Apr 30, 2025
NSW Public Sector ITAB April 2025 Newsletter
Register now for May and June online GTAN & WTAN Forums
Convened by the NSW Public Sector ITAB, these online forums offer the Government and Public Safety Skills and Training Network (GTAN) and Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) an opportunity to exchange insights and information related to workforce development within the government, public safety, corrections, and water sectors.
Our next online network forums are scheduled for Tuesday 20 May and Tuesday 3 June 2025, both starting at 10am.They feature guest speakers from a range of organisations who share insights into emerging trends and best practice for skills and workforce development.
Updates on workforce development plans and training product development projects will be provided by the relevant national Jobs and Skills Councils (Public Skills Australia or BuildSkills Australia). The latest information on funded training and grants will also be shared.
NB: The full Program will be provided soon after registration along with the Teams meeting link.
Due to conflicting water industry events, the date for the next WTAN has been moved to Tuesday 3 June 10:00 - 11:30am. We hope this improves availability for our network members to attend and has not caused any inconvenience. We look forward to your participation in this water industry skills and training network online forum.
Government and Public Safety Skills and Training Network (GTAN) Forum
(Includes all government agencies, Local Councils, Correctional Services, Public Safety, Police & Defence)
Date: Tuesday 20 May 2025
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am (AEDT)
Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) Forum
Date: Tuesday 3 June 2025
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am (AEDT)
Future-proofing the workforce: How SBATs are building tomorrow’s talent
Businesses have a valuable opportunity to strengthen their workforce by participating in the School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) program. Through this program, NSW high school students in Years 10, 11, and 12 gain real-world experience while completing their Higher School Certificate (HSC).
SBATs offer a blend of vocational education and training (VET) alongside paid employment, helping students develop practical skills while they study. As demand rises for skilled workers in sectors such as early childhood education, housing and infrastructure, and renewable energy, SBATs provide a direct pathway into these critical industries.
Employers interested in contributing to the future workforce and benefiting from motivated young talent can find more details in the Information for Employers guide.
Last chance to register for MNC Industry and Schools Forums
The NSW ITABs are partnering with the Mid North Coast Regional Industry and Education Partnerships Officers (RIEPs) to facilitate a series of three Local Industry & Schools Forums across the Mid North Coast region in May 2025.
These forums are popular with only a few places remaining at the Taree event on 27 May so register now to save your place. The primary aim of the forums is to link local employers and school networks (Careers Advisors, Principals and other key staff) and provide a platform to discuss local market trends, skill shortages, skill gaps and school-based apprenticeships and traineeship.
Employers interested in attending the Taree event are invited to register via this link.
(All attendees MUST register their interest individually)
The program is from 9am - 1pm and morning tea and lunch will be provided.
- Location: Taree
- Date: Tuesday 27th May 2025
Sessions on the day will include region-based overviews by Regional Development Australia, an Employer panel, School panel, speed meet session, information on work placement and School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SBAT).
Free Workshops to Support Apprentice and Trainee Supervisors
Training Services NSW is offering free workshops across regional and metropolitan areas to assist employers in supervising apprentices and trainees. Designed for those with supervisory responsibilities, the Supervising Your Apprentice or Trainee workshops equip participants with the skills needed to support apprentices and trainees through to successful completion.
The sessions cover key topics including:
- Effective supervision and coaching techniques
- Building strong workplace communication
- Collaborating with training providers
- Organising training that aligns with business needs
- Managing workplace bullying and harassment issues
Participants may also be eligible to claim Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.
For more details, visit the Skills NSW website or contact your local Training Services NSW office on 13 28 11.
To register for an upcoming workshop, visit Training Services Eventbrite page.
WINGS 3.0 Mentoring Program coming to Port Macquarie
The WINGS 3.0 Mentoring Program is set to launch in Port Macquarie in 2025, offering a unique opportunity for employers to build their mentoring and leadership skills while inspiring the next generation.
The program is seeking 10–12 industry mentors to partner with schools and mentor students interested in their field. Each mentor-student pair will participate in five, three-hour workshops and arrange 5–10 days of work experience within the mentor’s business.
Facilitated by Susan Judd from HR Culture – an internationally awarded expert in Emotional Intelligence training – the workshops will cover mentoring young people, understanding learning styles, managing generational differences, and developing leadership capabilities.
WINGS has been recognised for excellence, winning the Macleay Valley Business Award for Innovation and being a finalist at the 2023 Mid North Coast Business Awards.
Workshops will take place in Port Macquarie from 9am to 12 noon on:
- Thursday 12 June 2025
- Thursday 7 August 2025
- Thursday 4 September 2025
- Thursday 16th October 2025
- Thursday 13th November 2025
Employers from outside the Port Macquarie area are also welcome to express interest. There is no cost to participate in the program other than your time.
Free essential skills training for regional and rural women
The Minns Labor Government has launched a new initiative to strengthen emergency response skills among regional and rural women in NSW through free training programs delivered by St John Ambulance.
Funded through a $90,000 investment and coordinated by the Rural Women’s Network, the Rural Women’s Network Skills Roadshow will offer around 30 free workshops across 15 regional locations. The initiative aims to train up to 450 women between May and November 2025.
Participants will develop vital skills in first aid, mental health recognition, crisis intervention, and support referrals. Upon completion, attendees will receive a nationally accredited certification.
Recent statistics show a critical need for such training: NSW has the highest proportion of adults who have never trained in first aid, and women report lower confidence levels in providing first aid compared to men. Additionally, 87% of Australians say they would be more likely to assist someone with a mental health issue if properly trained.
Workshops are accessible across regional NSW, helping bridge the gap for women who might otherwise miss out due to cost or travel barriers.
For more information and to register, visit the Rural Women’s Network Skills Roadshow page.
Fire and Rescue NSW welcomes over 160 new firefighters
NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, recently welcomed 169 new recruits and 24 newly promoted Station Officers at Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) graduation ceremony at the Emergency Services Academy in Orchard Hills.
The graduates, who come from a variety of backgrounds including teaching, carpentry, electrical trades, fitness, architecture, and Defence, are now ready to join fire crews across metropolitan and regional NSW.
Minister Dib praised the recruits for their dedication, highlighting their commitment to putting community safety first. FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell also acknowledged the graduates’ achievement, emphasizing their role in protecting lives and property across the state.
Among the new firefighters are:
- Gabrielle Grieves, a former professional beach lifeguard and personal trainer, highlighted the teamwork, physical challenges, and strong community focus that attracted her to FRNSW.
- Percy Damian Lopez, an architect from Dungog shared how his firefighting experience has deepened his understanding of fire safety in building design, while also allowing him to serve his local community.
Among the new firefighters are:
- Gabrielle Grieves, a former professional beach lifeguard and personal trainer, highlighted the teamwork, physical challenges, and strong community focus that attracted her to FRNSW.
- Percy Damian Lopez, an architect from Dungog shared how his firefighting experience has deepened his understanding of fire safety in building design, while also allowing him to serve his local community.
The graduation marks the beginning of a new chapter for these firefighters as they put their intensive training into action, driven by respect, courage, and integrity.
Read the full article on the Fire NSW website.
1000 Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program – Round 3
The NSW Government will launch the third round of its Public Sector Apprentices and Trainees Program in May 2025, aiming to recruit 1,000 new apprentices and trainees across more than 30 government agencies by June 2026.
Focusing on critical skills shortage areas such as transport, electricity, water, IT, and cyber security, the program offers structured training combined with valuable on-the-job experience. It provides a significant opportunity for young people entering the workforce and helps strengthen the capacity of key industries.
Eligible participants include NSW Government agencies, State Owned Corporations, and Public Non-Financial Corporations.
For employers and jobseekers alike, the program represents a practical pathway to developing future skills and addressing urgent workforce needs.
To learn more about how to participate in the Program and to increase equity and education pathways into public sector employment, take a look at the 1000 NSW Public Sector apprentices and trainees program application resources.
Partnership to expand drone capabilities for emergency response
Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) and Babcock Australasia have entered a new partnership to advance drone operations for search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and maritime response.
The collaboration aims to boost the capabilities of the Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service (AUAVS) by expanding into Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This will enable greater reach, real-time data collection, and improved operational agility across a broader range of emergency scenarios.
Babcock will support AUAVS by enhancing current services and leveraging its expertise in defence, aviation, and critical services to develop long-range drone technologies. The partnership builds on AUAVS’s previous initiatives, including the Long Range UAV Project and the "Drone in a Box" capability, aimed at delivering sustainable, multi-purpose drone operations.
AUAVS Manager James Bassam said the collaboration offers a major opportunity to strengthen coastal surveillance and extend services into broader disaster management and emergency response areas.
Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing transformative technologies that enhance public safety. SLSNSW CEO Steve Pearce added that the expanded drone capabilities will significantly improve detection, response times, and success rates in both localised incidents and large-scale emergencies.
Together, the organisations aim to modernise and expand Australia’s coastal and emergency response operations using advanced drone technology.
Read the full article on the Surf Life Saving NSW website.
National Jobs and Skills Council Update
Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) are a national network of industry owned and led organisations, designed to provide leadership in addressing national skills and training needs. They have been established to supply industry with a strong and strategic voice within the VET sector as part of broader government-led skills reform.
JSC activities affiliated to Public Sector industries are listed below.
Future Skills Organisation (FSO): FSO has a range of Projects underway which can be accessed using the links below:
BuildSkills Australia (BSA): BuildSkills is conducting both Training Product and Research Projects which can be accessed using the links below:
- White Card Implementation
- Minimum Australian Context Gap Training for Migrant Plumbers
- VET Future Readiness Review
- Civil Construction Review
- Hydrogen Skill Needs in the Plumbing and Gas Industry
- Insulation Installation & Inspection
Water industry stakeholders should reach out to George Wall for any specific water sector issues.
Public Skills Australia (PSA): Public Skills Australia project completed or underway.
Find out more and/or provide feedback using the links below: