GTAN Forum Resources now available

The ITAB would like to thank all those who participated in the May online GTAN forum and trust that the topics and insights shared in the session were interesting and relevant.

The Network would like to thank James Stroud from Public Skills Australia for providing an update on national Training Package development priorities related to the government and public safety sectors and to Stacy Duggan and Darryl Bailey from NSW SES, who presented on their coordination of multi-agency training exercises in preparation for the far too frequent natural disasters. These training exercises are critical in developing the skills of our NSW public safety workforce (both career and volunteers) to respond to emergencies such as the recent flooding event on the Mid North Coast.

Register now for the June WTAN Forum

Convened by the NSW Public Sector ITAB, the next online Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) forum is scheduled for Tuesday 3 June starting at 10am. Guest speakers will share insights into emerging trends and best practice for skills and workforce development in the Local Government sector and the Water industry.

Updates on Commonwealth and state VET initiatives including the latest information of funded training and grants will also be shared.

NB: WTAN Program will be available shortly 

Water Industry Skills and Training Network (WTAN) Forum
Date: Tuesday 3 June 2025 
Time: 10:00am - 11:30pm (AEDT)

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.

Initial PFAS investigation completed in Blue Mountains water catchments

WaterNSW has completed the first phase of its investigation into PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in the Adams Creek and Medlow catchments in the Blue Mountains. The investigation, supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), has identified three likely sources: two historic vehicle accidents (1992 and 2002) on the Great Western Highway and the Medlow Bath Rural Fire Brigade station.

Sampling included over 250 tests across 37 sites, covering tributaries, creeks, and sediment within the affected watershed. Results indicate that PFAS levels are higher upstream in the Adams Creek catchment, suggesting the contaminants are likely moving downstream through runoff and historic water transfers between dams.

As a precaution, Medlow Dam and Greaves Creek Dam remain disconnected from the region's water supply and will only be reinstated once permanent mitigation strategies are in place. Current monitoring confirms that Blue Mountains drinking water remains safe and within Australian guidelines, as confirmed by NSW Health and Sydney Water.

The chemical signatures found are consistent with legacy use of Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam (AFFF), historically used by emergency services until it was phased out by 2007. Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service continue to support PFAS investigations and management.

Next steps include a more detailed site investigation aligned with national environmental standards, with multiple agencies and the EPA working together to inform remediation efforts.

For updates and raw water PFAS testing results, visit the WaterNSW website.

Record Police graduate intake boosts NSW frontline workforce

NSW Police has marked a significant milestone with the graduation of 302 new probationary constables from Class 365 at the Goulburn Police Academy - the largest intake in more than 11 years.

After completing 16 weeks of intensive training, the recruits began their frontline duties on 5 May 2025, and were deployed to police stations across the state.

Class 365 is the first to benefit from the “Be a Cop in your Home Town” initiative, allowing recruits to return and serve in their local communities. Eight constables will be posted to their hometowns, including Tamworth, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Cessnock, Wyong, and Lismore.

The initiative, along with the new policy of paid training at the Academy, has contributed to a 70% increase in applications since November 2023, totalling 3,910 applications. Notably, there has been a 33% rise in female applicants and 1,444 new applications in the five months following the announcement of a new award agreement.

Further expanding its recruitment strategies, the NSW Police Force has also launched the Elite Athlete Recruitment Program, offering high-performing athletes a flexible and supported entry into policing while they continue training and competing. Over 25 athletes have already been identified as potential candidates, with one new probationary constable from Class 365 becoming the program’s first official recruit.

Dignitaries including the NSW Governor, Premier, and Police Minister joined the NSW Police Commissioner at the Academy to celebrate the achievement of Class 365, marking a positive step forward in bolstering police capability across the state.

Read the full article here.

Lessons from Lismore improve flood response in NSW

With heavy rainfall once again inundating the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions over recent weeks, emergency services are applying critical lessons learned from the 2022 Lismore floods to strengthen their response.

More than 1,000 volunteers, emergency responders, and Defence Force personnel have been mobilised to assist with rescues and flood recovery efforts across affected areas. Authorities confirm that early planning, clearer communication strategies, and better coordination have significantly enhanced the response this time around.

Key improvements include:

• Pre-deployment of emergency assets and personnel before the weather system arrived
• Layered warning systems using tools like the Hazard Near Me app to guide communities through stages from “Watch and Act” to “Prepare to Evacuate” and “Evacuate”
• Enhanced inter-agency coordination, drawing on experience from previous events

Despite some devasting outcomes from the recent events, emergency leaders have noted that advance preparation and early warnings have made a positive impact on community readiness and safety outcomes overall.

This evolving response and recovery highlight the ongoing value of reviewing past events and embedding lessons into future disaster planning.