August 2011 e-newsletter
In this issue:
23,000 new training places for existing workers allocated
Existing workers will soon be boosting their skills and qualifications through more than 23,000 training places which have just been allocated across SA in the latest round of the Productivity Places Program (PPP) for Existing Workers.
Valued at $36 million, this allocation funds 3,166 nationally endorsed training places at Certificate III level; 9,876 at Certificate IV level; 6,027 at Diploma level and 4,026 at Advanced Diploma level across a range of high skills demand industries.
The main industry sectors to benefit through this round include health and community services; education and training; and mining, engineering and defence.
The Existing Workers program is worth about $117 million over four years and will provide 39,000 training places for existing workers across the State by the middle of 2012.
For more information visit the Productivity Places Program
$558 million National Workforce Development Fund announced
On 10 August 2011, the Commonwealth Government launched the $558 million National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) which will provide 130,000 Australians with the opportunity to learn new skills for jobs in sectors suffering from critical skill shortages.
Industry can now make bids to their respective Industry Skills Councils to secure matched funding to train its current or prospective workforce, with small businesses receiving more assistance.
Funding support will be available for accredited training for new and existing workers to help meet businesses skills demands.
The 2011-12 round of the NWDF will make $73 million available across all industry sectors with $50 million focusing on the priority industry sectors of Construction (civil and general) and Aged Care.
Applications can be submitted until 30 September 2011.
For more information visit the NWDF website
Strong growth in SA apprentices and trainees
New data released recently by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows steady growth in the number of apprentices and trainees in-training and those completing their training.
The latest NCVER Apprentices and Trainees Annual 2010 report shows 31,700 apprentices and trainees in-training in South Australia as at 31 December 2010, a 3.3 per cent increase on the figure 12 months earlier.
The NCVER report also shows that 23,500 apprentices and trainees started their training in 2010 – a 16.5 per cent increase on the previous 12 months, and above the national growth average.
Completion figures were also strong in 2010, with 12,600 apprentices and trainees finishing their training – an increase of 11.2 per cent, and higher than the national average of 5.4 per cent.
$112,000 to boost broadband in Port Pirie
Communities surrounding Port Pirie in the State’s mid north will soon have access to high-speed broadband internet thanks to a $112,000 grant through the State Government’s Enterprise Zone Fund Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback.
The funding will assist Aussie Broadband Pty Ltd to provide internet broadband services to towns in the area disadvantaged by limited broadband coverage.
A number of local communities will be able to access WiMAX coverage and share in the economic and social benefits of high-speed broadband internet, including improved delivery of vital regional services such as health, education and emergency response.
This will extend broadband coverage to the townships of Appila, Wirrabara, Port Flinders, Gladstone, Georgetown, Laura, Caltowie, Stone Hut, Crystal Brook, Redhill, Warnertown and the surrounding rural area.
The project is expected to be completed later this year.
Nominations open for 2011 Science Excellence Awards
High achievers in research, business and science education are encouraged to apply for the 2011 Science Excellence Awards, with nominations opening on the 11 August.
The awards are South Australia’s premier science event which showcases the success of the State’s scientists, researchers, PhD students and science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators.
Whilst retaining the format of the South Australian Scientist of the Year as in prior years, the awards for 2011 have been significantly revised to focus upon individuals at an early career stage, including PhD candidates or recent graduates and also early career science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals that are making their mark as valued employees in industry or in institutions.
Nominations for the 2011 Science Excellence Awards close on Friday 9 September. Winners of the awards will be announced at the 2011 gala dinner to be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday, 3 November, 2011.
For more information visit the Science Excellence Awards website or phone (08) 8207 8702.
$1.6 million to boost literacy and numeracy training
Up to 11,000 South Australian adults are being given the opportunity to improve their language, literacy and numeracy skills through a $1.6 million State Government community education training initiative to provide South Australians facing disadvantage with real opportunities for training and employment.
The $1.6 million additional funding to support people to boost their language, literacy and numeracy skills brings ACE grant funding to more than $4.9 million since January this year.
The funding will enable 10,979 enrolments to be offered by community-based, not-for-profit training providers at more than 100 sites across the State.
Funding will be for training in language, literacy and numeracy skills under the Multi-literacies and Transitions programs.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a broad range of literacy programs, which will help them to access further training opportunities.
Adult learners will be provided with assistance to move into accredited training and achieve post-school qualifications.
New MOU builds TAFE SA links with SA and NT unis
TAFE SA students will have improved pathways to higher education through agreements signed on Friday between TAFE SA, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Charles Darwin University.
The agreements strengthen collaboration between TAFE SA with universities to facilitate and reinforce study pathways between vocational and higher education for students.
The new agreements will provide significant opportunities for students to have their training at TAFE SA recognised towards university studies and in many cases obtaining guaranteed entry into university.
In addition there are over 5,000 students with university degrees currently studying in TAFE SA with many using TAFE SA to add vocational components to their higher education qualifications.
SA gaming start-up Odd Games has MEGA win
South Australian start-up company Odd Games won three of five awards at the state’s annual MEGA event as the South Australian start-up scene starts to heat up.
MEGA is an entrepreneurship program aimed at innovators in the mobile, digital media and ICT industries, with participants ranging from game developers to students and MBA graduates.
The program culminates in a pitch day, attended by investors, buyers and business identities, where participants present their product or service in the hope of winning a prize.
This year’s entries included a student accommodation finder, an alternate reality game system for marketers, a social network for meal planning and an emergency alert system.
Founded by brothers David and Terry O’Donoghue earlier this year, Odd Games is developing a game called Monster Truck Destruction for iPhone, Android and Facebook. It took out the Pitch Panel Prize, Best Written Business Proposal and the Peer Assessed Award.
MEGA’s mission is to increase the size and capability of the digital content and applications industry for South Australia.