South Metropolitan TAFE – Applications Now Open

Have you thought about upskilling your workforce – or furthering your studies – at South Metropolitan TAFE next year?

Applications are now open to study at South Metro TAFE in 2020.

South Metro TAFE is one of Western Australia’s largest training providers, offering courses from pre-apprenticeship, to short courses, to advanced diploma.  Delivery can be in your workplace, or on campus, online or in the classroom.

South Metro TAFE works closely with industry to ensure courses reflect the latest trends and technologies. 

For more information, and to find out where a South Metro TAFE course could lead, click here: https://www.southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au/study2020

We also have a number of testimonial videos on our youtube channel which may be of interest.

Please let me know if I can assist further.

Kind regards,

Chloe Banyard
Communications Coordinator (Tuesday and Thursday)

South Metropolitan TAFE
Murdoch Campus – 130 Murdoch Drive, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150
T: +61 8 9229 9252
E: chloe.banyard@smtafe.wa.edu.au
W: southmetrotafe.wa.edu.au

NMTAFE (Balga) – Recommencement of Automotive & Marine Trimming

Training of Automotive Trimming Apprentices has recommenced at Balga Campus under the \”Local training for Local Needs\” initiative developed by the State Government.

Apprentice training ceased a few years ago and the few employers who took on apprentices in Automotive Trimming had to send apprentices to TAFENSW for training.

The team at Balga has been busy developing resources for delivery as well as attending to Teaching Qualifications over the past 12 months and they are pleased to add that the numbers of registered apprentices has started to flow back into the courses at Balga.

Late last year the Automotive and Marine Trimming started with 5 apprentices who were joined by a further 7 apprentices this year with a total of 12 apprentices enrolled state wide.

The facility at Balga Campus houses not only the Automotive and Marine Trimming (inc Aviation Upholstery), but also Furniture Upholstery and Manufactured Textiles. A one stop shop for the associated Craft Trades for WA.

Employer and Apprentice feedback has been very positive and the training facility is well established again with specialist tools and equipment. We still have a way to go I am happy with the quality of all the resources and facility and we have not dropped the ball at any time while striving to be on top of the game in Quality Training that meets Industries needs at this early stage.

For further information, please contact Gary McCormick | Part Time Lecturer Automotive & Marine Trimming Technology North Metropolitan TAFE | L Block Balga Campus, Gate 1 Loxwood Road, Balga 6010 M 0438 821 346

Bringing the Metropolis to Sydney

Australia’s first driverless metro train has passed its first full test with flying colours, having recently travelled along the entire 36 kilometres of Sydney’s $8.3 billion Metro Northwest rail line.

Engineers are now checking the new autonomous trains and systems will run smoothly on the Sydney Metro, according to Transport for NSW, with around 19,000 km of train testing completed so far.

“The new train is made by world-class manufacturer Alstom,” Sydney Metro revealed. “It’s customised for Sydney, but is based on the international Metropolis train, which is used in 25 cities including metros in Singapore, Barcelona and Amsterdam.”

All 22 six-car train sets that were ordered from Alstom in 2014 have now been delivered from the company’s Sricity facility in Andhra Pradesh in southern India.

“Alstom’s engineering hub in Bengaluru adapted the Metropolis and Urbalis solutions to the specific needs of Sydney Metro,” Alstom said when delivering the last train in December 2018 (pictured leaving India).

Some of the features of the customised trains include level access between platform and train plus platform screens for safety and fast onboarding and disembarking, three double doors on each side of a carriage, and real-time route information and live electronic route maps.

Passengers and staff will be able to see down the entire length of the interior of the train from one end to the other and the network will have continuous mobile phone coverage. Transport for NSW has touted that the new trains will run at 98% on-time.

Alstom also provided the CBTC signalling system for the North West Rail Link. Transport for NSW said the on-board train systems will be tested over the coming months as well as signalling, braking and acceleration at different speeds in tunnels.

Published by Engineers Australia: www.engineersaustralia.org.au

Is Your Vehicle Affected?

Aussies have checked the safety of more than six million cars in what has been the largest recall in vehicle history. 

Of the six million vehicles checked, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) says more than 915,000 vehicles have been identified as affected by potentially deadly Takata airbags.

Developed six months ago by the FCAI, the site www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au has been at the forefront of the national advertising campaign “Don’t Die Wondering”, raising awareness of the recall.

Since the recall was announced in early 2018, FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says nearly two thirds of the three million vehicles have had the airbags replaced, but warns there is still a way to go.

For more on this article, please follow this link:

http://www.drive.com.au/news/faulty-airbag-website-used-more-than-six-million-times-120684?trackLink=articleResults12News

5G Is Coming

Telecom companies are excited to rollout 5G. But how do consumers feel? Do they know what 5G is? Do they care? What about the deployment of small cells—does it change consumer perception?

During May 2018, PwC surveyed a nationally representative sample of 800 Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 who have access to the internet via an online survey conducted by a leading global research firm.

Topline overview

Six in ten consumers are familiar with the term 5G and the majority find the concept appealing—even if it requires adding “small cells” in their neighborhoods. Consumers feel that the additional equipment is a small price to pay to enjoy faster download speeds and more cost-efficient data plans. However, even with the promise of faster, more reliable service, most would not be willing to rush out and buy a new device right away.

For more information, please click here: http://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/library/consumer-intelligence-series/5g-small-cells-consumer.html

State Training Plan 2017-2020

The State Training Board prepares a State Training Plan each year, which contributes to the policy and purchasing direction for the State’s training system for the short to medium term. The Plan is developed each year within the context of current State and national vocational education and training policies, commitments and agreements.

The new State Training Plan 2017–2020 identifies and recommends key areas of focus such as:

  • enhancing industry engagement;
  • supporting and promoting innovation and technology within the education and training sector;
  • priority for the employment of apprentices and trainees on major WA projects;
  • creating skills development opportunities for young people;
  • skilling our social assistance and allied health workforce; and
  • supporting older workers.

A range of inputs are used to inform the Plan, including:

  • analysis of economic, labour market and demographic data;
  • industry consultation and advice,
  • regional advice; and
  • other relevant research and reports.

View the State Training Plan 2017–2020 on the State Training Board website at stb.wa.gov.au/stp2017

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia

HVIA will be organising, at the Brisbane Truck Show (16-19 May 2019), its biennial National Apprentice Challenge. This is a fabulous apprentice development opportunity for heavy vehicle mechanical apprentices at any stage of their training. Participation is open to apprentices employed in the heavy vehicle industry.

HVIA will host the successful apprentices to attend the four days of the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show with all expenses covered, including travel, meals and accommodation.

Teams of two apprentices will be selected to represent each of HVIA’s three regions:

Eastern Region – New South Wales, ACT and Queensland

Southern Region – Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia

North-Western Region – Western Australia and Northern Territory

The three regional teams will compete against each other in heats over the first three days of the show, on identical trucks, generously supplied by Iveco Trucks Australia, to identify and rectify a series of programmed faults as the clock ticks.

The winning team is the first successfully to identify and repair all the faults, or the team that rectifies the most faults within the allowed time frame.

The two best performing teams throughout the heats will compete in the final on the Sunday (fourth day) of the show.

The teams are selected from nominees based on their results from a two-hour exam held in each region. 

To nominate your apprentice/s: click here.

Nominations close on Friday 22nd February 2019.

If you’d like to ask any questions, please give me a call: 07 3376 6266.

Kind regards

Paul Woodland

National Manager for Member Value

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia 

New Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy Release

Following extensive consultation with stakeholders, the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) has updated its “Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy  (A&T Policy). The revised policy came into effect on 29 November 2018, and is now available on the DTWD website.

View the new Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy

The new A&T Policy has been simplified to make it more user-friendly for apprentices, trainees, employers, RTOs, AASNs, GTOs, students, parents and schools. The key changes are as follows:

  • All related policy documents are now incorporated. This includes the School-based Apprenticeship Policy; Travel and Accommodation Allowance (TAA) Policy; Trade Skills Recognition Policy; and the Trade Certificate Policy.
  • The policy includes web links for easy access to program information and fact sheets and forms for employers, apprentices, RTOs and other providers operating in the apprenticeship system.
  • The strengthening of eligibility criteria for Western Australian trade certificates, including those issued under the Trade Skills Recognition (TSR) process, to ensure the integrity of the application and assessment processes.  The new eligibility criteria will come into effect on 1 January 2019.
  • Individuals who are qualified tradespeople in an Australian State or Territory other than Western Australia are now able to apply for a WA Trade Certificate, if they meet the requirements.
  • The policy reflects recent changes to regulations, which clarify requirements around training plans, including school-based apprentices and trainees.

Several fact sheets on the Apprenticeship Office website have been updated to align with the new policy and the following new fact sheets have been developed.

Title Location
Applying for a WA trade certificate by interstate tradespeople Other publications
Applying for a WA trade certificate via trade skills recognition (effective from 1 January 2019) Information for RTOs, and also in Other publications
Eligibility for a WA trade certificate Other publications
Training contract and exemption notices for children of compulsory school age Training contract forms and fact sheets

The following policy documents relate to the DTWD role as Western Australia’s State Training Authority, with responsibility for administering the State’s VET system. This involves managing the investment of public resources to provide a quality training system.

·        Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy

·        Complaints Management Policy

·        Government Building Training Policy

·        Language Services Policy and Guidelines

·        School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy

·        Sponsorship Policy

·        TAFE Admissions Policy

·        TAFE Duty of Care for Minors Policy

·        Trade Certificate Policy

·        Trade Skills Recognition Policy

·        Travel and Accommodation Allowance Policy

·        VET Fees and Charges Policy

·        VET Delivered to Secondary Students: Funding Policy

These policy documents can be accessed via the following link:  https://www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/about-us#legislative-framework-policies-and-guidelines

Please contact Anna Wildy, Manager Policy Planning and Research, Department of Training and Workforce Development on (08) 6551 5529 or email anna.wildy@dtwd.wa.gov.au, if you have any queries in regards to the new apprenticeship and traineeship policy and any of the associated policy documents.

 

HVIA Releases Safer Trucks & Trailers Action Plan

In the November edition of Australasian Transport News (ATN), HVIA Chief Executive Todd Hacking has challenged Government to incentivise the uptake of safety technologies.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility:  the people who design, build and maintain roads; the people who use the road network, such as drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists; the people who import or manufacture vehicles; the people who police road user behaviour and of course those responsible for implementing policy, laws and regulations pertaining to road use and road safety.

“As an association that advocates for the businesses that design, import, manufacture and distribute heavy vehicles and supply components for trucks and trailers, HVIA is at the forefront of showcasing innovation, technology and the latest safety features.

“Our members are constantly innovating and developing ways to make their vehicles safer.  Sometimes this is mandated through the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) but often this is voluntary and is part of being a good corporate citizen.

“The fact is that heavy vehicles rolling off the assembly line in 2018 are the safest yet, and as the industry continues to innovate and invest in design and technology, the safety features will continue to advance in future years.

“This advancement in safety is also true for passenger vehicles. In spite of these safer vehicles operating on better performing roads and at safer speeds, Australia is not seeing the requisite downward trend on the road toll.

“The tragic reality is that last year 1,227 people died on Australian roads.  Sadly, this also includes 185 people from accidents involving a heavy vehicle.  These deaths are largely preventable.

“As such, HVIA has asked itself: what more can be done to reduce road fatalities?  I’m proud that our members have come up with a series of priority actions which we have now released as part of a new campaign – Safer Trucks & Trailers: Incentivising the Uptake of Safety Technologies.

“This action plan argues that the highest priority is a deliberate strategy of targeting older vehicles in the fleet, reducing the age of the fleet by doing so, or incentivising the retrofit of available safety technologies to improve heavy vehicle safety.”

Mr Hacking says the document is intended to start a constructive, mature discussion on advancing road safety.

“This is a logical first step to target the vehicles most in need, and does so in a way that does not punish heavy vehicle operators, but rather incentivises the uptake of available safety technologies.”