Dec 15, 2023
NSW Public Sector ITAB December 2023 Newsletter
In this month's newsletter
- Best Wishes for the Holiday Season
- GTAN and WTAN forum schedule for 2024
- Early Childhood Education and Care VET Scholarships now open
- NSW leads the way in tackling digital skills shortage
- NSW Skills List updated to reflect industry need
- National survey on draft Revised RTO Standards
- Australian Jobs 2023 released
- JSA seeking input into 2024-2025 work plan
Best Wishes for the Holiday Season
The NSW Public Sector ITAB would like to wish you and your families all the joy and peace of the upcoming holiday season. Despite the ongoing economic and social challenges our sectors are continuing to face, much has been achieved in 2023 through our continuing positive relationships and communities of practice. Let's hope this has set the foundation for a very calm and productive 2024!
GTAN and WTAN forum schedule for 2024
The Public Sector ITAB has facilitated the Government and Water Trainer and Assessor Network meetings for many years to provide a relaxed forum for stakeholders to meet and share information on skills and training in NSW.
These online sessions include presentations from a range of experts who share experiences, issues and insights into skills and training arrangements in their sectors. Updates on the latest funding initiatives and training package projects are also provided.
Please place these proposed 2024 forum dates in your diary:
- Tuesday 5 March 2024
- Tuesday 21 May 2024
Early Childhood Education and Care VET Scholarships now open
The NSW Government has committed over $12 million in scholarships to help grow a strong, skilled Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workforce pipeline. The 2023-24 ECEC VET Scholarships Program will help offset the costs associated with studying for students wanting to make a difference in the lives of children, families and communities in NSW.
Successful applicants will be eligible to receive up to:
- $3,000 for Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- $3,000 for Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care
- $5,000 for Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care
- $5,000 for Diploma in School Age Education and Care.
Applications are non-competitive and will remain open until the allocated budget is exhausted or 30 June 2024.
For more information on the ECEC VET Scholarships Program, visit the Department of Education website.
NSW leads the way in tackling digital skills shortage
The NSW Government is joining leaders across government, the digital industry, and education and training providers to address the projected shortage of 85,000 digital workers in NSW by 2030.
The Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, officially launched the NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact at NSW Parliament House in late November.
This collaborative effort involves the participation of 37 Compact Partners, spanning across the highest levels of industry. The Compact will promote digital careers across the state to students, parents, and advisors, advancing tech careers in traditionally underrepresented groups such as women, First Nations people, and those residing in regional and remote areas.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step forward in addressing the digital skills gap in NSW, ensuring a robust and inclusive digital workforce for the future.
For more information on the NSW Digital Compact visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nsw-digital-compact
NSW Skills List updated to reflect industry need
The NSW Skills List has recently been updated to reflect the changing skills needs of industry. Training Services NSW develops the NSW Skills list in consultation with industry, training providers and the community and includes qualifications up to Advanced Diploma. The List enables people to make more informed choices about their training, so they can get the skills they need to get a job, advance their career or continue onto further study.
The updated NSW Skills List (14.1) came into effect for training commencing 27 November 2023. It now includes the Public Safety Training Package qualification PUA30719 Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) which is of great benefit to some sections of our firefighting community.
Details on the management of the Skills List, including how qualifications may be added, removed or updated on the list are available in the NSW Skills List Management Policy.
National survey on draft Revised RTO Standards
As part of national work to improve quality training delivery, the Commonwealth Government is starting a pilot phase on the revised draft RTO Standards. It is currently conducting focus groups and simulated performance and monitoring activities with a sample of RTOs identified by states and territories, RTO peak bodies and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
The piloting activities are intended to ensure RTOs of different types, sizes and focus can demonstrate compliance in different ways; there is flexibility to enable excellence and innovation and regulators can regulate effectively against the revised draft Standards.
After the pilot phase, the Commonwealth Government will publish pilot outcomes on its website: https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/quality-reforms. It will then further refine the draft revised Standards based on the pilots and the finalised Standards will go to Skills Ministers for agreement in early 2024.
Guidance materials, regulatory policies, practices and tools to support the sector will be developed, informed by the pilot outcomes.
The finalised Standards are expected to be released in early to mid-2024 and take effect from January 2025.
Australian Jobs 2023 released
The National Careers Institute and Jobs and Skills Australia have released the latest instalment of their comprehensive labour market analysis – Australian Jobs 2023.
The publication examines the labour market across states and territories, industries and occupations, and is a valuable guide for anyone looking for work or recruiting. It also includes guidance about the skills employers need and educational pathways.
See Australian Jobs 2023.
JSA seeking input into 2024-2025 work plan
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) is seeking input into its 2024-25 work plan, which will guide its work agenda for the next 12-months.
The work plan will set out the outcomes and priorities for the financial year, including major in-depth studies, research and analytic projects. Feedback is open until 24 January 2024.
Visit the Jobs and Skills Australia website for more information.
