Vocational overhaul should encourage future workforce

The Productivity Commission's final report into Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector has called for serious overhaul around its confusing and underperforming aspects.

The Commission found that the multi-billion-dollar sector’s funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the states needed major change with lack of transparency, targets not met and poor accountability for monetary allocations.

A peak automotive body said, “This report creates an important evidence base for the reform road ahead. There remain enormous skill shortages across the automotive industry, so it is critical that apprentices and those seeking upskilling are able to access training solutions suitable for their work.

“Many of the current structures of the VET sector have had their day. Australia needs a system that keeps pace with the rapidly changing skill demands of industry. To remain internationally competitive, the fundamental building blocks of reform need to include genuine industry engagement, targeting of funding to industry and job needs, a qualification system that keeps pace through recognising stackable microcredentials and nationally consistent pricing and contractual terms. Incentivising and supporting employers to take on apprentices will also create real jobs post government support programs.”

A training provider (RTO) said, “As an independent industry based automotive training provider, we are encouraged by the recommendations to better link funding to high demand job areas that have high growth potential, like the need for specialist technicians to service and repair hydrogen and electric powered vehicles.

High demand job areas that have high growth potential, like the need for specialist technicians to service and repair hydrogen and electric powered vehicles

Free bumper stickers now available from Transafe WA

The stickers are available in two sizes for HV’s and LV’s. Truck back Posters are also available for your truck/fleet. To organise your stickers and posters email executive. officer@transafewa.com.au

Also from Transafe WA is the unique opportunity available to partner with them for WA to get INSTRUCKTA! on the road for 2021.

INSTRUCKTA! will use cutting edge technology in new ways in the road safety space in WA, to educate current and future road users to share the road safely with heavy vehicles. It is a highly visible platform for project partners to champion road safety leadership and contribute to Driving Change: Road Safety Strategy for Western Australia 2020-2030.

INSTRUCKTA! will reach hundreds of thousands of road users each year - directly via access to the truck - and indirectly, via access to the messaging on digital addresses projections that the number of trucks on Australian roads will double in the next 10 years and triple by 2050 - alongside the target to reduce the road toll in WA to zero by 2050. INSTRUCKTA! needs your support and to find out more contact Lara on 0433 165 272 or email project.officer@transafewa.com.au

2021 Sensis Snapshot

Sensis has revealed its findings from its monthly Business Index Report for January 2021.

First up is the highly topical notion of employees ‘Working-from-Home’ in conjunction with business productivity.

So, how has the ‘new working way of life’ (post-COVID), impacted employee productivity levels since home-life for many Aussie workers have been merged with their and daily place of business?

The January Business Index results show nearly 30% of business owners have seen productivity levels rise due to employee’s working from home. Comparatively less than one in five owners claim productivity levels experienced a declined. Yet despite the positive results in productivity, 40% still maintain their preference being employees returning to the workplace on a full-time basis.

The survey of 1,000 business owners/ managers across all states and across 10 business sectors was conducted by data insights platform Glow in the last week of January.

Key Findings (Snapshot):

• The Finance and Insurance sector saw the biggest uplift with 52% of owners saying productivity increased and 36% with the Health and Community

Services sector also experiencing similar productivity gains. • Understandably, the most affected sector was Transport, which saw a 30% reduction in productivity followed by Construction at 29% and Wholesale at 25%. • The sector where productivity was unaffected the most was

Communications, Property and

Business Services at 65% followed by

Hospitality at 62%.