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Employment White Paper – putting VET on an equal footing
Employment White Paper – putting VET on an equal footing
Master Builders Australia
The peak building and construction industry association, Master Builders Australia, has today commended the Federal Government’s ambitious education priorities that seek to put VET on an equal footing with higher education.
The building and construction industry has faced critical labour shortages and appropriate skill levels which dampens economic recovery and productivity growth says Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.
“Developing an informed and evidence-based roadmap for Australia to build a bigger, better-trained, and more productive workforce is critical to our nation’s ongoing success.
“Improving productivity requires a multifaceted approach. Doing more with less is what will allow Australia to achieve better economic and societal outcomes.
“The investments in skills and training, better integration of tertiary education, and the development of higher and bachelor-equivalent apprenticeships will help address the bias that exists with going to university over VET.
“However, the role of not-for-profit, industry-led registered training organisations should be recognised in developing these pathways.
“Construction is the backbone of the Australian economy, employing approximately 1.3 million people, providing infrastructure, commercial and community buildings, and homes for the growing population.
“The nature of work in the industry is evolving due to increasing business specialisation, more offsite building, technology integration, and complex regulatory requirements but what we know is vocational education is and will remain crucial to the workforce.
“Understanding the emerging and future workforce skills needs is critical for ensuring flexible pathways in the industry that meet the changing and diverse needs of workers, businesses, and employers.
“Master Builders is committed to a net zero built environment and investing in ensuring we have enough skilled workers to meet this transition will be key,” Ms Wawn said.
Master Builders Australia, has today commended the Federal Government’s ambitious education priorities that seek to put VET on an equal footing with higher education.
Earlier this year, Master Builders released its blueprint for future-proofing the building and construction industry’s workforce which forecast the need for 486,000 new entrants into the industry over the next three years.
“The building and construction industry needs to attract around 230,000 technicians and tradies, the vast majority of whom will need to enter the industry through a trade apprenticeship.
“Policies that prioritise attracting, recruiting, training and retaining workers in the industry will be vital to ensure Australia’s housing and infrastructure needs can be delivered.
“The Employment White Paper has also rightly referenced the challenge of female participation in the building and construction industry.
“Improving the attractiveness of the industry to women presents a massive opportunity to increase the pool of potential workers.
“The Women Building Australia program is one example of an industry-led initiative to provide appropriate mentorship and support for women entering the industry which has helped see an uptick of female participation over recent years.
“We look forward to continuing working closely with the Government to help meet the objectives in the White Paper and thank the Treasurer for his collaboration and constructive consultation with the industry,” said Ms Wawn.
However, the roadmap and policy directions within the paper are being undermined by the far-reaching industrial relations Bill being pursued by Minister Burke.
“We need to be making it easier to do business, foster job creation and sustainable wages growth, encourage new entrants, and reverse flat lining productivity – which the Government’s IR Bill seeks to do the opposite.
“With 98 per cent of businesses in building and construction being small business, more can be done to simplify complex and inconsistent regulatory requirements so tradies can spend less time in the back office and more time on the tools, growing their business and employing more people.
“Conditions that support business success, support higher levels of employment. Reducing the complexity and time spent by businesses on regulatory obligations and administrative tasks will free up time for the money-making part of business operations.
“The IR legislation is completely inconsistent with the long-held concepts that underpin the workplace relations system and productive labour market,” Ms Wawn said.
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$3.8 MILLION TO HELP NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY HEAL AFTER 2022 FLOODS
RESEARCHERS at Southern Cross University have been awarded more than $3.8 million to help Northern Rivers locals affected by the devastating 2022 floods.
In a world-first approach, the researchers will implement a stepped care model to support over 200 people left with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the floods.
To date, there have been very few clinical trials focused on recovery from disaster-related PTSD. None have focused on a stepped care model.
Stepped care is an evidence-based system for treating mental health, involving a hierarchy of treatments, from least to most intensive.
The stepped care treatments in this clinical trial will include an arts-based group compassion program and group-based MDMA-assisted therapy. It is hoped the findings will provide additional treatment options for those impacted by future disasters.
People can register their interest in participating in the clinical trial by emailing compassiontrial@scu.edu.au
The Albanese Government is providing these funds as part of the 2022 Clinical Trials Grant Activity, with funding commencing from March 2024.
Grants totalling $62 million were awarded to 26 recipients as part of the grant opportunity.
The Albanese Government has committed a total of $750 million for the Clinical Trials Activity Initiative over ten years.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler MP:
“Supporting the mental health of Australians is a key priority for the Albanese Government.
“In a country often ravaged by bushfires, floods and cyclones, the world-first research by Southern Cross University will look for new and innovative ways to help communities recover following natural disasters.
“We hope that this research project will help the Northern Rivers community to recover following the flood tragedy.
“Our Government is proud to support this groundbreaking research through the Medical Research Future Fund.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP:
“This project not only offers innovative evidence-based practices for trauma relief, but also means something positive can come out of our local experience. This research will add to the body of knowledge around trauma and post-traumatic growth.
“James Bennett-Levy has an international reputation for innovative mental health approaches and a commitment to the wellbeing or rural Australians, particularly the residents of the Northern Rivers Region. That’s why I was happy to throw my support behind this project.”
Quotes attributable to Lead Researcher, Professor James Bennett-Levy, of Southern Cross University:
“I thank the Minister for funding this world-first clinical trial of a stepped care model in a post-disaster context.
“In 2022, northern New South Wales, and Lismore in particular, experienced Australia’s most devastating floods. People are still suffering from disaster-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Our research after the 2017 floods showed that mental health problems were compounded if people were self-critical and blamed themselves. We have therefore designed a stepped care program with a self-compassion focus. Step 1 will evaluate a five-session arts-based program which engages participants in creating compassion-focussed artworks. If participants still have PTSD, they may be eligible for Step 2, MDMA-assisted therapy. Prior research has shown that MDMA-assisted therapy is an effective evidence-based treatment for PTSD and enhances self-compassion.”
Quotes attributable to Vice-Chancellor and President, Southern Cross University Professor Tyrone Carlin:
“Under Professor Bennett-Levy’s leadership and expertise, this novel trial will broaden our knowledge about the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments for addressing serious trauma following a natural disaster.
“Lismore is the most flood-prone city in Australia. We know that many in the Northern Rivers community remain traumatised by the 2022 back-to-back flood disasters. Lismore is also the birthplace of Southern Cross University, and with our roots deeply embedded in the community it is appropriate we lead this project.
“We congratulate Professor Bennett Levy for being awarded the MRFF grant. It represents the largest block MRFF funding received by Southern Cross University to date and illustrates the excellence and impact of critical research conducted by the University in our region.”
For more 2022 floods news, click here.
Council investigating possible DA Tracker data breach
On 24 April, an upgrade to Byron Shire Council’s document management system resulted in some internal development related documents being viewable on the DA Tracker public web portal.
The DA Tracker is Council’s online portal that allows users to track the progress of development applications.
“Access to the DA Tracker was temporarily suspended as soon as we became aware of the issue, and the removal of the internal documents from the DA Tracker public web portal was completed on 29 April”. Council’s Manager Business Systems and Technology, Colin Baker said.
“We are currently investigating this incident to determine the exact nature and extent of the documents incorrectly published.” Mr Baker said.
Council takes the privacy of its customers very seriously and has engaged the NSW State Government’s Cyber incident response team to assist with the investigation. If it is determined that a data breach occurred, Council will be contacting any person directly impacted, and following other mandatory reporting requirements.
Customers concerned about this DA Tracker data breach incident can contact Colin Baker, Manager of Business Systems and Technology by calling 02 6626 7347.
For more Byron Bay news, click here.
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