Tasmanians navigate smooth, informed pathways to education, training or work.
The strategy builds on existing efforts across governments, industry, and community to ensure that all young people in Tasmania can access opportunities for employment in decent, meaningful work, and employers and industry can attract, develop and retain skilled young employees for a thriving community and productive economy.
Further information: www.youthjobsstrategy.tas.gov.au
New resources for students with disability
The Australian Government Department of Education has released new resources for students with disability and their parents and caregivers. The resources provide practical information about the rights of students with disability and the obligations of education providers under the Disability Standards for Education 2005. The resources were co-designed by people with disability with help from Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).
The new resources include How to advocate – a guide to help school and tertiary students with disabilities to build self-advocacy skills and to raise and resolve concerns with education providers.
Further information: Department of Education
We would appreciate you sharing this information with your student community.
