Newsletter: 31 March 2008

• NATIONAL SKILLS TARGETS - COAG AGREEMENT
• SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SKILLS STRATEGY
• FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN VOCATIONAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH NATIONAL FORUM & WORKSHOP (ENGAGING YOUTH IN VOCATIONAL SKILLS)
• 2ND AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIPS ROUNDTABLE
• NCVER RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2007
• VET FEE-HELP
• DIARY DATES

NATIONAL SKILLS TARGETS - COAG AGREEMENT 

A series of national measures on skills development, and indigenous engagement in skills, seem likely following agreements at last week’s COAG meeting in Adelaide. The COAG communiqué points to the changes proposed, and appears to build on reported discussions at state level, toward contestable funding proposed across VET in future years.

For a copy of the Communiqué click here. See below for extract. To view a media release from the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP click here.

Productivity, Education, Skills and Early Childhood

"For the first time all governments have agreed on a common framework for reform of education, a key step in the Education Revolution. COAG has endorsed a comprehensive set of the aspirations, outcomes, progress measures and future policy directions in the key areas of early childhood, schooling and skills and workforce development that will guide education systems across the nation, building on the initiatives currently underway across States and Territories. COAG has also today agreed to four additional high-level targets that it will use to measure the achievement of reform in Indigenous educational attainment and the vocational education and training sector. 

"COAG also committed to several key strategies to strengthen early childhood education and care, roll out the computers in schools and the trade training centres programs and provide additional training places under Skilling Australia. As an early priority, COAG has agreed to the development of a national partnership agreement focused on the particular educational needs of low socio-economic status school communities. This partnership will form part of the national education funding agreement to be introduced at the beginning of 2009." [SKILLS EXTRACT]

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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SKILLS STRATEGY

The South Australian Government has announced a new skills strategy and introduced a bill to State Parliament that updates South Australia's training legislation and strengthens the VET system.

A report titled 'A Skills Strategy for South Australia's Future' has been released and feedback is being sought. Consultation ends 11 April. To view the report click here. To provide feedback download the form here. 

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FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN VOCATIONAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH NATIONAL FORUM & WORKSHOP (ENGAGING YOUTH IN VOCATIONAL SKILLS) 
WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2008, HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR, HOBART  

Profiles of all 20 speakers for the Hobart Youth Forum will be available on the TDA website. To register for the forum click here. Malcolm White and Margaret Cummins are two of the speakers at the forum. 

Malcolm White is the Chief Executive Officer of TAFE Tasmania. As a TDA Board Member, Malcolm is hosting the forum and will provide the TDA perspective on vocational skills for youth.

Malcolm was appointed CEO of TAFE Tasmania in November 2005 after a long association with the TAFE sector in Tasmania - most recently as General Manager (Client Services). He has a background as an Engineering teacher with the Launceston Institute of TAFE in the 1980s, followed by extensive industry experience working in management positions with Hamersley Iron, Optus and in small business. He rejoined TAFE Tasmania in 1998 as a General Manager on the amalgamation of the former regional TAFE Colleges to form TAFE Tasmania. As well as holding a Certificate in Communications Engineering (RMIT), a Master of Business Administration (Tas), Malcolm also holds an Air Transport Pilot's Licence.

Margaret is the National T3 Traineeship Coordinator for Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited. Margaret will join a panel of speakers discussing the question What does industry need from vocational skills programs for youth?

Margaret Cummins is Chairperson of the National T3 Manufacturers Management Committee. The first 15 years of Margaret's working life were spent as a Mathematics Teacher in various Senior Secondary High Schools in NSW. Margaret joined Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA) in 1997 as an HR and ER Advisor. In 2000 when a three way training partnership was formed between TMCA, TAFE NSW and Toyota Dealerships to provide training for Toyota that met the specific needs of the National Dealer Network, Margaret was transferred to Toyota's National Training and Education Centre (now known as Toyota Institute Australia) to coordinate and grow this "new" T3 Program. The T3 program, initially launched in NSW only in 2001, is now also conducted in VIC, QLD, SA and ACT and has also been embraced by the other Automotive Manufacturers.

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2ND AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIPS ROUNDTABLE

The Australian Government has announced a call for nominations for the 2nd Australian Apprenticeships Roundtable to be held in Canberra 2-4 June. 

The roundtable is an opportunity for enthusiastic apprentices to share their views and experiences in an effort to improve Australian Apprenticeships. Nominees have to be currently enrolled in, or have recently completed, an Australian Apprenticeship. 

For more information about the roundtable and how to nominate click here. 

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NCVER RESEACH HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2007

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released a collection of summaries of all NCVER research published in 2007. 

The document features 2007 research highlights in areas including 'industry and employers', 'students and individuals', 'teaching and learning', 'VET system' and 'VET in context'. 

To view the summaries click here. 

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VET FEE-HELP  

There has been much of debate recently about the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' VET FEE-HELP loan scheme. The revised scheme is set to become available to VET students in the second half of 2008. DEEWR has updated its background brief on the scheme, and further details are expected to be released in May 2008.

For more information about the scheme visit the FAQs page on the DEEWR website. 

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DIARY DATES

AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATORS NATIONAL CONFERENCE (ACE)

FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN VOCATIONAL FOR YOUTH NATIONAL FORUM & WORKSHOP

TAFE DIRECTORS AUSTRALIA - AGM

VICTORIAN TAFE ASSOCIATION STATE CONFERENCE 2008 
'Sustainable Futures for TAFE'

TAFE DIRECTORS AUSTRALIA CEO DIRECTORS  RETREAT

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