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STAYING CONNECTED IN velgtraining.com EDUCATE | INSPIRE | EMPOWER Australia’s quarterly VET eZine OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 6 | FREE Minister Hartsuyker: on VET FEE-HELP and VET reform Celebrating VET: 2015 Australian Training Awards Inspire Feature: 2015 National VET Conference recap VET

Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

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Velg Training has published the sixth edition of our quarterly VET eZine! Featuring articles to Educate, Inspire and Empower readers from the new Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Department of Education and Training, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education and industry experts across Australia.

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Page 1: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

STAYING CONNECTED IN

velgtraining.com

EDUCATE | INSPIRE | EMPOWER

Australia’s quarterly VET eZine

OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 6 | FREE

Minister Hartsuyker: on VET FEE-HELP

and VET reform

Celebrating VET: 2015 Australian Training Awards

Inspire Feature: 2015 National VET Conference recap

VET

Page 3: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

3Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

© Velg TrainingAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without explicit written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations and other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor at the address below, with the subject “Permissions Request”. Publication design by Amy Lynch. Icon design by Freepik and Graphic Burger. ‘Empower’ cover image and feature photos from Australian Training Awards.

CONTACT Velg Training Pty Ltd. 1/52 Jeffcott Street Wavell Heights QLD 4012 Australia | 07 3866 0888 | [email protected]

SUBSCRIBE To subscribe to Staying Connected in VET eZine visit velgtraining.com.

CONTRIBUTE Velg Training welcomes previously unpublished editorial contributions in the form of VET sector news, events and feature articles supplied with high quality web resolution photographs. All submissions will be published at the editorial committee’s discretion and may be used in Velg Training’s weekly eNewsletters upon confirmation with the contributor. [email protected]

ADVERTISE Advertising space is limited and bookings will be confirmed upon receipt of payment on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis. Advertising bookings do not guarantee editorial submissions will be published. For more information, view the Terms and Conditions of Contract in the 2016 Media Kit.

EDUCATEProtecting the integrity of

Australia’s training system 6

Making a difference for employers and employees alike 7

VET at the crossroad 8

INSPIREReconnecting VET:

#2015NVC Feature 10

Inspiring excellence in VET 14

The power of fun, interactive scenarios in e-learning 16

EMPOWERAustralian Training Awards 18

Turn your experts into thought leaders 20

Enough finger pointing 21VET PD Events and

VET eZine Glossary 22

Industry Skills Fund Inspiring excellence The upcoming ATAs

Reconnecting VET: A recap of the 2015 National VET Conference

7 14 18

10

Page 4: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

4 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

I

MichelleWeaver

1/52 Jeffcott Street, Wavell Heights Qld 4012

(07) 3866 0888 [email protected]

Stay Connected in VET - the team at Velg Training can’t wait to hear from you!

t’s been a busy few months since our last eZine went live – we brought our National VET Conference to Adelaide for the first time, and welcomed a new Prime Minister and a change of Ministry.

It is a little over one month since our 2015 National VET Conference, ‘Reconnecting VET’, which we have highlighted in our ‘Inspire’ section. If you missed the chance to attend, this article is for you! I am proud to share our 10th Annual National VET Conference theme of ‘Celebrating VET’, with the 2016 event returning to our home state of Queensland on 15-16 September.

Stay tuned for the launch of our program, which will be released in March 2016. If you are interested in participating in the ‘Call for Presenters’ or exploring the Sponsorship options for our 10-year anniversary event, please contact our office on (07) 3866 0888 or email [email protected].

To assist you with planning your PD calendar for the year, I would like to give you an overview of the new types of training opportunities we have created to ‘Educate, Inspire and Empower’ the VET sector.

This winter we launched two exciting new initiatives: the VET Q&A Roadshow and The Interactive VET Compliance Suite. Two of Velg Training’s most knowledgeable and respected VET compliance consultants, John Price and Carol Hunter, delivered panel-style Q&A sessions to sold out rooms across Australia. These hugely successful half-day events enabled

our consultants to answer questions related to the Standards for RTOs 2015 and the AQTF.

Velg Training kicked off The Interactive VET Compliance Suite this past week, an online program hosted on our custom-built virtual platform. All sessions commence with a short case study interview, followed by an interactive online segment streamed live and in real time. The suite features a total of 12 focused interviews between two experienced VET professionals. Participants can engage during the live stream with the presenter, John Price, via our online chat room. Explore each session’s overview in further detail on our Velg Training website. The next session takes place on 3 November 2015 and future sessions run until 31 May 2016.

Our webinar program continues to grow year on year, with seven topics released to take you through the summer months and well into the start of 2016. In addition to these concise and flexible PD options, we also offer more in-depth online training through Australia’s largest Mentoring Program for the VET sector, Mentoring Mondays. The program wraps up next month for 2015, but look out for details of our 2016 series in November.

Save the dates: our 2016 Virtual VET Summits for RTO Managers and for Trainers and Assessors take place on 8-9 March 2016 and 15-16 March 2016, respectively. Continuing on from the success of our first-ever Virtual VET Summits in 2015, these interactive and informative online events will be hosted from our Brisbane office and live streamed for attendees across Australia (and the world)!

The 2016 QLD Schools Virtual VET Summit is scheduled for 25 July 2016. It is a face-to-face event specifically for Queensland School RTOs, tailored for

both RTO Managers and VET Teachers. Attendees will have access to a range of up-to-date information by leading industry experts.

Our Membership program has expanded to over 13,000 Corporate and Individual Members, who regularly access our online Members Lounge portal, free online resources and templates, Members Lunch Box webinars, VelgCasts, weekly eNews and discounts on Consulting, Products and PD events. Our Members can also register their details on the exclusive online Velg Training Validation Directory, which currently has over 500 listings of RTOs with similar validation requirements.

Both Members and Non-Members can access our suite of Products which align to the new Standards for RTOs, including: a 2015 Third Party Agreement, 2015 VET Quality Framework Self-Assessment Tool, 2015 Validation Resources and 2015 Training and Assessment Strategy, among others.

As always, I would like to thank our eZine editorial contributors and advertisers. I would also like to thank the generous donors to our ‘Do It In A Dress’ campaign for supporting the right to female education in Africa. With your help, we have been able to educate eight girls and surpassed our $2400 fundraising goal. You can still make a donation to this cause on Velg Training’s fundraising page.

On behalf of the Velgy Bunch, we wish you all the best for the remainder of 2015 and look forward to another year spent focusing on Educating, Inspiring and Empowering Australia’s VET sector.

Michelle WeaverCEO/Founder of Velg Training

Page 5: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

5Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

elcome to our final edition for 2015. We will have a short break in the publication schedule and will be back in the New Year to bring you fresh VET content.

Our Volume 6 edition features content to Educate our readers from your new Minister for Vocational Education and Skills the Hon Luke Hartsuyker. I am pleased to say we have featured articles from him in both our opening and closing editions of 2015. We first welcomed his ‘Generation Success’ profile in our February 2015 edition, when he held his previous role as Assistant Minister for Employment, and we are now featuring his perspective on the VET sector as he takes over from Senator Simon Birmingham.

In addition to this, we have an article from the Department of Education and Training’s Linda White

with advice on applying for the Industry Skills Fund’s Youth Employment Pathways Programme and Training for Employment Scholarships. There is also Shadow Minister for Vocational Education and Training the Hon Sharon Bird’s latest views on the Federal regulation of the VET sector.

As Michelle has mentioned, our 2015 National VET Conference is profiled and we have featured content from a handful of this year’s conference presenters as part of our regular Inspire and Empower sections.

We also feature an article from the Department of Education and Training about the upcoming Australian Training Awards in Hobart on 19 November 2015 and our regular round up of VET PD Events and VET Glossary.

We hope you have enjoyed the editions to date and look forward to sharing this edition with you via our

Issuu account and social media channels. If you are a Velg Training Member, you will have seen each edition profiled in our weekly Member eNews when it is released. If you are a Non-Member, you can still access timely VET news each week by signing up online for our free Subscriber Bulletin. Feedback is always welcome and if you have future requests for articles, please email us at [email protected].

The next edition of our VET eZine will be published on Thursday 25 February 2016. Bookings are now open for advertisers in the 2016 editions. Happy reading!

Amy Lynch Editor, Velg Training

W

Did you know? This FREE eZine is sponsored. Velg Training works with advertisers from across the VET industry to publish our quarterly eZine and enable our readers stay connected in VET!

Connect with Velg Training’s database of 28,000+ subscribers!Download our 2016 Media Kit. Book your ad by Friday 5 February.

Email us: [email protected]. ?

Page 6: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

EDUCATE

6 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

Protecting the integrity of Australia’s training system by Minister for Vocational Education and Skills the Hon Luke Hartsuyker

ustralia’s VET sector has a proud history and a well-deserved international reputation. For many young people, it provides the bridge between school and work and for those out of work, it can provide the pathway back into employment. It also plays an important role helping people in work to expand their skills and career prospects.

As the new Minister, I am committed to ensuring that VET is focused on meeting the needs of students and employers and by doing so, continues to enjoy the confidence of the broader community. One of my first tasks has been to further progress the Australian Government’s reforms to strengthen the VET FEE-HELP programme. VET FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that helps eligible students pay their tuition fees for diploma and advanced diploma courses undertaken at approved organisations.

Unfortunately, a small number of training providers and their agents have engaged in unscrupulous behaviours like high-pressure sales tactics and false marketing. The result has been too many vulnerable students enrolled in VET courses they did not want and lumbered with VET FEE-HELP debts they did not need.

That’s why the Australian Government has acted to protect the integrity of the VET FEE HELP programme and the reputation of the VET sector more broadly.

On 15 October 2015, I introduced the Higher Education Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 into the Australian Parliament. This legislation builds on the reforms the Government has taken to date to tighten the rules around VET provider marketing and stamp out unethical behaviour by that small cohort of VET FEE-HELP providers doing the wrong thing.

No longer can unscrupulous providers entice people into signing on to their courses with the offer of a free laptop or iPhone and gone are the days where they can hit students with exorbitant withdrawal fees so that students have no choice but to continue in a course.

We are also putting an end to the practice where providers and their agents pass-off VET FEE-HELP supported training as ‘free’ or ‘government-funded’, misleading students into believing that VET FEE-HELP is not a loan that is expected to be paid back to the Government.

The changes will further strengthen the protections for students by

preventing inappropriate enrolments and debts. It provides greater protections for people under 18 years, allows for a two-day cooling offer period between enrolment and signing up for a loan, and requires providers to ensure potential students have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to undertake the training.

Through the Government’s efforts and with the support of the Australian VET sector, these reforms will help more Australians get the skills they need for the jobs of the future, provide better protection for students and push dodgy providers out from the market.

It will ensure VET FEE HELP is being used as intended to provide greater access to advanced training for those who would otherwise miss out, and create more skilled Australians to support jobs growth and economic prosperity.

A

Luke Hartsuyker MP is the Federal Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Deputy Leader of the House. As Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Luke has carriage of a number of national policies and programmes to do with apprenticeships, skills and training. Luke’s focus is on ensuring that students in the vocational education sector receive high quality training that meets the needs of employers. ministers.education.gov.au

Page 7: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

EDUCATE

7Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

ndustry Skills Branch Manager Linda White from the Department of Education and Training recently presented a session on the Government’s new co-contribution Industry Skills Fund (the fund) at Velg Training’s 2015 National VET Conference held in Adelaide.

The fund is helping to provide over 250,000 training places and support services for businesses that are pursuing growth opportunities.

At the conference, Ms White highlighted that the fund is an employer-driven programme allowing business operators to choose the training they want from the provider they want, when they want it. By doing so, the fund helps industry to build highly skilled workforces that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to rapid technological change.

“Free, independent skills advice can be provided to eligible businesses by expert Skills Advisers located around the country, tailored to the needs of each business. Skills Advisers

work closely to help identify the skills and training solutions that will help the business to achieve their growth opportunities.”

“As of 1 September 2015, businesses located in or seeking to expand their operations in Northern Australia can receive additional support under the fund.”

“We have had a number of success stories of small and medium enterprises and particularly micro businesses accessing the fund and using the funding to up-skill or re-skill their workforce. This has enabled a number of the businesses to diversify and take up growth opportunities in their industry.”

“Both small and medium businesses are embracing innovation which helps boost their productivity and increases competitiveness across the economy. The fund can assist co-fund a broad range of training solutions including full qualifications, skill sets or other tailored training and Skills Advisers are able to assist each business to identify their growth

opportunity and training needs.” “The amount of paperwork and

red tape that needs to be completed to access this fund has been reduced through a simplified, digital end-to-end enquiry and application process,” Ms White said.

Businesses of any size can apply for the fund, with the greatest Government support provided to micro and small businesses under the co-contribution arrangements.

To find out more about the fund, call 13 28 46 or visit business.gov.au/industryskillsfund.

I

Linda White is Branch Manager of Industry Skills Branch in the Department of Education and Training. Working in the Skills Programmes area of the Department, the Branch is responsible for the delivery of Australian Government programmes including the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme, Trade Support Loans, Australian Apprenticeships Support Network and the Industry Skills Fund. business.gov.au/industryskillsfund

The Australian Government has simplified the Industry Skills Fund by minimising red tape and making the programme as helpful as possible, ensuring fast and easy access. The fund puts Australian businesses first by simplifying and streamlining access to information and advice. The initiative recognises that in the past businesses have struggled to access Government services and navigate the huge amount of information available to find what they need or who to talk to: business.gov.au addresses this.

The Industry Skills Fund assists businesses to access training and support services that help them:• diversify into or respond to new market opportunities both domestically and internationally;• adopt emerging technology;• enter export markets; and• reposition due to market driven structural adjustment.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Making a difference for employers and employees alike

by Linda White, Department of Education and Training

Page 8: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

ur vocational education sector is at a significant crossroad. The sector is under significant pressure regarding quality and reputational standards. The persistent and concerning reports in the media and from the national regulator about poor quality and unethical practices damage all quality ethical providers. Whilst Labor has supported the actions taken by the federal government to date to address these issues, we also

believe that more urgent and public action must be taken by all regulators, including the ACCC, to ensure shonky and unethical behaviour is removed from the sector.

Federal Labor also believes a cornerstone of a quality VET sector must be a strong and effective public TAFE system. To ensure this, Labor has announced a policy designed to provide guaranteed funding to TAFE. This would involve a COAG National Agreement on the role of TAFE as the public provider and a negotiated funding agreement to support this being achieved. Labor is also firmly of the view that reputable, quality private providers must be protected

from the unscrupulous activities of some that undermine their survival, eat into their market share and damage the reliability and reputation of qualifications achieved in the private sector.

The second aspect of this crossroad is both a challenge and an opportunity. Over recent months there have been reports of the significant impact that ever-evolving technology will have on how we work and, therefore, how we

train the workers of the future. It is abundantly clear that innovation

will be key to how we teach, how students access education and

training and how businesses utilise the innovative capacities of their workforce to grow and succeed.

An example is the report from the FYA, The New Work Order: Ensuring young Australians have skills and experience for jobs of the future, not the past. This report shows that approximately 71 per cent of young Australians currently in VET courses are preparing for occupations where at least two-thirds of the jobs will be automated over coming decades. This is a challenge - what we should be ensuring is that students graduate from courses able to assess their need for further knowledge and skills, and know how to gain these.

Automation will also be accompanied by globalisation and

an increased focus on collaboration. That can open new doors to these very workers, new jobs, new careers, even new small businesses, if they are equipped to take them up. Labor federally is also very aware and focussed on developing policies to ensure the nation is prepared for these changes.

This more complex world also means that being digitally literate is increasingly a requirement for full and meaningful engagement in economic, social and civic activities. These developments demand of us all that we ensure our education and training enables the next generation to have the underlying knowledge and skills they will need in all employment sectors to not only manage change, but to grasp it and utilise its benefits.

This is no small challenge for everyone in the vocational education sector and it points us also to the importance of dedicated and well-trained professionals driving the VET sector, capable, themselves, of adapting and deploying innovation to meet these challenges.

Australia has a reputation as a world leader in vocational training – now is the time to ensure we take the right path to building on this for the future.

VET at the crossroad by the Shadow Minister for Vocational Education the Hon Sharon Bird

O

The Hon Sharon Bird MP is the Federal Member for Cunningham, New South Wales and was appointed Shadow Minister for Vocational Education on the 18 October 2013. sharonbird.com.au

EDUCATE

8 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

Automation will also be accompanied

by globalisation and an increased

focus on collaboration

Velg Training MembershipVelg Training is Australia’s leading provider of Vocational Education and Training (VET) professional development and consulting services.

Our Vision is to Educate, Inspire and Empower the VET community by providing quality, flexible and innovative products and services - and the Velg Training Membership program is no exception.

Velg Training Membership supports your compliance with the national VET Standards. As a Member you have access to programs and resources that assist in the continued development of knowledge and practice of vocational training, learning and assessment.

Membership is available to all VET practitioners from private, public and enterprise training organisations as well as VET consultants.

Benefits for Velg Training Members

Discounts on all Velg Training

Events

Resources- extensive range of resources available to download on the Members Lounge

Weekly Members eNews

- comprehensive round up of the week in VET

Members Only - Validation Directory

Online Members Lounge

- custom-built online resources for Members

Consulting- access advice,

assistance and discounts on consulting services

FREE PD- through our Members

only webinars

VelgCasts- just like a PodCast, a

digital audio file

Membership logo & certificateDisplaying the Velg Training Membership Logo is an excellent way to demonstrate that you are a part of the Australian VET sector’s peak member-serving organisation.

All Velg Training Members are provided with a Certificate of Membership. Individual Membership Certificates include the Individual Member’s name, while Corporate Membership Certificates include the organisation’s name.

CONTACTP 07 3866 0888 F 07 3866 0899 E [email protected]/52 Jeffcott Street, Wavell Heights Qld 4012velgtraining.com

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

instagram.com/velgtraining

youtube.com/velgtraining

National RTO Network Group

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

facebook.com/velgtraining@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

@velgtraining

Corporate Members have access to the same Membership benefits, but it is targeted at organisations with four or more staff. Corporate Members are entitled to an unlimited number of ‘Sibling Accounts’, which can be added at no additional charge.

The named individual has access to the online Members Lounge, the weekly Member eNews and is eligible for discounts on Velg Training products and services, as outlined in Membership benefits.

Individual Membership: $290 (incl. GST) Corporate Membership: $990 (incl. GST)

For more information on the Terms and Conditions of Velg Training Membership, please visit velgtraining.com/membership.

Page 9: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Velg Training MembershipVelg Training is Australia’s leading provider of Vocational Education and Training (VET) professional development and consulting services.

Our Vision is to Educate, Inspire and Empower the VET community by providing quality, flexible and innovative products and services - and the Velg Training Membership program is no exception.

Velg Training Membership supports your compliance with the national VET Standards. As a Member you have access to programs and resources that assist in the continued development of knowledge and practice of vocational training, learning and assessment.

Membership is available to all VET practitioners from private, public and enterprise training organisations as well as VET consultants.

Benefits for Velg Training Members

Discounts on all Velg Training

Events

Resources- extensive range of resources available to download on the Members Lounge

Weekly Members eNews

- comprehensive round up of the week in VET

Members Only - Validation Directory

Online Members Lounge

- custom-built online resources for Members

Consulting- access advice,

assistance and discounts on consulting services

FREE PD- through our Members

only webinars

VelgCasts- just like a PodCast, a

digital audio file

Membership logo & certificateDisplaying the Velg Training Membership Logo is an excellent way to demonstrate that you are a part of the Australian VET sector’s peak member-serving organisation.

All Velg Training Members are provided with a Certificate of Membership. Individual Membership Certificates include the Individual Member’s name, while Corporate Membership Certificates include the organisation’s name.

CONTACTP 07 3866 0888 F 07 3866 0899 E [email protected]/52 Jeffcott Street, Wavell Heights Qld 4012velgtraining.com

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

instagram.com/velgtraining

youtube.com/velgtraining

National RTO Network Group

@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

facebook.com/velgtraining@velgtraining

facebook.com/VelgTraining

National RTO Network Group

youtube.com/velgtraining

@velgtraining

Corporate Members have access to the same Membership benefits, but it is targeted at organisations with four or more staff. Corporate Members are entitled to an unlimited number of ‘Sibling Accounts’, which can be added at no additional charge.

The named individual has access to the online Members Lounge, the weekly Member eNews and is eligible for discounts on Velg Training products and services, as outlined in Membership benefits.

Individual Membership: $290 (incl. GST) Corporate Membership: $990 (incl. GST)

For more information on the Terms and Conditions of Velg Training Membership, please visit velgtraining.com/membership.

Page 10: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

10

he 2015 National VET Conference was Australia’s largest annual VET gathering yet, with over 1,100 VET professionals coming together over two days centered around the theme of ‘Reconnecting VET’. For the first time in its’ nine-year history, Velg Training hosted the event in Adelaide at the world-renowned Convention Centre from 17-18 September 2015.

The theme pinpointed the act of piecing back together an ever-evolving VET sector one year after exploring the 2014 theme of ‘Impossible IS Possible Together’, which focused on VET reform. The 2015 National VET Conference was delivered through an exciting range of presentations, providing attendees the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of plenary and elective sessions. Video recordings of this year’s Keynote Speakers are now available on Velg Training’s website, including Minister for Education and Training Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, SA Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills the Hon Gail Gago and ASQA’s Chief Commissioner, Chris Robinson.

The event started with a buzz as Platinum Sponsor SafeWork Resources launched their draw to win a $10,000 travel voucher. Delegates could build their own customised event schedule

using Velg Training’s Conference App, to choose from the Policy & Reform, RTO Management & Compliance, Training & Assessment, Master Class, VET Shapers, Training Package and Admin streams over the two days. They were also encouraged to visit Velg Training’s new game booth to team up and play our custom-made interactive tablet game of ‘Connect 24’ as part of this year’s theme.

The popular Policy & Reform stream featured representatives from the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training, following the Day 1 opening addresses. Presenters spoke about the new VET training and committee roles, including the AISC, Training Packages and Accredited Courses, the USI, the Industry Skills Fund, AASN and VET FEE-HELP.

RTO Management & Compliance sessions covered everything from leadership, third party arrangements, compliance, Corporate Social Responsibility, transitioning training products and the Fair Work Act, to managing student engagement, RPL, Leadership & Development and developing skills and culture in the VET sector.

The Training & Assessment stream focused on areas ranging from compliance across assessment

tools and your LMS, staying connected in VET, completion rates, HR requirements, validation, introduction activities, conducting assessment and keeping learners alert, to TAS development, LLN in assessments, experiential learning, Volume of Learning, creating online training resources and an interactive compliance Q&A session.

The inaugural one-day Admin stream was developed to equip both new and existing RTO Administrators with the knowledge and skill required to successfully complete their roles and improve the compliance standards of their organisation. The day focused on assisting Administrators in understanding the VET sector as a whole as well as the specific areas of compliance that impact their daily tasks.

A South Australia Food and Wine themed Welcome Function brought Day 1 to a close. The lively evening cocktail event encouraged attendees to sample local cuisine and wine varieties, while networking with other VET practitioners against the backdrop of the Riverbank Precinct and River Torrens at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Day 2 began with a visit from Motivational Speaker Paul de Gelder.

Reconnecting VET

T

10 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

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11

From rebel and drug dealer to soldier, Navy diver and shark attack survivor, delegates were left in awe of Paul’s strength, courage and resolve. His tale from before the attack, through to barely surviving and then determining he would recover to create the best future for himself, has led him to become a celebrated author, motivational speaker and mentor. His lively morning talk was met with a standing ovation and his book signing had a queue out the door! Paul graciously stayed longer to visit with our delegates and pose for photos. His message was clear: don’t give up.

The newly introduced VET Shapers stream on Day 2 featured sessions from John Dwyer, Laurie Kelly, John Price, Carol Hunter and Marc Ratcliffe.

Master Classes included intensive ‘hands on’ sessions delivered by industry experts. Topics ranged from developing training and assessment resources, advanced facilitation, interactive scenarios in e-learning, to non-linear learning, clustering assessment and developing compliant marketing material.

The Training Package stream made a return this year on Day 2. Seven sessions were presented by ISCs, including Innovation & Business Skills Australia, AgriFood Skills Australia,

Service Skills Australia, Transport & Logistics ISC, Manufacturing Skills Australia, Community Services & Health ISC and AgriFood Skills Australia.

Over the two-day event, delegates were invited to exclusive sessions in the PD Theatre, complimentary advice in Velg Training’s Guru Bar and Social Media Hub and relaxation and massage in the R&R Bar. Delegates could ‘speed-date’ our consultants, asking questions about compliance, RTO management, audit, assessment, CRICOS, continuous improvement and other VET matters.

The Social Media Hub was popular again this year, as it featured our Instagram photo booth with a life-size Velgy Bear and Instagram frame to pose with. Social media competitions running across our Facebook Page and other online channels were a hit and we were delighted to see everyone making the most of this year’s theme. The @velgtraining Twitter account was active, as we watched our follower count rise to over 2,300 and our #2015NVC event hashtag start trending on Day 2! The National RTO Network LinkedIn Group has grown by over 3,000 VET practitioners since last year’s event, reaching double digits at 10,500+ members.

As passionate advocates of VET, Velg Training staff members provided a

number of select students undertaking qualifications in events management with the opportunity to participate in the facilitation of the two-day event. Their assistance with delivering the conference was a valuable contribution to the overall success of the event. The students were on hand for conference registration and elective sessions, where they assisted both delegates and presenters with the event’s proceedings.

The Velgy Bunch would like to thank all delegates, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors for making this year’s event a success and for feedback to help us plan next year’s event. You can preview this year’s feedback and gallery on the Velg Training website. Save the date for our 2016 National VET Conference and 10th annual event at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre from 15-16 September 2016, where we will start ‘Celebrating VET’!

Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

Celebrating VET17-18 September 2016

#2016NVC GOLD COAST

Page 12: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

For more information contact

[email protected]

Dedicated to assisting client needsCONSULTING

Velg Training’s specialist consulting services are now more diverse than ever, with a range of specialist consulting services delivered by Vocational Educational and Training (VET) industry experts who work with a range of organisations across Australia including RTO’s, higher

education providers and schools.

Velg Training is Australia’s leading provider of Vocational Education and Training (VET) professional development and consulting services.

Having served the VET community for over 12 years, Velg Training’s national client base represents Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across Australia, including VET practitioners, teachers, trainers, assessors, TAFE teaching professionals, enterprise trainers and assessors, industry experts and other VET professionals.

Based on client feedback and demand the following specialist services have been developed to meet the needs of our clients:

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Page 13: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

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Page 14: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Inspiring excellence in VET

14 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

When asked to identify common compliance mistakes RTOs make, four essential compliance ingredients come to mind: Routine, Integrity, Systems and Knowledge (RISK). I constantly see these missing components as the root cause when RTOs get themselves in difficulties with the regulator and RISK is at the core of our approach to consulting.

Routine. The failure to provide a routine for the RTO operation leads to ad-hoc decision-making and poor

operational control. Regardless of the RTO’s size, routine is primary. Routine occurs through scheduled activities and events that every person can align to, including management meetings, PD, assessment validation and specified timelines for activities such as record returns, results entry and reporting. Integrity. Services lose their integrity when the training package requirements and training and assessment being delivered are misaligned. This occurs for a range of reasons including greed, ignorance and complacency. The key to strong integrity is allowing time and resources for delivery, being informed of the requirements, adopting proven strategies to support compliance and focusing on maximising learner outcomes. Systems. An RTO without a system fails to conduct its operation in

alignment with regulatory requirements and finds it difficult to produce valid evidence at a regulatory audit. By systems I mean policies, procedures, processes and information management. An RTO must have a current and stable guide to workplace performance and established ways to record activity. This is critical for compliance and situational awareness of the operation. Knowledge. It is unacceptable to plead ignorance at the audit. By reading this article, you have clearly identified the importance of knowledge. There are many facets and levels of knowledge in an RTO. Management need board knowledge of compliance. Trainers’ need knowledge of assessment and training package requirements. This is achieved through regular and well-chosen PD and by surrounding yourself with others who are well informed.

Common compliance errors

It can happen to anyone presenting a long or complex training session. Attention starts to wander, people suddenly need to make urgent mobile calls and eyelids start to droop. What should you do? How should you regain control? Do not plough on regardlessEven if only some people look detached and the rest are alert, it is usually not a good idea to push on with a monologue. Break from your notes, change position and talk directly to participants.

Ask questions like ‘Who has experi-enced this?’ or ‘When do you think this would be important?’ Target the yawners; it is amazing how quickly a question and a chat will bring their attention back.

Turn off the slides Radical, maybe, but if your slides are getting monotonous, it might be best to turn them off completely, at least for a while. Pose a problem related to your topic (eg. ‘What would you do in this situation?’) and ask the class to discuss how they would solve it. Return to key slides later and use them to explain the correct or recommended answer. Recruit experienced participants to help youIf some people are more experienced than others, recruit their help from time to time to start discussions – ask them to explain situations where they have seen a specific principle or method applied (eg. ‘Have you had experience washing this kind of window?’ or ‘How

did you do it?’). Use an ice-breaker at the start of the day to get a sense of who might be able to help you later. Of course, each of these tips are just a start; if your presentation contains long monologues, you need to consider redesigning it – perhaps into brief 10-minute sections, interspersed with comprehension activities.

Disengagement is highly infectious, so it is best to have a range of strategies up your sleeve.

Tips to keep your learners engaged

Jonathan Peck is an Instructional Designer and Facilitator with 20 years’ professional experience. Jonathan coaches Trainers and Facilitators in the Bank-ing and Finance industry and is establishing a Train-the-Trainer business, offering a range of training clinics for new Training Managers, Instructional Designers and Facilitators. kognitif.com.au

Joe established Newbery Consulting in 2005 and has

grown the business to be one of the most respected

providers of training quality consulting in Australia. Joe is

recognised for his work in course design and VET quality auditing and

has developed a range of RTO management products. Joe specialises in the VET sector and specifically in VET Quality Framework

compliance. newberyconsulting.com.au

Page 15: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Thinking of a third party arrangement?Six strategies for long-term success!

INSPIRE

15Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

Believe it or not, third party arrangements have been used in VET for a long time, and often to improve the quality of training. Getting a specialist provider to train units like first aid or forklift on your behalf makes sense. Training a client’s key supervisors to deliver or co-assess some content on your behalf because they are the industry leading specialists, or working with industry organisations to promote relevant training courses to employers and students who could benefit are both excellent strategies. While third parties in recent times have appeared in media because of ‘rampant abuse’, quality providers can be confident in setting up third party arrangements as long as you follow a few simple steps. Know your funding contracts. Can you? Can’t you?Whatever arrangement you are looking at, if it is in any way related to a funding contract, you need to spend a few hours carefully reviewing and checking first. Smart & Skilled requires 30 days prior to approval. VTG also requires approval is first sought, WA Future Skills sets maximum percentages

around subcontracting and QVIP has strict restrictions on who can market their funded programs, just to name a few! If you want to set up an agreement, read through your contracts and all supporting documentation. Still unsure? Check with your state contact. Be comprehensive, clear and consistentMake sure your agreement covers all scenarios. Include how you will monitor and assess the quality of the relationship, how you will gather feedback, what training will be provided, reporting, when and how fees will be paid, etc. In addition, whatever is put into your agreement, ensure that your policies, procedures and tools match up. Start off on the right foot! One thing is clear in the new Standards, anything a third party does on your behalf is your responsibility. So set up a strong induction program for any third parties so that they clearly understand what they can and cannot do, your policies, procedures and your overall company philosophy, just as your staff would. Be open and honestDo not try to hide your third party arrangements. Ensure you note them on your website, notify the regulator and make your clients and students aware of the relationship. If anyone scoffs and queries, tell them. Wanting to get your message out to the right people in a competitive market or ensure that your students get the best training possible is not a crime. Be

honest about who is marketing and training for your company and why. Monitor, monitor, monitor…This is by far the most important step in any arrangement. Following up and following your agreement, policies and procedures is a must. Doing interviews with students, observing classes and running mystery shopper programs are all great ways to monitor the quality of your third party services. Review! Time for stats, feedback and continuous improvementJust because an agreement works well in the first few months, does not mean that you can assume and back off. It is important to regularly review key stats like commencement and completion ratios. Set schedules in place and ensure you have the resources to continue to monitor and review the relationship. Seek feedback from all parties and update and improve as you would any other aspect of your business. Overall, if I had to boil it down: set a good foundation, reinforce with a solid agreement and run regular inspections for cracks.

Lauren Hollows is the National Quality

Manager for Ashley Services Group. Lauren

has worked in the VET sector for over eight years as

a Trainer, Administrator, BDM and in a range of Senior Management and Quality

roles. Lauren also mentors new trainers and VET staff. linkedin.com/in/laurenhollows

Velg Training Membership • Webinars • Workshops • National VET Conference • VET Summit • Products

Velg Cash can be used for the below services and is available for 12 months:

Velg Cash

As an additional service to the VET sector Velg Training is offering the chance for members to hold 'cash' credits online for ease of future purchases. Additionally, once you use your Velg Cash it is tax deductible!

Page 16: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

his article is based on our Master Class session ‘The power of fun, interactive scenarios in e-learning’ for Velg Training’s 2015 National VET Conference. During this session, we presented a framework on how to engage your students with scenarios and narrative, from a small PowerPoint project to a fully developed interactive virtual environment. But why do we need to consider scalability and scenarios?

Are we losing learning fun?Sometimes in the translation to e-learning all that remains from a training session is a PowerPoint or a set of bullet points. We are at risk of losing the personality of the teacher, the anecdotes and the ability to respond to the students with human interaction. The impact of entertainment on learningWhat is fun? We know that entertainment is fun, so, is learning becoming entertainment? The consumer’s expectations are increasing significantly due to the high quality of games and movies. The next generation of digital natives is fluent on mobile devices and is already switching between games and learning.

Gamification of e-learning and continuous narrative To facilitate a fun experience, we use design concepts of gamification. This is an approach from game design and is based around the user’s experience. The aim is to create a scaffolded learning journey. This refers to building on what has been learned step-by-step, and the highest achievable goal is mastery. To use a popular game as an analogy, Mario goes on a journey

with significant trials, learns how to negotiate obstacles, defeats Donkey

Kong and is rewarded with gold and the girl.

This form of learning is partially adaptive, very

intuitive and driven by the reward of progression. Essential here is that the student uses the previous learning in the next part of the journey, always building on what has been previously obtained. We believe that a quality user experience originates from continuous narrative, and that the progression through the narrative can be very rewarding.

Is virtual workplace assessment a potential for e-learning?Emerging technologies, virtual and augmented reality – available to consumers from the first quarter of 2016 – are already adapted in areas such as the military, mining and diving.

How do these advances influence learning and learning design?

For reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment can take place in simulated conditions, which represent workplace conditions as closely as possible. For example, units of competency in the BSB Business Services Training Package may be delivered and assessed in the workplace or in a simulated environment. For our latest business diplomas we have created a virtual business, with a level of interaction and documents used for learning and assessment.

The use of continuous narrative caters for the growing demands of the user. New opportunities within learning and assessment can be created through virtualisation of workplace assessment. Narrative and practical settings increase the value of the online learning material and the

user experience. The future of learning and assessment

requires flexible frameworks as well as flexible minds.

T

The power of fun, interactive scenarios in e-learning

velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 616

INSPIRE

Michelle Kenny is Training and Quality Manager and

Byron Tik is Senior Instructional Designer, responsible for

designing and developing 3D interactive learning scenarios, simulation

and virtual learning environments, at Online Courses Australia in Brisbane.

Michelle and Byron believe that virtual environments will become elemental in the advance of learning and e-learning.

onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au

Opportunities within learning

and assessment can be created

through virtualisation of the workplace

Page 17: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Training Room Hire - BrisbaneVelg Training has two meeting rooms at its Brisbane head office, which are ideal for seminars, training sessions or meetings for up to 50 guests. Both rooms feature audio-visual and technical equipment for your convenience.

The facilities feature an spacious reception foyer for registration and catering, an undercover outdoor breakout area and ample free off-street parking.

Room hire inclusions:

• Free Wi-Fi• Full room set-up• Full computer set-up or BYO laptop• Air Conditioning• Speakers• Wireless keyboard and mouse• Whiteboard with markers• Flip chart with paper

• Data projector and screen• Interactive SmartBoard• Pads and Pens• Mints and iced water• Continuous tea and coffee

making facilities• Ample free onsite parking

OR

Call or email us!

trategy execution and implementation business health check

business planning exit & succession planning recruitm

cies and procedures hr management & implem

loyee handbook hr management and im

mance management staff coachin

nt policies and procedure

tation business he

17Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

Page 18: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

he Australian Training Awards is not just one spectacular night to remember on the VET calendar.

For the winners, runners up and finalists, the celebrations lead to an ongoing journey as Ambassadors for VET and members of the national alumni of VET. Many of the apprentices and trainees also go on to become Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors – highly prized roles appointed by the Australian Government.

For Australians thinking about VET, Ambassador stories show how an investment in training can lead to real

careers. For businesses interested in investing in VET, Ambassador stories share evidence of best practice in training and how businesses have used VET to ensure long term and sustainable growth.

Each year, the Australian Training Awards share these stories nationally and internationally, through the media, national and international event appearances, the Real Stories Real Achievements video and fact sheet series, blog and social media channels. Here are some examples:

In November 2014, 2013 Australian Apprentice of the Year runner up, Morgan Clementson and 2012 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, Fiona French were invited to speak at the India Australia Skills Conference in Mumbai, India about their positive experiences with the Australian VET system.

“I got to meet our skills Minister and give him, and the audience, a bread making demonstration that was also filmed for Indian TV! The whole trip has been such an honour. It has been a huge stepping-stone in my life – to be on the world stage, even just having my photo in a brochure for the event! And to be treated like a superstar is something that that I will never get used to,” Morgan said.

In September this year, Ashlee Hodson, 2013 Australian Apprentice (Trainee) of the Year and Patrick Janes, 2013 Australian Apprentice of the Year spoke at the 6th International

Network on Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP)

Conference in Ballarat, Victoria.

The conference hosted over 100 delegates from 12 different nations including Switzerland, China, Ireland and the United States. The two spoke of their passion for the Australian Apprenticeships system, and their recommendations for its future.

Fitter and turner and 2014 Australian Apprentice of the Year Melinda Lethbridge featured in CareerOne in December last year, which ran across the Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin and Adelaide Advertiser.

The article quoted Melinda as saying: “It was only a matter of finding what I loved doing. It’s not for everyone, but neither is university.”

Melinda has also spoken at the 2015 TAFE Director’s Australia Conference and starred in the 2015 Real Stories Real Achievements video series.

2014 Vocational Student of the Year and aircraft maintenance engineer, Rachel Dudok has been a keynote speaker at the 2013 and 2015 Australian International Airshow where she has influenced thousands of youth interested in a career in aviation with her positive experience with Australian Apprenticeships.

2013 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year, Joel Schwarz, 2011 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year runner up Jessica Taggart, 2013 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, Jacky Cheng and 2013 Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year finalist, Henry Kemp represented Australia at the 2nd APEC Youth Skills Camp in Beijing.

And, who could forget 2013 Vocational Student the Year finalist Lisa Cmrlec, 2013 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year finalist, Max Lorenzin and 2014 Vocational Student of the Year finalist, Jack Kay, speaking at Velg Training’s 2015 National VET Conference in September.

These are only a few examples of how the Australian Training Awards are sending a united message to the nation that a highly skilled workforce brings success to individuals and businesses, increases Australia’s overall productivity and enhances Australia’s credibility and reputation in the global economy.

To view the finalists of the 2015 Australian Training Awards, to be held on Thursday 19 November, visit the Australian Training Awards website. 2016 Australian Training Awards applications open on 1 December 2015.

For more information about the work of Australian Training Awards Ambassadors visit the Real Stories Real Achievements page of the Australian Training Awards website.

T

Many of the apprentices and

trainees also go on to become

Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors

More than just an event: Australian Training Awards

EMPOWER

18 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

Page 19: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the VET sector, recognising

individuals, businesses and RTOs for their contribution to

skilling Australia.

australiantrainingawards.com

Photos from top, left to right: Ashlee Hodson and Patrick Janes;

Lisa Cmrlec, Jack Kay, 2nd APEC Youth Skills Camp, Rachel Dudock,

Melinda Lethbridge, Max Lorenzin and 2014 India Australia Skills Conference.

EMPOWER

19Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

Page 20: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 620

hought leadership is about capturing the expertise inside your VET business and connecting it with your customers in a way they like to drive your business growth. To date, few in the VET space are doing this well, creating a fantastic opportunity for those that decide to commit. Here are some ideas on how it works and getting started.

Unlocking the mystiqueA key challenge is giving your

experts the confidence to start. It is simply about sharing what they know to help your customers solve their most urgent problems. A recent LinkedIn White Paper breaks thought leadership down into three useful categories that I believe can provide a ‘way in’ for any VET business:

Product thought leadershipA great starting point explaining,

in a neutral way, how what

you do

solves customer problems. It is sharing best practice and ‘how-tos’. The tone is generous, with no expectation of immediate return. Crucially, we do not sell from here!

Any VET business of any size can generate immediate commercial returns through product thought leadership.

Industry thought leadershipYour experts share their thinking

in a way that contributes to the devel-opment of the sector. They comment on the news and forces shaping your market. The result is to position your business as a leader and influencer. So challenge popular beliefs and predict the future. Then lead the way by mapping the path to get people to where they need to be.

Industry thought leadership is powerful high ground that, in many cases, is there for the taking.

Organisational thought leadershipThis has an internal focus. It is

better suited to larger businesses and is a content-marketing strategy for your staff and customers. Using a wide range of communication channels (eg.

video, workshops, facilitated staff or customer sessions) it helps bring your values, vision and culture to life. It is about the promotion of ideas, encouraging participation and empowering innovation.

Organisational thought leadership energises the structures and dynamics

that exist in larger organisations. It can result in greater levels of staff engagement, contribution and business performance.

No longer just a ‘nice-to-do’Thought leadership has been

around for over 20 years. What has changed is that it is now an imperative. Traditional sales and marketing strategies are failing and we need to do different things to stand out and exert influence. Thought leadership is a big part of this. It costs very little and there are no down sides. In truth, there is no good reason for every VET business not to be exploring the possibilities in at least one of these three approaches.

Getting startedSo time to get going! Task your

experts to create some content, book a slot to speak at your next industry event or make some ‘how-to’ videos. It may be a bit rough at first, but that is fine. Any journey worth making starts with a few small steps. The biggest step is to start at all!

T

with a few small steps

Any journey worth making starts

EMPOWER

Thought leader and Change Expert, Mark Hodgson comes from a successful international leadership background in media, advertising and VET. Mark’s book, Time to Shine and blogs, Pinch of Thought and Leading Change explore the work he does helping businesses to change and thrive by developing their thought leadership. linkedin.com/in/markianhodgson

Turn your experts into thought leaders

Page 21: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

21Australia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6 velgtraining.com

t is no secret that over the last couple of years in particular, there has been a higher level of scrutiny of our work, both from the public perspective and from within our industry.

Scrutiny in itself is not a bad thing. It can drive us to improve, to be on top of our game and to be actively looking for opportunities to do things better. Sadly, not all the scrutiny has been positive, or able to be taken positively.

In preparing for my presentation at Velg Training’s 2015 National VET Conference, I did a quick Google search for media coverage of VET and what I found were pages and pages of negative press articles. Headings like ‘Dodgy providers get rich quick’ and things like that.

Over the same period of a few years where the media has set its’ sights on our sector, social networks like LinkedIn have taken off. There are many active groups for our sector, in which we discuss all sorts of things. When I went to those groups to look for good news stories, as a counterbalance to all of the negative press, what I found shocked me – there was a lot of negativity and noise.

Whilst we will not always be able to control what is written about our sector and how that writing is skewed, what we can and should do is manage

how we respond to it. But controlling how we respond to media is only one part of the challenge. We also create a lot of negative media ourselves. Our own industry is creating negative commentary, just as the media is.

Whilst it is ok to be upset, angry or passionate about what is happening in the sector, simply going online and complaining, or finger pointing and blaming – without any solutions attached – is not, ever, going to change anything. If we see things that do not meet our expectations or standards, we need to act. We need to take action to achieve a different outcome.

One particular example sticks in my mind. The post writer was discussing some marketing that in their view was unethical and non-complaint. They went into great detail about how it could not possibly be acceptable, whilst not giving any actual detail about why it was not.

When I asked if they had taken their concern to the relevant regulator, the response was that they had not, because “What is the point? They never do anything”.

My point is, if we do not actually use the channels available to us to get results, then we cannot reasonably expect action to be taken. I would go one step further

and say that, really, there is no real purpose for the original post.

What we need to create, at an industry-wide level, is a different culture. One where action is valued and rewarded, one where celebrating our wins is a regular occurrence and one where excellence is a given. Our current culture still has too much finger pointing, blame and accountability shifting going on for my liking (and from the feedback I have received, many of yours too!).

And how do we achieve this culture shift? My National VET Conference presentation contained my little idea about what we could do to move to this culture. If you missed it, you can register for the November Members Lunch Box Webinar on Monday 16 November 2015 and join in for the full presentation and discussion.

I

finger pointing

EMPOWER

Nick McEwan-Hall has worked extensively across

a range of small private RTOs, large not-for-

profits and multinational organisations. Nick’s passions include people leadership and

coaching people to be the best they can be. He’s also determined to give back to

the VET community, having led several successful networking groups in

Melbourne. latitudecoaching.com.au

ENOUGH>

Page 22: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Singapore International TVET Conference 20153-6 November 2015 at the Waterfront Conference Centre, Singapore

Australia Future Unlimited Education Exhibition Japan 20158-11 November 2015 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference 2015 10-13 November 2015 at Pullman and Mercure in Albert Park, Melbourne

Australian Teaching and Learning Showcase 2015 Taiwan 16 November - 18 December 2015 in Taiwan

Australian Teaching and Learning Showcase Korea 201516 November - 18 December 2015 in Seoul, South Korea

Indonesia Australia Business Week 201517-20 November 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia

NCVER Research Forum18 November 2015 at The Princes Wharf No. 1, Hobart

Applications open for 2016 Australian Training Awards1 December 2015 online

ISANA International Education Conference1-4 December 2015 at the Pullman on the Park, Melbourne

MENA 2016 Health Education Mission24-28 January 2016 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Kuwait

Australia Future Unlimited Education Exhibition Hong Kong 20161-31 March 2016 in Hong Kong

2016 Virtual VET Summit for RTO Managers Velg Training8-9 March 2016 online

2016 Virtual VET Summit for Trainers and Assessors Velg Training15-16 March 2016 online 2016 National VET Conference Program LaunchesVelg TrainingMid-March 2016 online

For current events and updated information, visit the Velg Training ‘VET Industry Events’ listing online. To submit your VET events leading up to our next edition in February 2016, email us at [email protected].

22 velgtraining.comAustralia’s quarterly VET eZine | OCTOBER 2015 | VOLUME 6

EMPOWERDE

CNO

V

2015/16 VET PD ROUND UPPlan your professional development this summer! We have rounded up the major VET events taking place across Australia and select international locations until March 2016.

JAN

We use acronyms throughout this publication and on our website. Please see our VET eZine glossary below

and access your complimentary copy of our extensive VET glossary online.

- Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN)- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)- Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC)- Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)- Business Development Manager (BDM)- Council of Australian Governments (COAG)- Foundation for Young Australians (FYA)- Human Resources (HR)- Industry Skills Council (ISC)- Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN)- Learning Management System (LMS)- Professional Development (PD)- Queensland (QLD)- Queensland VET Investment Plan (QVIP) - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)- Registered Training Organisation (RTO)- South Australia (SA)- Technical and Further Education (TAFE)- Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS)- Unique Student Identifier (USI)- Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Victorian Training Guarantee (VTG)- Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Western Australia (WA)

Velg Training Members have access to complimentary online resources via our

Members Lounge Portal.

MAR

eZINE GLOSSARY

Explore Velg Training Membership!

Page 23: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

Print, eBook and online!All match to suit blended delivery.Separate practical placement logbook.Trainer support material in editable formats.

Visit www.aspirelr.com.au or call 03 9820 1300 for more information

Purchasing our resources helps fund the Aspire Foundation

@aspirelr

NEW! ServicesCommunityServicesCommunity

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Page 24: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

RTO Managers Mentoring Program 4 hours pre-recorded content + 6 hours live Q&A February, May, August & November 2016

VET Coordinators Mentoring Program Queensland Schools Only

4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&ATerm 1, 2, 3, & 4 2016

VET Teachers Mentoring Program Queensland Schools Only

4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&ATerm 1, 2, 3, & 4 2016

RTO Administrator Mentoring Program 4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&AFebruary, May, August & November 2015

Trainer & Assessor Mentoring Program4 hours pre-recorded content + 4 hours live Q&AFebruary, May, August & November 2016

Programs will include:• Pre-recorded webinars• Live Q&A webinars• Attendance certificates• Electronic resources• Industry experts• Hard-copy folder• PowerPoints

These Mentoring Programs will allow knowledge to be communicated and built upon over the 2016 calendar year to enhance your organisation’s continuous improvement

process whilst maintaining your individual currency requirements.

These Mentoring Programs are NOW OPEN for registrations, so get in quick!

• Developing Training & Assessment Strategies 3 November 2015• Managing Third Party Arrangements 17 November 2015• Advertising & Marketing 1 December 2015• Enrolling Students & identifying their needs 19 January 2016• Trainer & Assessor Qualifications & Currency 2 Febraury 2016• Delivery & Transition 16 February 2016• Assessment 5 April 2016• Recording & awarding credentials 19 April 2016• Internal audit & the Keys to the ‘Treasure Chest’ 3 May 2016• Continuous Improvement 17 May 2016• Good Governance & Handling Compliants 31 May 2016

The Interactive VET Compliance Suite

A total of 12 interviews between two experienced VET professionals are combined into a suite of sessions that explore the relationship between the RTO’s business system and maintaining compliance against the Standards. Topics include:

Members: $59.00 incl. GST Non-Members: $79.00 incl. GST

Page 25: Staying Connected in VET eZine | October 2015 | Volume 6

VIRTUALV E T S U M M I T2016

CUS TOM BUILT PLATFORM • ALL ONLINE • AT YOUR DES K

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RTO Managers Summit

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Live streamed from the Velg Training office, the 2016 Virtual VET Summit will be seperated into 2 streams; Trainer & Assessor and RTO Manager with sessions tailored to the individuals needs.

For more information visit velgtraining.com.

The 2016 Virtual VET Summit will be completely online and presented to you live. Designed to be enjoyed at the comfort of your own desk, the new format will allow all attendees to have access to a wide range of up-to-date information, to increase your VET knowledge.

15th & 16th March 2016

8th & 9th March 2016

Held over 2 half days

10 topics per Summit

5 x 30min sessions

RegistrationNow Open!