Staying Connected in VET eZine | November 2023 | Volume 21

November 2023 Volume 21

Australia’s biannual VET eZine

NOVEMBER 2023

®

Volume 21 | Free

VET STAYING CONNECTED IN

Piloting the Draft Revised Standards for RTO’s Drivers of Students Training Choices 2023 Australian Training Awards

EDUCATE INSPIRE EMPOWER

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CONTENTS Staying Connected in VET November 2023 Volume 21

EDUCATE INSPIRE

EMPOWER

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THE HON. BRENDAN O’CONNER MP, MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING Revitalising Australians workforce: A Half-Century Legacy Renewed in 2023

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SAXON RICE, CEO, ASQA Round Up of the Year

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DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS Piloting the Draft Revised Standards for RTO’s

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VELG TRAINING Thats a Wrap on the 2024 National Vet Conference!

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WILL WHEELER, NEURODIVERSITY ACADEMY FOUNDER Neurodiversity in Higher Education

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NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION NATIONAL CAREERS RESEARCH INSTITUTE Drivers of Students Training Choices: A Focus on Student Support Services as One Indicator of Quality

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ANDREW SHEA, VET EDUCATION AND TRAINING SPECIALIST AND ADVISOR Making your Voice Heard to Improve Our Sector

Recognising our Best in Australian VET 2023 Australian Training Awards

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JOB AND SKILLS COUNCIL Strengthening the Vocational Education and Training Sector: The Role of Jobs and Skills Councils

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WELCOME

LETTER FROM THE CEO Michelle Weaver

Welcome to the 21st edition of the Staying Connected in VET eZine.

I would like to extend a sincere thanks to our article contributors and advertisers, for supporting this publication.

Quite a bit has happened in the sector since the last edition.

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Jobs and Skills Councils, part of the government-led reforms are now established and have begun implementing their key functions.

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The VET Qualification Reform Consultation Feedback was released identifying the areas of broad support and of concern.

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Draft Revised Standards for RTOs have also been released in response to feedback from the initial consultation version and are to be piloted before the year is out and an amended Fit and Proper Person Requirements Instrument is now in place.

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The Towards a National Jobs and Skills Roadmap report was published committing to creating an environment that will foster a shared custodianship of the modern national skills system. One of the key findings was the need to strengthen the VET sector and the perceptions of VET.

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DEWR published the VET Workforce Blueprint Scope which informs development of the comprehensive Blueprint designed to support and grow a quality VET workforce.

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“I am proud to be a part of a sector that is so committed to embracing change and making a meaningful difference, not only in the lives of students but in communities, industries, and each other...”

With all this change happening, I know that RTOs continue to focus on keeping students engaged, practicing self-assurance, reviewing and improving systems and processes, and designing high-quality education and training solutions so that the sector can continue to skill and upskill Australia for the future.

I am proud to be a part of a sector that is so committed to embracing change and making a meaningful difference, not only in the lives of students but in communities, industries, and each other.

I hope this edition of the eZine educates, inspires, and empowers you. May your holiday season be safe and full of joyful, quality time with family and friends.

Michelle Weaver CEO and Founder of Velg Training

So, as we prepare to start another new year, let’s recognise our accomplishments. We’re not just ticking off milestones; we’re lighting the way for a more skilled, capable, and thriving future. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries and shaping a VET sector that’s not just ready for today but prepared for all the tomorrows to come.

@velgtraining www.velgtraining.com Velg Training

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

- Martin Luther King Jr -

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EDUCATE MINISTER’S ADDRESS The Honourable Brendan O’Conner MP, Minister for Skills and Training It’s fifty years since Myer Kangan first conceived of a national TAFE sector and in 2023, we are restoring TAFE to its rightful place, at the heart of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

Our VET sector needs genuine ambition, investment and cooperation.

And it needs champions, which is exactly what it has in the Albanese Government as we embark on key reforms to transform VET. A five-year National Skills Agreement has been reached with all States and Territories – the first of its kind in more than a decade - which should see more than $30 billion in co-investment from all governments into the VET sector.

The agreement will create TAFE Centres of Excellence to increase the collaboration between universities and the VET sector while at the same time delivering the skills and knowledge our labour market and economy needs.

It will accelerate higher and new degree level apprenticeships to bridge the outdated divide between practical and theoretical learning – fixing a void between VET and universities that has existed for far too long.

We are driving reforms to ensure qualifications are relevant, timely, portable and of high-quality, and improving foundation skills delivery to respond to the alarming statistic that one in five adults have skills gaps in literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy.

We are also lifting apprenticeship completion rates and supporting more women, First Nations people, and people from a range of backgrounds to access apprenticeships.

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“Our VET sector needs genuine ambition, investment and cooperation.”

A key element of our agenda is FeeFree TAFE and VET places, delivered in partnership with State and Territory governments.

It is a flagship initiative that provides access to those that have historically experienced barriers to training, while also supporting key industries experiencing skills shortages.

And the numbers speak for themselves.

In the first 6 months, we exceeded our target for 180,000 enrolments, with around 215,000 Australians enrolling in a Fee-Free TAFE course.

That is 215,000 people who are accessing high-quality education and training in areas where we need skilled workers: like nursing and aged care, traditional trades and IT. And we are not taking our foot off the pedal. We are funding a further 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places from next year, to continue this vital program.

Highly skilled workers are essential as our economy transitions to net zero. They are needed for all the re-wiring, replacing, relocating and re-programming, along with the maintenance.

This clean energy workforce includes electricians, engineers, construction and production managers, as well as emerging occupations including solar installers, wind turbine technicians,

energy auditors and energy efficiency engineers.

We are backing those workers of the future through our New Energy Apprenticeship program which provides financial support to apprentices to help them complete their training.

Our nation’s economic, social and environmental agenda cannot be achieved without a major systemic change to the way we educate and train our people. And the National Skills Agreement provides the opportunity to fundamentally rethink our approach to meeting these challenges.

We must arrest the current skills crisis, while also putting ourselves in a position to avert a future skills crisis that could have very real and profound consequences for our future national wellbeing.

Brendan O’Connor is the Federal Minister for Skills and Training .

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November 2023 Volume 21

EDUCATE

ROUND UP OF THE YEAR Saxon Rice, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Skills Quality Authority ASQA’s approach to regulating the Vocational Education and Training sector continues to evolve, with an ongoing focus on the systems and tools training providers need to have in place to effectively assure themselves that they are delivering quality training outcomes. To be an effective regulator, however, we will also continue to take proactive steps to tackle integrity issues in our highly dynamic sector – with the regulatory tools to match.

That’s why the Australian Government’s investment – announced in October – in our compliance, investigative and enforcement capabilities was so welcome.

The investment of $33.3m over 3 years will create a dedicated Integrity Unit within ASQA, alongside an uplift in digital and data systems, and establish a VET tip-off line to provide a safe and confidential avenue for current and former students, staff and other potential whistleblowers to report – anonymously if they wish – alleged illegal and serious non-compliance activity.

The tip-off line – 1300 644 844 – was operational immediately, and we have already had a very valuable initial response, including through the webform.

Together, these measures will enable us to scale up our work to stamp out criminal and non-genuine behaviour,

including by better enabling students and members of the public to come forward with tip-offs about those not doing the right thing, and through more effective information- and intelligencesharing across government.

These initiatives formed part of the government’s response to the issues identified in the Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System, led by Christine Nixon AO. They build on measures announced in late August to target unethical, dishonest or nongenuine providers that undermine confidence and integrity in the VET sector.

This included strengthening the rules for the fit and proper persons test, which gives ASQA broader authority to scrutinise people who own, operate and manage registered training organisations and ensure they meet higher and broader standards.

Put together, these measures will help enable us to deliver on our dual mandate to protect and enhance quality VET and to protect students and the reputation of VET nationally and internationally by holding providers to account to meet their responsibilities.

While we know the majority of providers are motivated to deliver quality training outcomes, unfortunately there remains some in the sector that don’t share that motivation. This puts students at risk,

and undermines confidence in the VET sector.

As the national VET regulator, we remain alert to the changing nature of the sector, and won’t hesitate to use our powers to enforce compliance and, where necessary, cancel a provider’s registration in cases of serious noncompliance.

Given the shared responsibility for quality in our sector, I encourage all stakeholders to report any concerning behaviours or providers to our tip-off line.

ASQA is the national regulator for Australia’s VET sector.

Our purpose is to ensure quality VET so that students, industry, governments, and the community have confidence in the integrity of national qualifications issued by training providers. ASQA is responsible for regulating approximately 90% of Australian VET providers and for accrediting VET courses to ensure nationally approved standards are met.

Twitter | LinkedIn www.asqa.gov.au

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EDUCATE

PILOTING THE DRAFT REVISED STANDARDS FOR RTOS Department of Employment and Workplace Relations All Australian Governments are committed to quality and integrity in the VET sector. In this context, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has been working closely with states and territories to revise the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to strengthen the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers, provide greater clarity for RTOs and regulators, and allow for more flexibility and innovation in training delivery. The revisions aim to provide a clearer and more direct link between the requirements RTOs are expected to meet and the outcomes they are expected to deliver.

An updated version of the draft revised Standards has been released, and a pilot has been announced to test their practical functionality and ensure they support effective regulation. The draft revised Standards have been refined based on feedback received during public consultation held from November 2022 to January 2023.

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In the updated version, some changes to the requirements have been made where a need was identified by the sector, and some structural changes have been made to better support RTOs and regulators. A paper on the development of the draft revised Standards which includes the latest draft Standards and explains key changes since the November 2022 consultation version has been released to support piloting.

The pilot includes an online survey which seeks input on the evidence RTOs would provide to demonstrate conformance with the draft Standards relevant to their operational context, areas where guidance would be most valuable, and other implementation considerations. All RTOs are encouraged to complete the survey.

The pilot will also involve other activities including focus groups with a broad range of RTOs.

DEWR is working closely with VET regulators and states and territories to ensure piloting activities test that the draft revised Standards:

The outcomes of piloting will inform refinements to finalise the revised Standards, as well as the development of guidance materials and resources to support the sector and updates to regulatory policies, practices and tools.

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enable consistent understanding across both RTOs and regulators

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enable RTOs of different types, sizes and focus to demonstrate compliance in different ways,

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allow for sufficient flexibility to enable excellence and innovation, and

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enable VET regulators to effectively identify risk and differentiate providers.

You can find further information at www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/qualityreforms.

LinkedIn | Facebook www.dewr.gov.au

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INSPIRE

THAT’S A WRAP ON THE 2024 NATIONAL VET CONFERENCE! Velg Training Our 16th annual National VET Conference was held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre this month and we were so proud to have seen over 900 people in attendance!

The fabulous Gold Coast put on some spectacular November weather as the backdrop to the exciting range of presentations, interactions and activities.

what enables RTOs to assure themselves that they “are achieving quality outcomes and continuously improving amongst ongoing, and arguably rapid, change in the sector and in the delivery of training.”

Our theme this year was “Training the Nation: Transforming Lives,” and the event had a real air of celebration about the fact that Vocational Education and Training (VET) has such an impact on individuals, Day one’s official open included the all-important communities, and industries. In keeping with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) update fact that Velg Training celebrates its 20th birthday delivered by CEO, Saxon Rice. Ms Rice referred to this year, and that there is so much to be proud of the current operating environment for the sector and celebrate as a sector, a special plenary session acknowledging that “it’s fair to say that in many was dedicated to showcasing a range of fantastic ways…..it is still incredibly complex in that there are influences made by a diverse range of trainers, RTOs enormous demands on the sector, there continues to be and students. significant challenges on a number of fronts and there remains ongoing change.” She continued by describing Celebration continued with the awarding of the how an RTO’s system of governance is more important inaugural John Dwyer Honorary Award – recognising than ever and that robust internal systems will be and honouring positive impact in the VET sector, to

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November 2023 Volume 21

Our inspirational speaker Michael Crossland shared his incredibly raw, real, and truly lifechanging story.

His authentic narrative bringing a smile to hearts and leaving not a dry eye in the house.

John Dywer himself. This award will become an annual recognition of dedication and positive influence for nominees who are seen to have enriched the industry or impacted students or communities, or even supported fellow professionals, recognising the unsung heroes of VET. Across both days, the program’s elective sessions provided opportunities for delegates to participate in PD content categories of quality training, assessment, digital/online facilitation, student engagement, management, compliance, and VET in Schools. There was also a new Showcasing category designed to display niche case studies and examples of innovative concepts.

Delegates were dazzled by an evening of All that Glitters in black and gold elegance at the beloved Welcome Function. Featuring a live student Jazz trio from the Jazz Music Institute, attendees had a wonderful opportunity for meaningful networking and conversations before the volume was turned up for dancing, great food and drinks, a DJ, and some fantastic prizes.

As 2023 closes and we have another NVC under our belt, the team at Velg Training start to work on the 2024 event, which will focus on The VET Equation: Quality Inputs = Remarkable Outcomes. We hope this theme will embed and support a commitment to enriching the quality of inputs so that we can produce fantastic results as a sector.

Thank you so much to all of the Sponsors, Exhibitors, Presenters, and Delegates who made the #2023NVC such a meaningful event. We hope to see you all again next year!

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INSPIRE

#2023NVC - TRAINING THE NATION: TRANSFORMING LIVES Leonie Davis, Director of Operations, Velg Training The 2023 National VET Conference is locked and loaded and set to deliver a valuable and meaningful experience for all delegates.

professionals across the country and the sector as a whole.

“This year, WE’RE HERE This TOyear,MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER there is something for there is everyone in the program, providing a diverse and engaging offering of Taking place on November 2nd and valuable PD for all attendees, no matter something for 3rd at the Gold Coast Convention & VELG WHY TRAINING MEMBERSHIP? which role they hold.

Exhibition Centre, the conference Velg Training Membership supports your compliance and professional development everyone inneeds. the theme “Training the Nation: Through our Content Categories, Transforming Lives” aims to be dedicated to the allAs a member you have access tosessions a widewill range of benefits, programs and resources designed to celebrate the critical role vocational program...” important training, assessment, and

save you both time and money. education and training plays in compliance topics but also sessions hour will be all about letting loose and transforming individuals’ lives and specifically for VET in Schools, having fun with games, prize giveaways contributing the nation’s growth.

Wetohave options to suit small, medium or largeand Registered Training Organisations!

Management/Leadership, our and music to keep you moving and Whether you are event a CEO, RTO Manager, Compliance new category: ShowcasingOfficer, (designedTrainer, Assessor or Administrator Our most loved annual promises grooving. program hereor to help! to highlight concepts, case is studies, to provide opportunities once againour for Membership The #2023NVC promises to deliver an examples of innovative approaches in quality professional development and the VET sector, inspiring new ideas and unforgettable experience for all, and goal setting, and reflection, fostering hope you join us in celebration of creative solutions.) personal and professional growth. TRAINING ALL VELG MEMBERS RECEIVEwe ACCESS TO: Training the Nation: Transforming Lives.

The welcome function will be We hope that the #2023NVC will something exceptional in 2023. also foster a sense of belonging and In response to feedback, it will community enabling delegates to be a memorable evening that collaborate, exchange ideas, and learn perfectly balances networking and from one another.

EXCLUSIVE FREE PD MEMBERS ONLY WEEKLY FREE MONTHLY entertainment.

The first part of the CURATED Importantly we want to promote KNOWLEDGE HUB & PRODUCTS MEMBER ENEWS COMPLIANCE CHATS function will be an intimate setting leaning into the conference theme by so you can mingle, chat, and make truly celebrating the successes of VET meaningful connections while the last

WWW.VELGTRAINING.COM/MEMBERSHIP

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November 2023 Volume 21

INSPIRE

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES VALUABLE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS National Centre for Vocational Education Research Choosing a Vocational Education and Training (VET) provider can be an overwhelming process for prospective students, particularly with the large quantity of training providers and study options on offer. There are several factors that influence students when considering a training provider, some of which were explored in a National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) research report released in August this year.

Previous studies have explored influential factors including views of trusted influencers, course timetables, location of the training, perceived quality of training provider and affordability. Despite this, the extent to which these factors influenced student choices and interacted with each other, as well as the potential role of student support services, remains uncertain.

NCVER’s research report, Drivers of student training choices – a focus on student support services, investigated the influence of the availability of student support services on students when choosing a prospective training provider. It compared student support services with other influences on student choice of training providers including course cost, delivery mode and travel time. It mainly focused on health and welfare support, career

counselling and job-search support, and tutoring and guidance on study skills.

The research found that course cost, travel time and course delivery were found to be the most influential factors for students when choosing a training provider; however, the availability of student support services was also a key consideration. Ultimately, students were more likely to consider training providers that offered student support services over training providers that did not offer student support services.

There were varying levels of student support services offered across training providers, with any form of support considered more valuable to students than none.

Despite course cost being the most influential factor for students, students were willing to pay additional costs to access student support services, including tailored one-on-one support or group sessions.

The research also found that student support services were considered important for students across all equity groups. Training providers could benefit by promoting in-depth information on the student support services they provide for students across all student cohorts, rather than only for certain demographics such as

people with a disability or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Drivers of student training choices – a focus on student support services report is available for download on the NCVER website.

This research was conducted by manually scraping a random sample of 100 RTO websites and their social media and MySkills pages. The information served as the basis for creating a discrete choice experiment, with a sample of 650 participants between the ages of 16 and 64. It is one of the first Australian VET research investigations to use a discrete choice experiment to explore drivers of student training choices and to focus on student support services.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is the national professional body responsible for collecting, managing, analysing and communicating research and statistics on the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook www.ncver.edu.au

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INSPIRE

MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD TO IMPROVE OUR SECTOR Andrew Shea, VET Education and Training Specialist and Advisor Everywhere we look across the Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector, there are reviews underway, quality reforms spoken about, and proposed changes afoot. With new technologies, changing workforce requirements, and innovation and increased flexibility genuinely required, these are understandable, yet, rather than a disruptive industry revolution occurring, as being championed by some, a pragmatic evolution that builds on the largely fantastic work and strong outcomes already being achieved is required.

In the last few months alone, we have seen: •

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the latest draft revised Standards for RTOs released as part of a final consultation stage prior an expected full implementation from January 1, 2025; Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) becoming active;

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“Now is the time for you to be at the table, be counted, put your feedback forward, and help positively influence policy that will continue to keep our sector strong, and fit-forpurpose, into the future.”

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a TAE/FSK Technical Reference Group launched (which I Chair);

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a “National Skills Passport” initiative announced by the Australia Government;

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an “Improving Vocational Training Completions” report launched by the VET Completions taskforce;

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a Parliamentary inquiry into the perceptions and status of VET with the Jobs and Skills Australia submission stating that over 60% of total employment growth in the

past 12 months was in occupations where VET qualifications were the primary pathway; •

an interim report tabled in Parliament as part of an “inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors”, with recommendations made within the report being referred to by the Independent Tertiary Education Council of Australia (ITECA) as a potential “death knell” for international student skills training in Australia;

November 2023 Volume 21

“Now is the time to share and celebrate student success stories and case studies, educating decision-makers and influencing policy to maintain and improve support mechanisms, preventing unintended negative outcomes for our sector.”

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a VET Qualification Reform Design Group launched (which surprisingly does not include any representatives from the independent sector which delivers over 75% of Australia’s training as per NCVER data) to provide advice about the design of a reform process for VET qualifications; and a new 5-year National Skills Agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories that takes total Commonwealth investment in state and territory training systems to up to $12.6 billion over 5 years, with an increased focus on funding for TAFE providers.

I love working in the VET sector, and I am proud to work amongst passionate individuals, across all types of providers, who maintain a student centric focus, and who are genuine in their desire to help students achieve their aspirations.

It is the lived experience of these

passionate VET practitioners, like those who are reading this article, that need to be included in current submissions to Government and put forward to Peak Bodies for advocacy purposes. Now is the time that the great student stories, case studies and achievements should be shared, and celebrated, with these important to educate decision makers, and influence policy, so that the support mechanisms which have aided in these positive outcomes are maintained, or not adapted in a way which will result in unintended negative outcomes for our sector.

There is a saying which I have used often, being that “if you aren’t at the table, you could well be on the menu”.

For those who have followed my work, they will know I work hard to be at as many decision-making tables as possible, with an aim to positively influence policy which will impact our sector. Now is the time for you to be at the table, be counted, put your feedback forward, and help positively

influence policy that will continue to keep our sector strong, and fit-forpurpose, into the future.

Andrew Shea is well recognized as a multi award-winning, Tertiary Education expert, with over 20 years’ experience in executive level positions across a range of post-secondary education providers. Andrew is a Director with Peak Body, ITECA, and currently acts as a consultant and advisor to Government and industry through Tesserent Ltd. LinkedIn - andrewjshea

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EMPOWER

NEURODIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION Will Wheeler, Neurodivergent Social Entrepreneur & Neurodiversity Academy Founder With the rise of technology and the extent of social media, neurodivergent students are learning more about themselves and voicing their opinions for the community to hear.

My name is Will Wheeler and I am the founder of Neurodiversity Academy.

As a neurodivergent person and VET professional for the past 15 years, there have been countless times I have faced discrimination and been victimised by organisations that did not understand how to properly identify and support me as a neurodivergent person.

Being a thought leader in the worldwide neurodiversity community, I have learned that these actions within learning organisations are often not deliberate. Instead, there is a lack of understanding of what neurodiversity is and how each neurodivergent person requires different approaches and assistance. In other words, no one neurodivergent person is the same. Hence, why my organisation, Neurodiversity Academy, is working hard to help learning organisations better understand neurodiversity.

According to the People with Disability in Australia 2022 report, students who have disability have lower success rates (82%) than the wider domestic student population (88%).

Also data from the 2020 SES show that current students who reported disability in: •

“undergraduate courses were more likely (27%) than those

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without disability (19%) to consider early departure from their course.”

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“postgraduate coursework courses were also more likely (30%) than those without disability (20%) to consider early departure from their course (QILT 2021).”

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“undergraduate courses were less likely (66%) than those without disability (69%) to give a positive rating to the quality of their entire educational experience”

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“postgraduate coursework courses were also less likely (66%) than those without disability (69%) to give a positive rating to the quality of their entire educational experience.”

As a neurodivergent person and past student, I know this lower completion rate and poor feedback/reviews comes down to so many different factors that aren’t often understood or rectified.

In the past, I’ve voiced my struggles before starting my studies, then when I started I was not consulted or supported at all.

This is common for many neurodivergent students and when this happens, they can feel really alone, stressed and not confident in themselves to learn and complete their coursework. These are just some examples of why a neurodivergent student might quit their studies and let other people in the community know about their experience.

As a business person myself, I recognise that this is a large gap of lost opportunity for higher learning organisations that could easily be shortened. By investing in learning more about how to better support neurodivergent students, by being more neuro-inclusive, organisations will not only be able to support neurodivergent students, but teaching staff as well.

This could lead to better learning outcomes, better reviews from students, repeat customers and financial gains as well.

To learn more about the work we are doing to help support neurodiversity in higher education, please visit neurodiversityacademy.com Will Wheeler is a neurodivergent social entrepreneur and founder of Neurodiversity Academy. Will has worked in the VET sector since 2010 and has identified the missed opportunities of higher learning organisations when it comes to supporting neurodivergent students. Will’s goal is to help promote neuro-inclusive learning organisations through Neurodiversity Academy.

EMPOWER

RECOGNISING OUR BEST IN AUSTRALIAN VET 2023 National Careers Institute Passion, excellence and extraordinary achievements in Vocational Education and Training were showcased and celebrated at the 30th annual Australian Training Awards held in Hobart, on 17 November.

Winners from across Australia shared their inspiring stories of achievement, resilience and dedication at a gala event attended by over 700 guests representing all corners of Australia’s VET sector.

Showcasing the best individuals, businesses and training organisations in Vocational Education and Training, the Australian Training Awards rewards and recognises apprentices, trainees, VET students, teachers, practitioners, employers, and training providers from around Australia.

“Winners shared inspiring stories of achievement, resilience, and dedication at a gala event attended by over 700 guests.”

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Presented by The Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training, Mary Faraone, a respected leader in the Vocational Education and Training sector, both nationally and internationally, was the first to be awarded, receiving The Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award. With a career spanning more than 40 years, Mary was acknowledged for her outstanding leadership and lasting contribution to VET practice and skills development in Australia.

Taking out the top student awards this year were Amy Hunt, named Apprentice of the Year, Bridie Searle, Trainee of the Year, Jessica Addo, Vocational Student of the Year, Emma Brown, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year and Kyezaya Namai-Sabatino, Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year.

The sixteen available awards featured recipients from a wide variety of sectors, from energy, engineering and construction to health care, fitness and transportation.

The Minister, Brendan O’Connor presented West Australian, Amy

Hunt with the 2023 Apprentice of the Year award. Amy is the only woman – and youngest cable jointer – at her worksite. Drawn to the fast-changing environment of the power industry, Amy completed a Certificate III in ESI - Power Systems - Distribution Cable Jointing. As a young female apprentice in the energy sector and a non-traditional female role model, Amy says she brings a new perspective to the work group.

In his keynote speech at the Princess Wharf, Minister O’Connor praised the winners and the 75 finalists for their dedication, passion, innovation and mentorship.

“There has never been a better time to be part of the VET sector, whether you are a student, mentor, or teacher,” Minister O’Connor said.

“The awards highlight the best of the best, from electrotechnology and project management to business studies and community services, and more. It’s particularly inspiring to see a women in a non-traditional role win the Apprentice of the Year award. I’m equally inspired to see, that of the five national student awards, three were won by First Nations students.”

November 2023 Volume 21

Mary Faraone

Amy Hunt

Bridie Searle

“Whether you are starting, changing or boosting your career, never before has the VET sector offered such great opportunities – opportunities to make a real difference in both local communities and the wider Australian economy.”

Also from Queensland, Jessica Addo won the Vocational Student of the Year Award, recognising her Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education through TAFE Queensland’s Cairns campus. Jessica was inspired to pursue a career in education after getting involved in her young daughter’s learning. She’s now studying for her Bachelor of Education and plans to work in remote schools to make positive change.

Komatsu, NSW received the Australian Apprenticeships Employer Award, with NSW taking gold, silver and bronze awards for this category.

Winners from each state and territory training awards competed for 11 national award titles and provided inspiration to all who choose a VET pathway.

Trainee of the Year, Bridie Searle, lives in Sydney, NSW and was recognised for her determination and commitment working in the maritime industry with Thales Australia. After completing her Certificate IV in Project Management Practice, Bridie has become a soughtafter project superintendent managing million-dollar maritime projects.

ACT based, proud Ngemba woman, Emma Brown, was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year. Emma completed an Indigenous Apprenticeship Program in the Australian Public Service, which included a Diploma of Government. A passionate role model, she now has a permanent position at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Kyezaya Namai-Sabatino, a year 12 student at Western Cape College in Queensland, won the Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award. While completing his Certificate II in Engineering, Kyezaya juggled many responsibilities including Vice-Captain and Sports Captain at his school and involvement in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aspirations program.

The teachers, trainers and educators who have worked tirelessly to improve the careers of countless individuals across the nation, were also recognised.

Holly Gudsell was named VET Teacher/ Trainer of the Year and Brendan Reid was awarded the Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice award. For Holly, a West Australian, a teaching position in a remote Aboriginal community in Fitzroy Crossing prompted a career change while Brendan was recognised for his work to help overcome literacy and numeracy challenges in the Northern Territory.

Employers were also recognised with gold, silver and bronze awards for Innovation in VET, Australian Apprenticeships, School Pathways to VET, Industry Collaboration, and both large and small employers.

St James College Queensland won the School Pathways to VET award and the Bradford Institute of Advanced Education in Queensland won the Innovation in VET award.

Training providers, both large and small, were also acknowledged and celebrated for demonstrating excellence and high level-performance in all aspects of VET. The Large Training Provider of the Year was awarded to TAFE Queensland, and small training provider awarded to the Institute of Skills and Training Australia in the Northern Territory. The 2023 industry collaboration award was won

by The Women in Apprenticeships Victoria Electrical (WAVE) project.

All finalists and winners are invited to become VET ambassadors though the Australian VET Alumni and bring national and international awareness for Australia’s VET sector and skillsbased careers.

The Australian Training Awards are held each year, and nominations for next year’s awards open in early 2024.

Beaufort and Skipton Health Service in Victoria won the Small Employer of the Year award, Queensland based All Purpose Transport was named Large Employer of the Year.

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EMPOWER STRENGTHENING THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTOR: THE ROLE OF JOBS AND SKILLS COUNCILS Jobs and Skills Council The Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector plays a crucial role in equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career. To ensure that the VET sector continues to deliver high-quality outcomes for learners and employers, the Australian government has established a network of 10 Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs). These industry-owned and led JSCs aim to address skills and workforce challenges by bringing together employers, unions, governments, and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in a collaborative effort.

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Training Product Development: JSCs are responsible for developing training products in line with industry needs and standards set by Skills Ministers. This ensures that training products are of high quality, responsive to industry needs, and delivered in a timely manner. By improving the speed to market and responsiveness of training products, JSCs contribute to a more efficient and effective VET sector.

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Implementation, Promotion, and Monitoring: JSCs collaborate with training providers and organisations to align workforce planning objectives with training delivery. They work to ensure that national training products are effectively promoted and implemented, and they monitor the outcomes to ensure quality and that learners receive relevant skills that meet industry standards.

With a larger remit than the previous arrangements, JSCs respond to broader government priorities such as qualifications reform, undertaking workforce planning, industry stewardship, and implementation, promotion and monitoring, in addition to training product development.

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Workforce Planning: This is a strategic focus for JSCs as they play a vital role in identifying skills and workforce needs for their respective industries. This information helps in developing targeted strategies to address skill gaps and ensure a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.

JSCs are currently focused on year one deliverables including producing initial workforce plans and establishing sub-committee arrangements such as strategic taskforces and industry advisory committees.

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Industry Stewardship: JSCs act as a valuable source of intelligence on workforce issues affecting their industries. This information helps policymakers and training providers make informed decisions and develop policies that support industry growth and competitiveness. They provide advice on national training system policies, contributing to the development of a robust and responsive VET sector.

JSCs are expected to actively engage with RTOs throughout the process.

There are many ways to get involved

including through membership, strategic taskforces, sub-committees and technical committees, roundtables, providing training product feedback, responding to consultation opportunities, and participating in the development and delivery of training provider resources. RTO engagement is critical to ensure training delivery and assessment meets employer and learner needs, career pathways are mapped and promoted, and the impact of training is monitored. Active involvement of RTOs will improve the delivery of training to meet workforce and skills needs, particularly within small or ‘thin’ markets such as regional, rural, and remote areas.

To learn more about the work of Jobs and Skills Councils, the training packages and industries they oversee, and how you can get involved, please visit Jobs and Skills Councils Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government (dewr.gov.au)

Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) have been established to provide industry with a stronger voice to ensure Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector delivers better outcomes for learners and employers.

They bring together employers, unions and governments in a tripartite arrangement to find solutions to skills and workforce challenges.

November 2023 Volume 21

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QUALITY INPUTS = REMARKABLE OUTCOMES

NATIONAL VET CONFERENCE B R I S B A N E | 3 1 O CT - 1 N OV 2 0 2 4

Join us in 2024 for the National VET Conference.

There are opportunities to attend, present or sponsor the largest gathering of Vocational Education and Training practitioners across Australia!

SAVE THE DATE | 31 OCT - 1 NOV 2024

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