Gazette THE
Monthly Newsletter August 2015 Volume 6 No 7
At the Albany campus presentation of scholarships, Governing Council Chair Scott Leary (right) and Richard Grist (left, representing the Jack Family Charitable Trust and the Grist Family), celebrate with the recipients.
Scholarships a boost to studies Scholarship presentations for Semester 2 were held recently at Great Southern Institute of Technology’s Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker campuses. Acting Managing Director Chris Jones, who conducted the presentations at the Denmark and Mount Barker campuses, said the valuable support of the sponsors played a large part in encouraging people to enrol in vocational education
and training and helping the recipients to reach their study and career goals. Thanking the scholarship sponsors for their generosity, Chris said their contribution would help to relieve the financial pressure of studying. “We truly appreciate your commitment to rewarding educational effort and helping to remove barriers to academic success,” he told the sponsors.
Wishing the recipients well in their studies and their future endeavours, Chris said he hoped the sponsors’ significant assistance would help them to make a positive contribution to the community through their chosen careers. Minister for Training and Workforce Development Liza Harvey will present the scholarships at the institute’s Katanning campus on Thursday 27 August.
More photos and list of scholarship recipients on page 2
The Gazette – August 2015
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Scholarships a boost to studies
At the Denmark presentation are Portfolio Acting Managing Director Chris Jones Manager Commerce Lee-Anne Smith, Peter with horticulture students Hwayming Zuks, Ruby Moon, Terry MacKintosh, Richard Grist representing the Grist Family, Music Ker and Rebecca Green after the presentation ceremony at the Mount Lecturer Tony King and Denmark Campus Coordinator Sue Dybing. Barker campus.
Scholarship recipients Semester 2, 2015 Jack Family Charitable Trust 20 scholarships of $500 each awarded to: • Kerry Leahy • Angela Cassells • Jacob Podlich • Darlyn Salvador • Linda Harloe • Marian Gaythwaite • Narelle Woodward • Alex Peirce • Rhiannon Tetlow • Hwayming Ker • Kallan Holt • Lukas Sturch • Zachery Pierce • Tee K Mwee Ku • Alexander Brooks • Patricia Johnston • Samara Schulz • Aaron Westmacott
• Matthew Lambert • Sujan Thapa • Rebecca Green Grist Family Scholarships Three scholarships of $1000 each for music students: • Ruby Moon • Terence MacKintosh • Alla Hayes Albany Community Living Association Total course fees paid for a student of the Certificate IV in Community Services: • Corinne Stoner Albany Youth Support Association Two scholarships of $500
each for a student of the Certificate IV in Youth Work • Breanda Nesbitt • Linda Higgins Denmark Music Foundation One scholarship of $500 for a student of the Diploma of Music: • Peter Zuks. Don McLeish Memorial Scholarship (sponsored by Albany Halfway House Association) One scholarship of $600 for a student of the Certificate IV in Mental Health: • Darian Mercuri.
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Kadadjiny Noongar Moort
Tyrone Williams paints the outside of the Noongar centre.
Rueben Hart is part of the hardworking group.
Program raises cultural awareness To promote Aboriginal participation in training, Great Southern Institute of Technology offers a number of programs specifically for Aboriginal people. These are often presented in collaboration with other agencies working to help people find sustainable, long-term employment. Participants gain real skills for the workforce, a positive learning experience, and a sense of achievement on attaining their qualification. One program delivering all of these qualities, as well as attracting praise from members of the public, is the Certificate II in Rural Operations, which is being delivered in Mount Barker. This has been taken up by about 16 of the town’s Aboriginal people. As part of the course, students have tried their hand at a variety of disciplines, including horticulture and landscaping,
and learnt practical skills such as clearing vegetation and painting. But what makes it particularly valuable to the Aboriginal participants is the strong cultural aspect of the work they are doing. Lecturer Larry Blight said the group had worked hard to clear the land outside the town’s Aboriginal centre Yongka Quarberup and around the community park in Margaret Street, ready for restoration. They had also learnt to operate a Kanga mini loader, which they had used to clear the park. Larry said the land had been handed back to the Noongar community by the Shire of Plantagenet, so the people were taking responsibility and ownership of it. “An important part of the course is the cultural activity, and we look at artefacts and talk about country,” he said. Continued on page 5
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FROM THE
MD’s Desk
We have had a busy start to the second half of the year, with several changes for staff to adapt to. A new governance procedure has been developed for greater efficiency, and a completely new corporate executive structure will bring a fresh perspective to business.
AROUND THE INSTITUTE Training and Workforce Development Minister Liza Harvey will visit the Albany and Katanning campuses on 26 August. She will be walking around both campuses, so please make her welcome if she visits your area. My thanks and congratulations go to staff who have worked on the Unique Student Identifier (USI) issue, encouraging all students to get their USI. The Department has indicated it is pleased with the response from this institute. Director Organisational Effectiveness Ed Armstrong’s negotiations with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) for delivery of the BSc (Nursing) are progressing, and the signs are that we will be delivering the degree course for USQ in Semester 1, 2017. Following the recent situation in which a lecturer’s safety was compromised by an aggressive member of the public, our OSH Coordinator Rick Muller has introduced a smartphone-based duress alarm for remote lecturing staff. Thank you to the HR team of Paula, Jaime and Cassie, who have managed the section most capably in a difficult time of transition, and I extend a warm welcome to our new HR Manager Belinda Schupp. I also welcome new Governing Council members Carl Beck and Ezzard Flowers,
whose profiles appear on pages 14 and 15, and Kim Adams, who will be introduced in next month’s Gazette. In other news, staff have attended the higher education forum, which included information on youth allowance, Abstudy and equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL) rates. The institute’s submission to facilitate one of the eight national pilot Regional High Performance Networks has been accepted. The RHPN is a professional development strategy for regional leaders/managers delivered by the University of Technology Sydney, and this region’s pilot will include managers/CEOs from the public sector, local government and non-government organisations.
PORTFOLIO NEWS The Environment and Primary Industries A number of Diploma of Conservation and Land Management students are applying for leadership positions with the Federal Government’s Green Army initiative. The dairy community on the west coast is interested in a short course in quad bike safety operations, which the portfolio expects to deliver in the next few weeks, and staff are discussing the delivery of short courses to commercial egg producers. An arrangement with the Department of Parks and Wildlife has been extended to include the delivery of national units of competency in four-wheel driving for the accredited training of their staff. The portfolio is preparing to deliver the ‘Cups on, Cups off’ (COCO) short course to dairy farmers once the calving season is completed next month. Continued on page 5
The Gazette – August 2015 FROM THE
MD’s Desk From page 4 New courses, some specifically for Aboriginal students, have been added to scope and will be delivered in 2016. Commerce Representatives of regional high schools attended a VET in Schools information session on 30 July. The institute’s VETiS delivery will change substantially in 2016 as a result of changes to student eligibility. Health Sciences and Community Services Four nursing staff recently completed training for the patient simulator at the Health Trade Training Centre based at NASHS. At meetings with aged care providers in Albany and Katanning, our staff discussed training options for their staff.
Program raises cultural awareness From page 3 While painting the side of the Yongka Quarberup building, student Rueben Hart said Mount Barker residents had noticed the project going on and many had stopped to compliment the students on their work and achievements. “They’ve noticed the big clean-up,” Reuben smiled. For his part, Tyrone Williams said the whole experience had been fun, but he was particularly interested in the gardening, and was enjoying revegetating the park and the gardens around the centre. “I have green thumbs, so the planting is the best part for me,” he said. Amity Health Community Social Worker Leith Maddock and Wanslea’s Amanda Baxter run the Family Fun and Learning Mums’ and Bubs’ group in the town. The group is revitalising the Noongar
5 These included medical terminology workshops, and addressing issues such as dementia awareness, diabetes, healthy eating and cooking, drug and alcohol awareness and domestic violence. Portfolio staff have also been busy implementing the replacement of 16 qualifications on scope. Trades and Allied Industries Three pre-apprentice programs this semester have attracted good numbers of students. These are in electrotechnology, carpentry and joinery, and metal fabrication. Also, discussions with regional employers will determine opportunities to up-skill plumbers. Skills Development Centre The portfolio has agreed to deliver Working at Heights training to CBH staff throughout the region in 2016. Finally, I wish you well for Semester 2. Regards Chris playground and collaborating with Larry and the students to get the work done. Leith said the mothers had created a sixseasons hopscotch, which the students would install in the Noongar Playground. “They are all thrilled it will soon be in the playground,” Leith said. “The women and children who attend the group are very proud of their partners and fathers who are part of the TAFE course and they are looking forward to seeing the work done in time for the group’s Christmas party at the Noongar playground,” she said. Larry said the students, who were also involved in planning the project, had been an industrious group. “I’ve been blown away by how much everyone has got into it,” Larry said. “I couldn’t be happier with way things are going here,” he added. He said other institute lecturers would deliver units in specialised areas such as first aid, chainsaw operation and White Card industrial training during the semesterlong course which would run until the end of the year.
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The Gazette – August 2015
Acting Managing Director Chris Jones (centre) talks with lecturer Jim Vonk (right) and horticulture student Sasha Russell.
Acting MD fit for new role
Following the retirement of the institute’s long-serving Managing Director Lidia Rozlapa, Organisational Effectiveness Director Chris Jones has stepped up to the plate until a new MD is appointed – which is expected to be at the start of next year. Chris’s long career in various branches of education fits him well for the position, and he is prepared for the challenges the institute will face over the coming months. Combining a career in education with his proclivity for physical activity and sport set Chris on a varied and rewarding path to his current position. He was brought up in Papua New Guinea and educated at a boarding school in NSW. His first job was as a clerk in Port Moresby, which he left to take a three-year jaunt travelling and working in the UK and Southern Africa. “My last memorable activity before leaving
PNG wasn’t of clerical work but of a solo walk along the Kokoda Track,” he said. On his return to Australia in 1977, Chris gained a Diploma of Recreation from Nedlands Secondary Teachers’ College. Working initially on leadership programs for large corporations – in which he took staff abseiling, canoeing, hiking and caving – Chris then moved to Alice Springs, from where he delivered staff training at Aboriginal Communities in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Another three-year overseas stint followed. This included teaching English in Taiwan and working on a youth training scheme in the UK. Chris joined the TAFE system on his return to WA in 1985 as coordinator of programs for unemployed youth in Kwinana. Continued on page 7
The Gazette – August 2015
Acting MD fit for new role From page 6 stop, though his position has changed Over the next few years, he worked several times since he arrived in 2007 with the Department of Employment as Director for Enterprise. and Training on Aboriginal labour He is Director Organisational programs before moving to Albany as Effectiveness with responsibility for a Regional Employment Coordinator governance and business and strategic working closely with communityplanning, though for now at least, he is based labour market agencies and Acting Managing Director. representing the Sports and fitness State Government have always played a on management major part in Chris’s life. committees of several In addition to walking training and employment the Kokoda Trail, he organisations. cycled solo across the On a secondment to Himalayas, where he Fiji, he established a has since returned to job centre, developed trek or paraglide. A priority will a work experience In 2013, he spent program for schools 12 weeks cycling be meeting and technical colleges across the USA, and the key and promoted career he regularly surfs and performance pathways by holding swims –– often in exotic Fiji’s first career expo. indicators for locations. A highlight was Chris has firm plans for 2015. brushing up on his golf his next few months as skills on Fiji’s famous he leads the institute’s Robert Trent Jones-designed Pacific staff through a period of transition. Harbour course. “The institute will need to re-position On his return, he worked again on to accommodate significant changes Aboriginal Programs, partnering with in the way VET is funded, ensure we the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to comply with the new RTO standards, establish the forerunner to the current and undertake preliminary work for Aboriginal School-Based Traineeship the planned new student management (ASBT) Program. system,” Chris said. With his promotion to Director “A priority will be meeting the key Regional Employment, Chris took performance indicators for 2015 as responsibility for eight regional offices represented by the agreement with the of the Department of Employment, WA State Government for the institute and management of community-based to deliver 1,054,604 SCH,” he added. programs across the State. “Also, a new three-year strategic plan He also managed the transition of will be developed in consultation with the 52 State Joblink programs into staff and community members. the existing Workforce Development “This will ensure the institute Centres. continues to deliver the training and Great Southern TAFE was Chris’s last services needed in our region.
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Library construction kicks off With the relocation of the library and bookshop to the demountable buildings in the main car park, work could start on the refurbishment program.
The concrete slab in the old cafĂŠ foyer has been removed, and the library has been stripped out ready for the construction work. When the project is
finished at the end of this year, it will give staff and students a comfortable, contemporary space for study, communication and relaxation.
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Group plans to build on skills Students of the Certificate IV in Residential Drafting took advantage of a sunny winter morning to put the surveying equipment into practice at the Albany campus car park. Performing a task called closed-circuit traverse, the students used the automatic level under the guidance of lecturer Ben Mitchell.
Lecturer Ben Mitchell (right) shows Michael Walmsley the finer points of operating the automatic level.
Above: Lara Wynne with the staff which the students used to read the levels. Left: Eloise-Mae Varga (above) and Steve McCarthy (below) try out the automatic level.
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The Gazette – August 2015
CLM students make the most of winter warmth Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management students made the most of the beautiful winter sunshine during August to complete works around the Horticulture area in R Block.
Wayne Williams plants out leeks in the vegetable beds.
Chloe Pinker and Darcy Martin construct a gravel path.
Lani Smith and Marcus Randall help to construct a new espalier area.
Rob Reynolds digs post holes with the mini digger.
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Connections made at morning tea
Certificate IV in Business students held a morning tea for the networking unit of their course on Friday 31 July. The students enjoyed the opportunity to share contacts and knowledge with experienced business people.
Tim Ross from Wongutha CAPS and Business Lecturer Louise Hillman.
Business Lecturer Chris Sainty and student Dave Kuyer.
Students Anastasia Kladieva and Mark Jones with Business Lecturer Gill Hazel.
Student Lisa Dunham and Business Lecturer Donna White.
Check out what’s happening at Your Regional TAFE
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Board welcomes new members Great Southern Institute of Technology welcomed two new members to the board of the Governing Council in July. Between them, Carl Beck and Ezzard Flowers bring wide experience in the areas of education, local and State Government, and promotion of opportunities for Aboriginal people. A firm belief in the benefits of training and professional development and a desire to help people reach their potential influenced South Coast Natural Resource Management CEO Carl Beck to join the institute’s Governing Council. During his career of nearly 30 years in state and local government organisations, Carl has been a keen advocate of vocational education and training – for the staff under his management and for people undertaking training programs he has organised. Carl lived in various parts of Western Australia during his 20 years with the Department of Conservation and Land Management. His diverse duties included organising mentor training for Aboriginal people and setting up programs to develop employment prospects for people with disability. In 2005, Carl was appointed Manager of Community Services with the Shire of Katanning, where he also served as Acting CEO. The Shire made opportunities available to young people gaining skills for the workforce – one of whom was 2011 Australian Trainee of the Year Abbey Sergeant. “We had some excellent trainees, including a number of Aboriginal school-based trainees,” Carl said. He moved to Albany in 2012. Having completed a company directors’ course two years ago and served on the boards of several other organisations, Carl believes his wide experience will benefit the Governing Council and help to shape the future of the institute.
Carl Beck.
But he also expects a degree of personal development. “I will see how governance works in the education system,” Carl said. “I’m looking forward to working closely with quality people and building relationships with them,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to be part of a professional organisation.” As he moved around the State, Carl’s passion for the environment was matched by his strong community connections, a situation which has continued since he took up the reins of South Coast NRM. “I can combine the two in my current job,” Carl said, explaining the move to Albany had presented new prospects for his family. “The education system has been fantastic for me and my two kids,” he said. “Now I can give something back, it’s exciting.”
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As chair of the Aboriginal Education, Employment and Training Committee, Noongar man Ezzard Flowers is a strong supporter of training and educational opportunities for Aboriginal people. Ezzard applied to join the Governing Council because his own experiences with the institute had opened doors to a rewarding and productive career. “I was given a second chance back in 1994, when I came to TAFE,” Ezzard said. “I have been grateful for the opportunities I was given and I haven’t looked back.” Ezzard said he had been fortunate to have worked in liaison with the institute and Aboriginal organisations in the areas of mentoring and health. He believes education in these areas has a positive influence on personal development and consequently, community development. The Governing Council will benefit from his experience as a Noongar man. “I will pass on my knowledge of community and professional development, and focus on positive education outcomes across the board,” Ezzard said. “And I will see the institute’s vision for Indigenous development from the inside, particularly in regard to collaboration and working in partnership with other agencies.” Having served on other boards and committees influencing vocational
education and employment for Aboriginal people, Ezzard believes his experience will be valuable, though he is already impressed by the progress the institute has made over the past two decades. “I acknowledge the contribution and achievements of the institute under Managing Director Lidia Rozlapa,” Ezzard said. “Her input and expertise in regard to Indigenous education has been very positive and a lot of Noongar people acknowledge what the institute has done for the community.”
Fast Facts
Terms of Reference
The Governing Council is the governing body of Great Southern Institute of Technology, having the right of authority to control and influence its operations and affairs. The council is also designated as the employing authority and the accountable authority under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985. Membership of Great Southern Institute Governing Council is made up of community and industry representatives applying to, and nominated by, the Minister for Training and Workforce Development.
Ezzard Flowers.
Under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996, the Governing Council is to: a) prepare an institute training profile for the approval of the Minister as and when required by the Minister b) develop and implement strategic and management plans for the institute c) ensure the institute’s courses, programs and services are responsive to, and meet, the needs of students, industry and the community d) ensure that the institute’s commitments under its resource agreement and any other contractual arrangements are met.
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Putting skills into practice
Students around the Albany campus workshops and classrooms are absorbed in their studies. Enrolled nursing student Tiffany Aske.
Kallan Holt in the Building and Construction workshop.
Building and Construction student Dylan Smith.
Alejo G Trayvilla Jr studying fitting and turning.
Todd Van der Brugge, taking an Automotive course.
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Chicken roast a staff winter treat For their Certificate II in Kitchen Operations course, two groups of students produced succulent roast chicken dinners, which were offered for sale to Albany campus staff. Working from the training kitchen, the students cooked the meals as part of the unit Produce dishes using basic methods of cookery. The roast chicken, which was accompanied by roast and fresh vegetables and gravy, was a welcome winter meal. Right: Meghan Lea and Emily Lawrence baste the roast chook.
Beauty and the beasts in the classroom An animal theme brought out their wildest imagination for the institute’s Diploma of Beauty Therapy students on a recent photographic make-up day. Showing off their animal magnetism are: (Back row) Emily Rampant (Swan); Jessi Stone (Deer); Georgie Bertola (Snake); Amy Quinn (fish); (front row) Crystal Greasly (Cat); Rhi Viggers (Fox); Danielle Emin (Shark) and Krystal Donhart (Zebra).
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In this month’s QIG article, we take another look at the requirements for validation under the Standards for RTOs 2015.
New validation method more reliable Validation as we have known it has changed. Traditionally, validation was ‘before’ administering the assessment, but now emphasis has moved to ‘after’ the event. ‘Before’ is about predicting if the tools will produce the evidence demanded by industry and the training package or accredited course. Moving the formal validation to ‘after’ the event allows you and the validator/team to examine the process and the evidence it produced! This outcome is obviously far more reliable than what we have done in the past. This does not mean we do not check the assessment meets requirements before we use it – we do!
We just do it less formally by ensuring we use the TAP template and completing a simple self-assessment checklist. Just to make sure we haven’t missed anything, we then get a colleague (with the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment) to do a quick check and sign it off and it is done! Having used the TAP, it is time to get into the post-validation. This examines the process and the evidence collected. For this evidence, the assessor and the validator/team take a close look at the process, tasks, tools such as checklists, samples of student work and anything else collected as evidence to decide validity. – Ray Tuckey
Access All Areas with Wendy Macliver
Accessibility is important for all delivery modes of education and training, including online learning. Education providers have a requirement to provide accessible learning materials to students with disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the supporting Education Standards 2005. Accessible online learning is learning that is designed and delivered so that all students can access this, including students with
Accessible online learning
a sensory or learning disability. If you are placing learning materials online, can these be read by a screen reader or text-tospeech software? Do you include captions of video and transcripts of audio material? Take a look at this Accessible Online Learning Toolkit to help you to develop online accessible learning. Contact me if you would like some assistance with ensuring your online course is accessible.
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Djilba Noongar people describe the seasons differently to European people as they believe the land has its own rhythms. Local Menang people have traditionally acknowledged six seasons.
Birak – December to January Bunuru – February to March Djeran – April to May Makuru – June to July Djilba – August to September Kambarang – October to November
This month, The Gazette continues its series of articles on the characteristics of each Noongar season with Djilba, the coldest season.
Inland areas give shelter from storms Characterised by wet weather, light frosts and the occasional clear, warmer day, Djilba is the coldest season. Flowering Acacias, red and green kangaroo paws, parrot bushes and Balgas (grass trees) are among the showy displays of wildflowers. To shelter from the wild storms and cold winds off the Southern Ocean, the people traditionally moved to the sheltered inland bush areas. These provided water and, as wildlife moved to water sources to drink, the
hunting was plentiful. Djilba is the breeding season for birds, animals and fish, bringing a good source of food. Family groups working together would use smoke to drive possums from tree hollows, and hunt yonga (kangaroos), quenda (bandicoots) and waitch (emus). Native potato tubers and roots were gathered, and emu eggs and young parrots were a further food source, as were the snakes and lizards which emerged towards the end of the season. Emus and their eggs were a good source of food.
Kangaroo paws are among the showy displays of wildflowers.
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Seeds
OF SUSTAINABILITY
Free workshops on soil microbiology Respected microbiologist Walter Jehne will be holding workshops in the Great Southern region during September. Mr Jehne is a soil microbiologist with extensive research and field experience in Australia (with the CSIRO) and overseas on the management of soil biology in regenerating soil health and the productivity and resilience of our agro-ecosystems. As part of Healthy Soils Australia, a network of leading farmers and scientists, he has been helping groups of innovative farmers throughout Australia refine practical ecological strategies to revitalise soil and farm outcomes and help maximise the commercial value, capture and viability of regional communities. This involves initiatives with Soils for Life in Australia and international bodies to focus policies and support to help farmers commercialise innovative change to regenerate the health of our soils and landscape and secure essential water, food, material, habitat and climate outcomes for our future. All workshops are free and booking is not necessary. Phone 9841 6201 for more information.
Workshop dates and locations 1. All-day workshop 9am to 4pm on Friday 4 September. Broadacre farming and primary producers. Frederick Square Sports Club, Cranbrook. 2. Half-day workshop 8.30-11.30am on Saturday 5 September. Soil health for blue gum conversion. South Coast NRM Learning Centre, 39 Mercer Road, Albany. 3. Half-day workshop 2-5pm on Saturday 5 September. The Greatest Food Networking Group Ever. Bornholm Hall, Lower Denmark Road.
ARE YOU A LECTURER NEEDING SUPPORT?
Principal Lecturers are here to support you to deliver the best possible training experience for our students. We offer a range of workshop-based and ‘at-your-desk’ support including help with validation, coaching for new staff and audit preparation • Coaching and mentoring for new staff • Moodle support from beginner to advanced.
We are also able to set up individual and small-group sessions on any training or assessment-related topic.
Phone Ray on 9892 8831 or Ruth on 9892 8759
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Agreement supports partnership
Great Southern Institute of Technology Managing Director Lidia Rozlapa and City of Albany CEO Graham Foster sign a Memorandum of Understanding. A training agreement between Great Southern Institute of Technology and the City of Albany was boosted with the recent renewal of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties. City CEO Graham Foster attended the institute to sign the document with Managing Director Lidia Rozlapa. The memorandum consolidates a long-standing relationship between the two organisations, in which the institute delivers training to City of Albany staff. Ms Rozlapa said the arrangement benefited both signatories. “The two organisations are important for building the capacity of the region,” Ms Rozlapa said.
“The institute delivers training to help the City meet its strategic objectives for the development of its workforce,” she said. “We are in touch with the City’s specific needs, and our Aboriginal Programs division is working closely with the City of Albany to deliver appropriate training programs for Indigenous staff.” Mr Foster said the association been extremely successful. “This gives staff the opportunity to be engaged with industry first-hand and helps Indigenous people to take the first step into the workforce,” Mr Foster said. “We look forward to continuing our close relationship with the institute.”
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HR News With Paula Pattinson
Positions Advertised • Lecturer Work Health and Safety – selection process not yet completed • Principal Lecturer, Environment and Primary Industries – successful applicant was Peter Young • Head of Programs, Trades and Allied Industries – process cancelled • Internal EOI Relief Business Systems Administrator – successful applicant was Debbie Williams • Tenders and Grants Consultant – applications closed on 6 August, selection process net yet completed • Internal EOI Relief Vehicle Fleet Manager/Divisional Technician – successful applicant was Vicki Halliday • Internal EOI Relief Portfolio Manager, Trades and Allied Industries – successful applicant was Andrea Gallagher • Portfolio Support Officer, Trades and Allied Industries – applications closed 13 August, selection process not yet completed • Lecturer Bookkeeping and Accounting – applications close 25 August New staff A warm welcome is extended to the following new or recommencing staff: • Darryl Byatt, Casual Lecturer Electrotechnology • Graeme Simpson, Casual Lecturer Conservation and Land Management • Andrea Rundle, Casual Lecturer GATE, Katanning • Lindsay Sercombe, Casual Lecturer Metal Fabrication • Sarah Spink, Casual Lecturer Child Care • Douglas Goodwin, Casual Lecturer Allied Health • Jason Miniter, Casual Lecturer Aboriginal Programs • Darcy Hall, Casual Lecturer Earth Moving • Jeffrey Lee, Casual Lecturer Metal Fabrication • Tamala Ridge, Casual Lecturer Community Services • Belinda Schupp, Manager Human Resources
Do you have an idea for an article in The Gazette?
Email marketing@gsit.wa.edu.au
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Farewell, Lidia
After 22 years at the helm of the institute, MD Lidia Rozlapa retired on 24 July. Staff, Governing Council members and invited guests joined Lidia for morning tea in George’s Restaurant. Governing Council Chair Scott Leary paid tribute to Lidia, who responded by thanking everyone and regaling the gathering with some of her more memorable moments. Her institute friends presented her with a gift and a book of photographs taken over her years at the institute.
Lidia receives a service certificate and book of photos from Scott Leary.
Neil Augustson and Kevin O’Connor.
Lidia cuts her retirement cake.
Ron Grey and Karine David.
Ray Tuckey and Stephanie Lindesay.
Tanielle Sherwood, Jaime Eatt, Natalie Hudson and Carolyn Heffernan.
Anne Stafford and Bev Baxter.
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Facts on fat The good fat-bad fat debate is hotly contested in the media. This might make you think there’s a lot of disagreement in the scientific community too. But this isn’t really the case. Most nutrition experts still agree that having a diet lower in saturated fat and higher in unsaturated fat gives the best outcomes for heart health. A lot of the people who are encouraging a diet high in saturated fat don’t have recognised health qualifications and are trying to sell products. So be careful where you get your nutrition advice! Saturated fats These are mainly found in the fat from animal products. For example, butter, cream, meat fat and chicken skin. Coconut is one of the only plant foods high in saturated fat. Saturated fat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and high blood cholesterol. Here are a few tips to eat less saturated fat: • Choose low fat dairy • Trim the fat off your meat • Choose olive oil and other plant oils for cooking.
have been found to have beneficial effects on heart health when they replace saturated fats in the diet. Here are a few tips to help you eat unsaturated fat, rather than saturated fat: • Choose olive oil as a salad dressing • Try to have a few fish meals every week • Use avocado or hummus as a butter alternative.
Unsaturated fats There are many different types of unsaturated fats. You may have heard of Omega 3s and polyunsaturated fats. These are just two types of unsaturated fats. Some of these, like the fat in olive oil,
Which oil should I use? Save the expensive extra virgin olive oil for salads – it’s best raw. For high-heat cooking, vegetable oil, canola oil and peanut oil are all good options. Regular (not extra virgin) olive oil is also suitable.
This column courtesy of Great Southern Population Health. For more information, phone 9842 7500 (Albany) or 9821 6287 (Katanning).
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Safety First With Rick Muller
Current guidance recommends that sitting time at work should be interrupted every 30 minutes. Use the ideas below to help make this happen. Things you can start today 1. If you’re on the phone and you don’t need to be sitting, stand up – or better still, walk. 2. Use a printer that requires you to get up from your workstation. 3. Schedule exercise time on your work calendar and treat it as any other important appointment. 4. Plan a ‘walk and talk’ meeting with a co-worker. 5. Personally deliver messages. 6. When reading paper documents, stand or move to a different space at your workstation. 7. Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch.
Is your business sitting still?
8. Park further away from the office door and walk the extra distance. No matter what your total sitting time is, regular interruptions from sitting (even as little as standing up) may help to limit sitting time and to avoid prolonged periods of sitting.
Lecturers...
Are the new TAC Standards for RTOs as clear as mud? Here’s all the information you need:
See the TAC website for resources and fact sheets. The DTWD’s VETinfoNet page has all the latest news, and you can subscribe through the website to the newsletter vetinfonews
For specific help on any issue with the new standards, see Justine Bradney or Principal Lecturers Ruth McLean or Ray Tuckey.
Your regional TAFE