Central Institute students awarded Mick Young Scholarships
Western Australia’s Deputy Premier Dr Kim Hames last week presented Mick Young Scholarships to 25 students at Central Institute of Technology in Perth.
Worth $500 each, the scholarships were co-funded by the TDA National Scholarships Foundation and Central Institute of Technology. The expansion of the Mick Young Scholarships is part of TDA’s campaign to widen scholarship for students facing financial challenges.
The presentation at the Institute’s Northbridge campus was attended by the Executive Director of the TDA Scholarships Foundation Theresa Collignon and Central Institute’s Managing Director Neil Fernandes.
See the Deputy Premier’s media release.
From left: Theresa Collignon with scholarship recipients Steve Chong, Dharti Patel, Juanita Koeijers, Peter Simpson, Rick Rudd, Brooke Collins, Julia Collin and Central Institute MD Neil Fernandes.
South West TAFE and Deakin University enter higher education partnership
Victoria’s Deakin University and South West TAFE have entered into a partnership that will see guaranteed pathways for students from diplomas into degrees.
The Pathways Partnership will allow students who meet reasonable entry requirements during their TAFE study to obtain guaranteed entry into a specified university course.
It will initially cover disciplines including commerce, information technology, information systems, nursing, and early childhood education.
It will also give students Credit for Prior Learning, shortening the length of their degree studies, and in doing so reduce the cost of a full university degree.
South West TAFE CEO Peter Heilbuth said, “By choosing a pathway that includes SW TAFE, students get the best of both worlds – they increase their chances of ultimate study success if they continue to complete their Bachelor degree, and they can also exit from the first year with a highly-regarded qualification if they don’t continue.”
See more.
Women in the trades program attracts NSW government grant
TAFE NSW’s South Western Sydney Institute is one of nine groups to share some $200,000 in grants under the NSW Government’s Investing in Women program.
The funding, announced by Minister for Women Pru Goward, encourages girls and women to enter non-traditional trades.
South Western Sydney Institute’s Women in Trade Readiness program entails a five-day program for 60 young women to develop trade entry skills in carpentry, plumbing, shop-fitting, bricklaying, automotive, signage, wall and floor tiling, horticulture, butchery and commercial cookery, and metal engineering.
See the Minister’s media release.
VET funding slips behind schools and universities – release of final Mitchell Institute report
A comparative analysis of expenditure across schools, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education over the past ten years has found that while spending on schools and universities has risen significantly, there has been a much lower rate of growth in VET spending.
The report, Expenditure on education and training in Australia, by the Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, draws on work by ACIL Allen and looks at expenditure on education by government, as well as public entities such as government schools, TAFEs and universities between 2003-2013.
The analysis was previewed at the TDA Conference last month by one of the report authors, Mitchell Professorial Fellow Peter Noonan.
The full report, released last week, contains additional data and analysis.
A copy of the report, Expenditure on education and training in Australia, and Professor Peter Noonan’s speech to the TDA Conference can be found on the Mitchell Institute website.
ASQA to hold information sessions on new VET regulatory standards
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is seeking interest from consultants and other stakeholders who may wishing to participate in special information sessions on the new national standards for registered training organisations (RTOs).
ASQA will hold 27 information sessions in 17 locations during November 2014 to help (RTOs) prepare for the new national standards in early 2015.
But in response to feedback, ASQA is considering further targeted information sessions for RTO consultants and other VET sector stakeholders, likely to be held in the week commencing 1 December.
RTO consultants and other VET sector stakeholders wanting to participate should email and advise:
- name of their organisation
- their preferred location for the session, and
- the number of attendees that would attend.
Expressions of interest will close at 5pm (EST) on Friday, 24 October. ASQA will then determine the number and location of the sessions and call for formal registrations in the week commencing 27 October.
For more information, email or call 1300 701 801
Submissions invited on Skilled Occupation List
The Department of Industry is seeking stakeholder input into its annual update of Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for 2015-16.
The SOL provides eligible occupations for migration under the Skilled Independent stream of the skilled migration program.
Each occupation listed on the SOL contains a summary sheet which will be refreshed using the most recent data as part of the 2015-16 update.
To make a submission, visit the Department of Industry’s consultation website and choose the 2015-16 Skilled Occupation List from the list of open consultations.
Submissions are due by Friday November 14.
For further information, contact or (02) 6102 9271
Nominations open for top VET-in-schools prize
Nominations have opened for the nation’s top prize for Year 12 students undertaking vocational education and training in school (VETiS).
Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley officially launched the 2014 Australian Vocational Student Prize (AVSP), which includes the nation’s premiere VETiS prize – the Australian Award for Skills Excellence in School.
The AVSP will award up to 500 outstanding Year 12 students undertaking relevant VETiS qualifications as part of their senior secondary certificate $1,000 in prize money and a certificate.
Up to 20 AVSP winners will be eligible for the Australian Award for Skills Excellence in School.
Nominations close 28 November 2014.
More information.
Diary Dates
Group Training Australia
2014 National Conference
DATE: 12-14 November 2014
LOCATION: Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Government Skills Australia
2014 National Conference
DATE: 17-18 November 2014
LOCATION: Adelaide Oval
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
2014 B/HERT Awards
Business Higher Education Round Table
DATE: 20 November 2014
LOCATION: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Australian Training Awards
DATE: 21 November 2014
LOCATION: Adelaide convention Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
EduTECH
National Congress & Expo
DATE: 2 & 3 June 2015
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.