This year GTAV will be introducing 2 new awards to its annual Service Awards presentation night in November. These awards will be an OH&S Award and a Service Excellence Award for the Group Training network to recognise and reward the good work undertaken by its members in these two areas.

Outstanding OH&S initiative
The Best OH&S initiative/ solution Award is presented to team/group or organisation for a demonstrated outstanding contribution to OH&S in Group Training. Nominations can be made by Group Training Organisations, client organisations, colleagues, professional bodies, and students.

GTO Service Excellence Award
The GTO Service Excellence Award is presented to a staff member, or team/group of staff for a demonstrated outstanding contribution to the success in Group Training. Nominations can be made by Group Training Organisations, client organisations, colleagues, professional bodies, and students.

Information regarding nominations and selection criteria will be make available later in the year, but for further information contact the GTAV office on 03 9639 3955 or email admin@gtavic.asn.au

Dr Peter Waterhouse has been associated with Group Training over many years. He was involved in the delivery of the first group training program with TAFE and the Master Builders Association (in Gippsland) back in the early 1980’s. Since then he has worked with GTA members on professional development and capacity building projects supported by Reframing the Future, the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program; and several research projects auspiced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). Peter co-developed “You’re Not On Your Own” to support GT Field Officers addressing language, literacy and numeracy issues with apprentices and trainees. In 2010, with colleagues from RMIT, he designed and delivered the successful pilot program for a Certificate IV in Business. The program was customised for the needs of Field Officers and aligned with Group Training Operations.

Peter has recently returned to Melbourne after time at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, where he was a Director of the National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults. GTAV is delighted to announce that Peter has joined the GTAV team as our Research and Development consultant. He will also be revising and refreshing the Certificate IV in Business, with RMIT; and he will be once again facilitating this program in Melbourne, Ballarat and Albury-Wodonga.

In his new R&D role Peter is keen to work with GTAV and its members to build the capacity and enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of Group Training Organisations through research, evaluation, and professional development.

Peter can be contacted at the GTA Vic office on 03 9639 3955 or via email peter@gtavic.asn.au. 

At the end of 2011, GTAV was awarded funding through the National Workforce Development Fund (DEEWR) to deliver the Certificate IV Business for Group Training staff in 2012 & 2013.

This will allow the Association to offer partially funded places to Group Training staff at $1,480.00 per person regardless of prior qualification or funding eligibility.

** The Federal Government also offers incentives for new employees who enrol in the Certificate IV in Business as a Trainee, so if you have staff that are still in their 3 month probationary period they may be eligible. Talk to your Australian Apprenticeship Centre for more information.

In 2012 we will commence 3 courses throughout Victoria; each course will be made up of 4 x 2 day sessions.

Melbourne CBD **This course is nearly at capacity
7th & 8th March 2012
18th & 19th April 2012
6th & 7th June 2012
11th & 12th July 2012
** Registrations for this course will close on Friday 2nd March

Albury/Wodonga
8th & 9th May 2012
20th & 21st June 2012
18th & 19th July 2012
22nd & 23rd August 2012

Ballarat
27th & 28th June 2012
25th & 26th July 2012
29th & 30th August 2012
19th and 20th September 2012

For further information or to register for one of the above courses, please complete an Expression of Interest form attached to this email. The EOI form outlines the course modules / workshops, and includes additional information on how to register. You can also contact Toni Hewett from GTAV on 03 9639 3955 or via email to toni@gtavic.asn.au with any questions.

Workforce Planning Australia's
2012 Inaugural International Conference Event
Park Hyatt Melbourne
26 - 27 April 2012

Workforce Planning is a new global discipline regarded as essential to strong leadership and governance as industries and business increasingly compete in the Global Labour Market.

Workforce Planning Australia – a Division of MEGT (Australia) Ltd, are bringing to Australia the most current and progressive case studies in Workforce Planning from the USA, UK, Europe and Asian markets, where Workforce Planning is being driven through both the Human Capital and Finance sectors.

You can register now and take advantage of the Early-Bird ticket prices available until 9 March 2012.
Register online or contact the Workforce Planning Conference Event Team on 03 9206 8030 or via email to: events@workforceplanning.com.au, for further assistance or advice.

This publication presents early estimates of apprentice and trainee commencements on a seasonally adjusted basis for the December 2011 quarter. Indicative information about this quarter is presented here; the most recent figures are estimated, taking into account reporting lags that occur due to the data collection process.

View the complete report

There has been a change of date for the first RTO Managers Network Meeting to the 2nd March 2012.

GTAV have secured Fred Ritman from Skills Victoria to speak on the new elidgibility criteria for the Victorian Training Guarantee that was released earlier this month.

This meeting is proving to be very popular so please ensure if you would like to attend, you RSVP to toni@gtavic.asn.au to secure a place.

ASQA will be holding a national program of information sessions in major cities across Australia for training providers and course owners in the first half of 2012. These sessions will provide an opportunity to hear from the Commissioners about ASQA’s regulatory approach, essential ASQA processes, transition arrangements and local VET issues.

Round one—session dates and times

Perth, Thursday 8 March (registrations close Thursday 23 February)
•    Session 1: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
•    Session 2: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Sydney, Thursday 22 March (registrations close Friday 2 March)
•    Session 1: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
•    Session 2: 1:00 pm – 2.30 pm
•    Session 3: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Canberra, Friday 23 March (registrations close Friday 2 March)
•    Session 1: 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Melbourne, Monday 2 April (registrations close Friday 2 March)
•    Session 1: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
•    Session 2: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Sessions will be scheduled for Hobart and Launceston shortly, following the confirmation of the referral date for Tasmania.

Content at the sessions will be relevant to CEOs and senior staff, and it is requested that RTOs limit registrations to one or two key staff. Capacity at the venues will be limited, and early registration is recommended. Presentation materials will be made available for providers who are unable to attend.

Register your interest in attending a session using the ‘Information sessions registration form’ on ASQA’s website.

This week the latest edition of the ASQA Update prepared by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)—the new national vocational education and training (VET) regulator was distributed.

The ASQA Update will be provided each month to ASQA registered training organisations (RTOs) and course owners, ASQA stakeholders and subscribers to ASQA updates.

Download the February Update

NAWIC Victoria / Tasmania are hosting a half day event to celebrate the 101st  International Women’s Day and to focus on discussions on the future for the construction industry.

The speaker and panellists are passionate about current best practices in the industry, sharing leadership initiatives and challenges currently impeding the attraction and retention of women in construction and allied industries, from their perspectives.

Following lunch and short break, guests will participate in a facilitated discussion on round tables of ten. There will be a number of topics and guests will be asked to nominate their preferred topic. The experienced facilitator will help focus thoughts and ideas and will encourage creative and positive discussion at each table. The issues, challenges, solutions raised will then be linked into developing a “Call to Action” Paper. It is anticipated that this paper will be made available to the industry, government and other interested parties and that the “Champions of Change” agree to use this paper as a platform for discussion and action in their own organisations.

Keynote Speaker 
Marita Cheng, 2012 Young Australian of the Year and Engineering Entrepreneur

Panellists           
From construction, mining, union and water resource organisations
Anne Barker CEO | City West Water
Chris Walton CEO | Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA)
Michelle Ash GM Strategy | Minerals and Metals Group (MMG)
Carolyn Viney Head of Developments | Grocon

This event is for anyone and everyone in engineering, mining, project management, and all construction related fields.

Date: Friday, 9th March 2012.

Time: 12:00 – 4:00 pm

Venue: MCG, Member’s Dining Room

Parking: Limited numbers available under the MCG on a first in basis or parking will be available in the grounds

Cost (inc GST):
$200 Non-members
$155 NAWIC Members
$1450 Table of 10

Cost includes: 2 course lunch and post forum drinks (during networking time of the event). Numbers are strictly limited.

RSVP:  Register here

For more information on this event visit the NAWIC website

There are 2 new additions to the Needanapprentice website this week. We have:

1 Plumbing – 1st Year
1 Plumbing – 2nd Year

The website currently has 35 positions vacant and 38 apprentice resumes.

If you haven't already done so we encourage you to register your details on the website to gain access to the apprentice listings and post your vacancies.
Registration is free and only takes a moment to complete and you could be filling your vacancies right away.

If you need any assistance with registering, posting a vacancy or would like further information please contact the GTAV office on 9639 3955 or email admin@gtavic.asn.au.

GTAV has an arrangement with its industrial relations provider WorkSight to provide a subscription based Award Information service. The subscription includes summaries of major awards used within the Group Training sector, an information advice service and training in various aspects of Industrial Relations.

WorkSight can also provide assistance to Group Training Organisations on a fee for service basis in relation to:
Industrial relations negotiations

• Representation at industrial tribunals
• Unfair dismissal procedures
• Interpretation of various industrial relation situations/issues
• Advice and support on recruitment and placement practices

For further information on this service please contact the GTAV Office on 03 9639 3955