Community Skills WA’s newsletter for October 2024 is now available. We collate content that we believe is relevant and interesting for our industry stakeholders. Should you wish to sign up to receive our monthly newsletter you can find details on our website. Read Newsletter
During National Reconciliation Week, Now More Than Ever our team has been reflecting on how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. CSWA is committed to The National Agreement on Closing the Gap that places four Priority Reforms at the centre. These reforms are central to the National Agreement and will change the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. CSWA consider it a privilege to listen to and learn from Aboriginal people and where we can, contribute to the capacity building of their communities. Now More Than Ever #NRW2024
https://mailchi.mp/63a31aef7782/cswa-newsletter-aug-17753029
Unfortunately when it comes to the delivery of Vocational Education and Training (VET) not all delivery is created equal. CSWA is often contacted by organisations and/or individuals for whom the training experience has not produced the desired outcome. As well as impacting on the student or organisation it undermines the value of VET which has a critical role to play in the development of skills and knowledge and potentially career opportunities.
https://mailchi.mp/a78fcbbd0817/cswa-newsletter-aug-17751570
Hopscotch – creating pathways into paid work for parents via Child and Parent Centres
In 2023, Anglicare WA set out to test an innovative pathway to meet community and workforce needs. In collaboration with Community Skills WA & Dudley Park Child and Parent Centre, Anglicare created a low stress, accessible pathway into paid work in the care work sector.
The Hopscotch initiative accepted the challenge to bridge the divide between those seeking employees and those seeking work, to create flexible pathways that accommodate the needs of both employers and prospective employees, while considering sustainable career options that will survive in the broader context of the future of work.
Microsoft PowerPoint – Hopscotch Pilot Report_March 2024 – A4 version (anglicarewa.org.au)
Having completed and submitted our WA Jobs Education and Training (WAJET) survey responses for 2024, the team is now looking to revisit key findings and explore potential opportunities to develop the current and future workforce. This will include further consultations but also exploring ways in which the information can be shared with key stakeholders such as schools, to raise awareness of the incredible range of career opportunities.
https://mailchi.mp/be567ee41b7c/cswa-newsletter-aug-17644201
On behalf of the CSWA Team, Happy New Year to all our stakeholders. We look forward to working with you all in 2024 connecting dots and building capacity across the Community Services, Health and Education workforces.
One thing we are committed to doing in 2024 is sharing more of the good news stories that we are fortunate enough to uncover when we engage with stakeholders across the State that showcase innovation and positive impact
https://mailchi.mp/a194f0becf89/cswa-newsletter-aug-17628106
As the CSWA team will be taking a break over the Christmas period this will be the last newsletter for the year and as such presents a time for reflection on the year that has nearly passed.
As always, we are aware of the ongoing challenges faced by the community services, health and education sectors due to funding uncertainty, costs of living pressures, housing access and the impacts of a highly competitive labour market to name just a few.
The recently announced five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) represents a substantial investment in the vocational education and training sector in WA. Successful advocacy by the Cook Government has resulted in an agreement, which CSWA envisages will provide significant opportunities for WA to access training and workforce initiatives.
https://mailchi.mp/6d44cc00666c/cswa-newsletter-aug-17519409
As the mad rush to the end of the year gathers momentum, CSWA is once again looking to ensure we are best positioned to respond to the WA Jobs, Education and Training (WAJET) survey by early 2024, ensuring it provides a platform to advocate for the needs of our sectors.
The design of the Department of Training and Workforce Development’s recently released 2023-2028 Strategic Plan was inspired by Aboriginal artist Brody Campbell’s artwork “Kaartdijin”. This artwork, which translates to “knowledge” in his language, tells a story of transforming lives and communities, and enabling a thriving economy through contemporary vocational education.
https://mailchi.mp/3bd7a424cbc2/cswa-newsletter-aug-17399722
Dear OSHC Stakeholder,
CSWA would like to thank those who provided feedback and advice during the consultation process for the establishment of the traineeship for the Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care (10983NAT) in Western Australian. As a Training Council our role is to submit the application to the State Training Board with strong evidence which supports our recommendation. This evidence is based on consultation with a range of stakeholders including Industry, Employer and Employee Associations, Government and Training Providers. When we asked these stakeholders to confirm their position, overwhelmingly the response provided was that the endorsement of this qualification, whilst it was able to be utilised to run a service, posed too great a risk to the children and worker. This was despite chronic workforce shortages in the outside school hours care (OSHC) sector. Whilst the sector is identified as being critical to support working parents, the State Training Board was advised that it was imperative the sector was adequately resourced and workforce issues addressed in way that minimised the risk to the child and worker. It was recommended that the promotion of the Diploma of School Aged Education and Care (CHC50221) be promoted for those who have responsibility for running a service.
Since these consultations were undertaken, a change to the OSHC regulations by Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) came into effect on 1st July. This change has created an opportunity to review this position particularly in light of the fact that a service can no longer be run utilising the Certificate III qualification, however the First Qualified Educator may now be working towards a number of other identified qualifications. Whilst the First Qualified Educator can no longer run a service with the Certificate III, a Qualified Educator can and as such, we seek your advice on the establishment of this qualification as a traineeship as part of a strategy to build the OSHC workforce.
To assist with the decision-making process, we provide the Summary of OSHC Regulation Changes and OSHC Petition Template for review.
Qualification Details
An outline of the qualification as listed on the Training Government Authority website https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/10983NAT this lists the units of competence included. Note whilst this lists 12 units it appears in other states delivery is based on 15 units which includes the elective three units:
The Certificate III qualification does have a work placement component of 320 hours which would be captured under the traineeship arrangement.
At present the qualification in not on the government funded list and the costs unable to be confirmed as this will be negotiated between the owner of the qualification and the WA RTOs that choose to deliver. Should its establishment be supported, CSWA will advocate for the qualification to be funded at similar levels to the existing ECEC Certificate III and Diploma. Concurrently CSWA will also advocate for the Diploma of School Aged Education and Care (CHC50221) to be funded at the same level.
Summary of OSHC Regulation Changes
Prepared by CSWA, this document aims to highlight the changes to the regulatory requirements and map again current and proposed training pathway in WA.
Petition
This outlines the potential delivery arrangements for the Traineeship and should you support its establishment placing this on your letterhead and confirming your responses to the questions in red will assist us to resubmit a position to the State Training Board promptly. Please note that the Traineeship is delivered over 24 months in other States and is available within schools. CSWA will seek clarification from ECRU, but a potential special consideration could be that under 18s are unable to undertake the qualification unless under the supervision of a qualified staff member.
In addition to the Traineeship consultation process CSWA will continue to work with the sector to explore other opportunities to build the capacity of this critical workforce.
Please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Thompson caroline@cswa.org.au or Fiona Andreas fiona@cswa.org.au if you have any queries.
All responses are required by COB Monday 4th September 2023.
The recent release of the Vocational Education Training (VET) Qualifications Register for Secondary Students for the 2024 school year coincides with a period within the school system when students are considering or have already identified career options, particularly pathways for years 11 and 12. Having recently navigated this space as a parent, I am acutely aware that this can be a confusing and challenging time for both students and parents.
