WELCOME »
Welcome to the November edition of Skills Update - the Department of Education, Training and the Arts' training newsletter.
 
We welcome your contributions and feedback.   Email the Editor at skillsupdate@deta.qld.gov.au

OLDER EMPLOYEES PROVEN FOR THE LONG ROAD » 

Staff of Brisbane-based Simon National Carriers join for the long haul – in years of service as well as road kilometres.

The company’s age-friendly strategies exemplify what the State Government seeks to achieve with its Experience Pays awareness campaign, part of the Queensland Skills Plan.

TAPPING INTO FEMALE TRADES TALENT »

Two new programs in north Queensland which aim to get more female workboots on the ground have met a good response.

The first has seen 65 women apply for 15 places in a plumbing course at Tropical North Queensland TAFE in Cairns.  At the same time, 12 women have put up their hands for a career in construction, answering a call by the Whitsunday Development Corporation.

TAKING CARE OF SCHOOLS TRAINING BUSINESS »

How a registered training organisation has become the prime mover in the field it now dominates surely has lessons for other RTOs.

But there are no marketing secrets behind the success of My Other Mum Childcare of Woree in Cairns, which partners with schools to offer school-based childcare training.

FORUM'S FRAMEWORK FOR NEW IDEAS »

The Reframing the Future organisation is facilitating an interactive, national two day forum encouraging fresh thinking about “innovation, agility and responsiveness” in the vocational education and training system.

To be held in Melbourne on 17-18 November, the forum will provide an opportunity for the participants to network, share contemporary approaches to vocational education and training and promote good practice in implementing the national training system.

TRAIN TO RETAIN RESOURCES AVAILABLE » 

The Train to Retain initiative calls on everyone in the training system to work together to help build safe, supportive and productive environments in which apprentices and trainees can learn and complete their training.

To support the initiative, the Department of Education, Training and the Arts has resources such as guides, posters and fact sheets available, and conducts information sessions in collaboration with Training Reference Groups.