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

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.

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.

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.”

• You can read the full article in the November ATN or online here.
• Download the HVIA road safety plan, Safer Trucks: Incentivising the Uptake of Safety Technologies here.   (Members Only)

The Children and Community Services Act 2004 regulates where, when, and at what age children can be employed in Western Australia and these laws apply to all employers throughout the State.

In most industries, children under 15 cannot be employed unless they are working in a family business run by a relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent; performing professionally as an actor, musician, entertainer or in an advertisement; or working for charities and other not-for-profit organisations.  Jobs in which children under 15 cannot be employed include working on a farm or at horse riding schools and stables, working in construction or on any building or home or garden maintenance work, and working in a factory or warehouse.

The Children and Community Services Act specifies that children aged 10, 11 or 12 are allowed to deliver newspapers or advertising material, but they cannot work during school hours and cannot start work before 6am or finish later than 7pm.  Workers of this age must be accompanied at all times by a parent, or another adult who has written permission from their parents.

A child must be at least 13 years old to be employed in a shop, fast food outlet, café or restaurant.  Employers are also required to get written permission from a child’s parent and the child is not allowed to work before 6am and after 10pm or during school hours.

Breaches of the Children and Community Services Act attract penalties of up to $120,000 if the employer is a body corporate.  In 2015 a supermarket business in regional Western Australia was fined $2,250 in the Industrial Magistrate’s Court for illegally employing an 11-year-old girl.  The charge related to the employment of the child as a shop assistant for five shifts of work that were performed on weekend days.

Employers who are considering employing children are encouraged to check the legal requirements by contacting Wageline on 1300 655 266 or visit www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/wageline