The Agrifood Industry Training Advisory Body (ITAB) has a new website address. If you are reading this you probably have already visited it at www.agrifooditab.com.au. This is in line with the new name of the organisation Agrifood ITAB. As a registered charity, the Agrifood ITAB is still assisting industry, schools, community and the environment with new and interesting projects such as bee futures on the 12th December 2021. If you wish to contact the ITAB the new email address of the Executive Officer is Melissa@agrifooditab.com.au

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Are you interested in environmental sustainability, food security and bees? Did you know that 65% of the food that we eat is pollinated by bees? Did you know that there are many different types of bees in Australia, both native bees and European Honey bees? All bees play a vital role in Australia’s ecosystems, biodiversity and maintaining our food security. Do you live in Greater Sydney or the Manning Valley Local Government Area or its surrounds? The Agrifood Industry Training Advisory Body in conjunction with the Cumberland Beekeeping Club and the NSW Apiarist Association (Sydney Branch) will host FREE beekeeping workshops for the communities in these regions. Everyone is welcome !… Read More

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On 28th September the federal government announced an extension to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) program, designed to encourage apprentices and trainees to complete their training. The new initiative – the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) program will provide a further wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees signed up under the BAC in their second and third year. The $716 million CAC program will provide a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, and five per cent in the third year. The Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Stuart Robert said the new initiative would help apprentices finish their training, protecting the skills pipeline delivered… Read More

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A reminder that the federal Department of Education Skills and Employment (DESE) is seeking feedback on the reform of qualifications stating, “The Qualifications Reform Survey seeks your feedback on how new qualification design concepts might work in practice. The survey will close on Monday 20 September 2021 at 10 am (AEST)”. DESE states that it will hold, “webinars to share information about the qualification design concepts as outlined in the explanatory information accompanying the survey. The webinars also provide an opportunity for you to ask questions about qualifications reform and the new approach to qualification design. Registrations for the Qualifications Reform Webinars are now open!  There will be two webinars… Read More

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Applications are now open for the 2022 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry! This competitive annual grants program supports young Australians aged 18-35 by funding projects that will benefit Australia’s primary industries. In partnership with Australia’s leading research and development corporations and industry associations, there are 12 industry categories each worth up to $22,000 (inc GST). The winners of each industry category will be invited to apply for the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia’s Award, granting an additional $22,000 (inc GST) to extend their project! ELIGIBILITY to apply: ✓ You’re working or studying in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry. ✓ You’re… Read More

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The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) is seeking feedback on the design of vocational education and training ( VET) qualifications.  DESE states, “This survey seeks your feedback on how new qualification design concepts might work in practice. It follows our previous Qualifications Design Survey, which revealed strong support for the design concepts being tested through Qualification Design Trials. Everyone is encouraged to complete the survey. DESE is particularly interested in feedback from those in the VET sector involved in the design, development and delivery of national training products.” Read more about: QUALIFICATIONS REFORMS Read more about: VET QUALIFICATIONS REFORM SURVEY NOTES The Qualifications Reform Survey has opened. DESE… Read More

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The National Skills Commission (NSC) advises that it has released new, downloadable labour market data dashboards covering all 51 employment regions in Australia as well as at the national, state and territory level. The dashboards bring together a range of data in the one place for the first time to provide a comprehensive picture of how a region’s jobs market is performing. It will allow users to quickly find key labour market data for their area of interest. The Dashboard is updated monthly.  For more information follow the link below: READ MORE HERE The NSC has also noted in its latest media release that, “Job advertisements fall for the second… Read More

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A National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) publication which was released on the 28 July 2021 states that “The impact of COVID-19 on industry innovation, skills and the need for training”, reports on the latest research which examined different ways businesses responded to the pandemic and the extent to which innovation was an element of their response. The report was based on interviews with three case study industries—manufacturing; healthcare (including aged care and pharmacy); and hospitality and tourism—it showed they adapted to changing conditions during the pandemic, rather than innovated. It found, “A limited amount of training was required for the innovations or adaptations businesses made, with most staff… Read More

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In the latest National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) publication, VET in Schools 2020 states, “The number of school students undertaking VET as part of their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education has increased 2.3% in 2020 to 241,200.” Highlights of the 2020 report were: 241,200 VET in Schools students 17,800 school-based apprentices and trainees, representing 7.4% of all VET in Schools students 223,300 students undertaking other VET in Schools programs, representing 92.6% of all VET in Schools students. Compared with 2019 VET in Schools students increased by 2.3%. From 2016 to 2020, VET in Schools students decreased by 0.9%. Tourism, travel, and hospitality continued to be the most popular… Read More

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