Safe working conditions are of course at the forefront of our minds in the VET Sector – with many of us in high-risk industries and professions. So, let’s take a look at this year’s themes for National Safe Work Month – as outlined on the Safe Work Australia website.

Guided by a distinct lack of services available for education providers, combined with a drive to start up a successful business, Sarah Phillips and her brother Alex Phillips created Pop Education.

The South Australian Government has commissioned another review of TAFE SA “to develop a roadmap for its future.” Work is starting on the review this month.

The review is being overseen by Associate Professor Jennie Rea from Victoria University and supported by an expert advisory group comprising of representatives drawn from industry, the Australian Education Union, TAFE SA Board, Skills SA, VET providers and regional areas.

The McKell Institute has just released a report entitled “Working, learning: Better supporting Victorian apprentices on the job.”

Apprenticeships are a key part of Australia’s skills development system, but – according to the McKell report – a skills deficit is being created by low training rates in key occupations in the technicians and trades and community and personal service workers occupation groupings.

Apprentice numbers in training have been in decline in Victoria, although numbers picked up in 2021. Completions have also been declining, affected in part by “the number of apprentices who cancel or withdraw from their training during their apprenticeship.”

In the last year the Australian labour market has tightened, and more occupations than ever before are in skill shortage, and with employers receiving fewer suitable applicants per vacancy. In 2022 the occupations in shortage rose to 286. It was 153 in 2021.

There are clear increases in the shortages of community and personal service workers as well as labourers and machine operators and drivers. The persistent shortage of technicians and trades workers also continues, a recent paper released by the National Skills Commission reports.

“Hats off’ to all to teachers this World Teachers’ Day! It’s a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education, rethinking the way ahead for the profession and Greening the VET Sector for Sustainability.

VDC is running its free annual World Teachers’ Day event on Friday 28th October – A webinar all about Greening the VET Sector. We’re featuring a Video Documentary commissioned by us, for you, “Greening the VET Sector for Sustainability” featuring ISS Institute presenters we know and love, Bill Mundy, Will Dagliesh, and of course, Marina McGrath. We also have our wonderful Guest Speaker, Margarita Pavlova, who will be speaking on the role of teachers in Greening the VET Sector.

You can check out more details and register here.

The main game for Australia in the view of the fifth interim report of the Productivity Commission’s (PC’s) look into Australia’s productivity is to boost productivity with a good education system.

This report, “5-year Productivity Inquiry: From learning to growth”, and its related media release, points out “high-quality school and tertiary education systems are vital for a productive workforce.” We’ll concentrate on the tertiary education side in this article.

The VET Development Centre (VDC) is the proud sponsor of this year’s WAVE National Forum. Focusing on the role of adult and vocational education in empowering women and supporting gender equality, the WAVE National Forum will be held right here at the VDC office, Level 8, 379 Collins Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 on Friday 21 October.

They say time flies when you are having fun – and it really does!

From a conceptual idea between Sarah and Alex to celebrating our 6^th birthday, Pop Education has grown into a company of 14 amazing staff plus 7 amazing regular contractors and we are so proud of our work, our reputation and the amazing partnerships we have built over the years.

Have you booked your place yet? The 2022 VDC Teaching & Learning Conference is almost here! With this year’s theme, Re-Emerging, we’re going to celebrate how our sector overcame the many challenges of the past two years. The 2022 Conference aims to empower teachers and trainers from public, private and community providers with key take-away…