|
|
 Training Helps Sustain Biotech Bubble
A new vocational graduate diploma course in biotechnology developed at Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT) will put Queensland even further ahead of other states in developing skills in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Queensland is the only state or territory offering high level training to scientists and laboratory technicians in these burgeoning industries.
The 12-month graduate diploma course is expected to be accredited soon by TAFE Queensland, with SBIT introducing a six-month Vocational Graduate Certificate in Applied Biotechnology course focusing on regulatory compliance earlier this year.
Queensland leads Australia in the manufacture of complementary medicines and generic pharmaceuticals.
However, the State Government and industry agree that education and training for these industries – as well as for the emerging applied biotechnology sector – are failing to meet industry requirements for work-ready graduates.
Latest available figures show Queensland has more than 2,500 establishments in the therapeutic medicines and devices industry. In 2005-06 they contributed $1.689 billion to Queensland’s economy.
SBIT is the state’s lead training provider for the sector and reports that 98 per cent of its graduates are employed within six months.
Earlier this year the Department of Education, Training and the Arts funded 20 cadetships linked to the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Applied Biotechnology, as part of its support for one of Queensland’s fastest growing industry sectors.
The development of these cadetships is a direct result of the work from the Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals Skills Formation Strategy — jointly funded between the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry — which transitioned to industry ownership early in 2007.
One of these cadetships was awarded to Brisbane woman Jozefina Uksanovic-Barnjak (pictured) and gave further impetus to her career in biotechnology.
Mrs Uksanovic-Barnjak came to Queensland from Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1998 to discover her degree in veterinary science wasn’t recognised here.
She is now a team leader at Q-Gen Pty Ltd, which provides manufacturing services to the bio-therapeutics industry, and was recommended for the cadetship by company executives.
The mother of three previously gained a Diploma in Applied Science at SBIT. Of the cadetship, she says modestly: “My boss saw my potential and wanted me to flourish a bit.”
Globally, the complementary and alternative medicine sector is enjoying double-digit growth.
International trends contributing to this growth include expansion in the production and consumption of generic pharmaceuticals, the concept of personalised medicine (or pharmacogenomics), and a switch to over-the-counter status for many medicines.
As well as being the national leader in production of complementary medicines, Queensland is also a centre for clinical trials of pharmaceuticals.
Since last year, when the industry took responsibility for its staffing and training needs, the key body driving this has been the Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Industry Forum (QPNIF).
Formed in July 2006, the Forum comprises industry stakeholders and representatives from universities, TAFE, private training providers and government.
Projects carried out in the first year focused on skills and workforce development issues.
In developing and launching its advanced training programs, Southbank Institute of Technology has partnered with companies such as Symbion, Sigma Herron, ALS, Alphapharm, Q-Gen and others.
Southbank Institute of Technology provides a broad range of training for the sector including courses for quality assurance relating to microbiology, chemistry laboratory, stability programs, method development and compliance.
For more information about SBIT training and the cadetship program, go to: |
| http://www.southbank.edu.au/site/programs/vgq/ | | |
|
|
Still Too Much Workplace Bullying: Ombudsman
The Queensland Training Ombudsman Peter Ruhanen has criticised “archaic” employer attitudes towards apprentices and trainees which he believes contribute to persistently high drop-out rates.
Training Ombudsman, Peter Ruhanen (right)
He said it was an unfortunate fact that old-fashioned bullying and harassment still drove many young people away from their chosen trade or career.
“Some companies still don’t seem to have worked out that you can’t demean young workers or allow their workmates to do this – today’s Y generation just won’t put up with it,” Mr Ruhanen said.
“The older generation may think it’s all character building, but young people will stand up for themselves – just as we have encouraged them to.”
Mr Ruhanen said the widely publicised experience of a young New South Wales apprentice cabinet maker abused by his employer, was a worst-case example of what was inappropriate in today’s workplace.
The owner of the Ballina company was alleged to have controlled even minor aspects of the teenage apprentice’s life, banning personal phone calls during breaks, forcing the young man to have frequent hair-cuts and even telling him he couldn’t put fresh tomato on his sandwiches at lunch-time.
“This sort of abusive, controlling behaviour is totally unacceptable,” Mr Ruhanen said.
“Young people aren’t as resilient as mature adults and the boss who does this sort of thing doesn’t realise how damaging it is to the person.
“Fortunately, employers like this are in the minority. Most are supportive people who realise a qualified young person with fresh skills is going to be a great company asset.”
Mr Ruhanen said that apart from the humane aspect, Queensland’s current skills shortage and ageing workforce meant the state could not afford to have qualified young people drop out of traineeships or apprenticeships.
In June last year a strategy to counter harassment of apprentices and trainees, Train to Retain, was launched by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts in response to recommendations by the Queensland Training Ombudsman.
The initiative provides a framework to help Queensland businesses ensure their workplace is one which supports and encourages apprentices throughout their training.
Mr Ruhanen said it was too early to say whether the plan was taking effect, but it had raised awareness of the problem right across business and industry.
For more information about the Train to Retain Action Plan visit: |
| www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au/traintoretain | | |
| Queensland Training Awards » | |
 Training Awards Showcase State's Best
Queensland’s top employers, apprentices, trainees, vocational students and training providers were showcased as the state’s best, after taking out 2008 Queensland Training Awards in a Brisbane ceremony on 11 September.
The prestigious Employer of the Year aware went to Brisbane based company Stowe Australia of Eight Mile Plains, the nation’s largest privately owned electrical and communications contractor.
Stowe Australia delivers specialist services for a range of private and public markets including defence, mining and urban infrastructure.
The company has been providing long-term career pathways for its staff since George Stowe employed his first apprentice in 1914.
Today, Stowe Australia employs more than 400 full-time staff in Queensland, including 110 apprentices and hopes its continued investment in human resources will ensure ongoing success.
Small Employer of the Year was taken out by Surrender Dorothy Hairdressing of Pomona, which opened for business in the small Sunshine Coast village just three years ago.
Proving that location isn’t everything, the company has won 16 hairdressing awards and four major business accolades, operating from a small laneway with no shop frontage in the industrial side of town.
Surrender Dorothy employs nine staff and teaches up to 150 hairdressers through its education academy.
The Apprentice of the Year award was added to a growing trophy collection at the home of young Wide Bay mother, Rachel Niemann (pictured).
While Ms Niemann was a stay-at-home mother looking after her two young sons, she renovated her home and built a new kitchen using plywood and basic hand tools. This experience encouraged her to become a qualified cabinetmaker.
Employed at Hatchetts Joinery in Murgon, Ms Niemann has won several local apprenticeship awards and is now studying for a Certificate IV in Small Business Management to further boost her skills.
All Queensland Training Awards winners can now enter the Australian Training Awards which will be presented in Darwin on 20 November this year. The full list of winners:
Small Employer: Surrender Dorothy Hairdressing, Pomona. Employer: Stowe Australia, Eight Mile Plains. Public Training Provider: Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Mount Gravatt. Private Training Organisation: First Impressions Resources, Brisbane. Skilling for the Future Award: My Other Mum Childcare – Working with Schools Initiative, Woree. Premier’s Innovation in Skilling Award: Glendyne Education and Training Centre - Glendyne Employment Initiative, Nikenbah
Apprentice of the Year: Rachel Niemann, Murgon. (Training provider: Skills Tech Queensland. Qualification: Certificate III in Furniture Making - Cabinet Making. Employer: Wide Bay Group Training Scheme Ltd). Trainee: Matthew Graham, Bundamba. (Civil Train. Certificate III in Civil Construction – Pipelaying. Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance). Vocational Student: Jeni Wycha, Greenbank. (Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE. Certificate III and IV in Information Technology – Networking. School-based Apprentice or Trainee: Rohan Greer, Cambooya. (Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE. Certificate III in Electro-technology Systems Electrician. Harristown State High School. Downs Group Training. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student: Bernard Pope, Maryborough. (Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE. Diploma of Nursing). |
| www.qta.qld.gov.au | | |
|
