Archive for December, 2009

From Peter Bush of the Food Technology Association of Australia (FTAA)

Food Science and Technology Education Forum
SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES

The FST Education Forum was held at CSIRO, FNS, Werribee on the 24th November 2009. It was attended by 46 delegates who represented Universities offering FST, TAFEs offering FST, Regional Development Victoria, representatives of the food industry and associations plus organisations providing science education in secondary schools. The morning offered a series of short presentations on various aspects of the situation facing the availability of work ready FST Graduates in Australia.

The delegates split into three working groups for the afternoon session to discuss issues in detail, to appoint task force working committees and to establish areas requiring further action. These working groups will feed back to “FST Education Forum II” scheduled for 16th March 2010. Task force details are as follows : -

SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION WORKING GROUP. This group will investigate pilot extension programmes to the PICSE initiative – agri-science projects into schools , initiate dialogue with CSIRO Education with a view to participation in the “Scientists in Schools” and thus introducing real Food Science in schools, and to lobby to change “Food Science and Technology “ subjects at Secondary level to “Food Studies” nationally. The co-ordinator for this group is Michael Black (email blackmj@optusnet.com.au, Tel 0411 298 011).

TERTIARY EDUCATION WORKING GROUP. This group plans to form a University Co-operative working group. They will prepare a FST graduate Skill Statement promoting FST graduates to industry, will improve communication to industry and associations and will be investigating joint University – Industry initiatives. The co-ordinator for this group is Lloyd Simons (email lloyd.simons@csiro.com.au, Tel 03 9731 3311).

FOOD INDUSTRY WORKING GROUP This group will establish what Graduate FST Skills are required by industry at present and in the future, by company size and geographical location. They will investigate other industries having similar issues and will establish needs for skilled FST researchers and industry collaborative research. The co-ordinator for this group is Peter Bush (email peterbush@ozemail.com.au, Tel 041 958 6723).

Should you feel you are able to assist with the investigations outlined above then please contact the co-ordinator of the specific group.

Click here to view the FTAA website.

AgriFood Skills Australia is looking for submissions for its Environmental Scan 2010.

From AgriFoods:

We wish to advise you and all industry stakeholders that AgriFood Skills Australia has begun its national consultations for the Environmental Scan 2010 on the skilling and workforce needs of the agrifood industry. We invite contributions and comments about your own sector and areas of interests from enterprises, industry representative organisations and government.

Our consultations will continue until early 2010 and we invite all stakeholders to participate in this process – see contact addresses below for submissions or go to the web links.

What we need to know
AgriFood Skills Australia is in the first stage of preparing the Environmental Scan.
This involves casting a net across the industry to capture contemporary views on:

1. Factors impacting on agrifood’s workforce skills and labour supply
2. Specific job roles and skills being affected
3. Magnitude of impact
4. What needs to be done to respond to new and emerging skill and workforce development needs

AgriFood Skills Australia welcomes comments and written submissions on these key questions from individuals, enterprises and industry organisations.

We would like to hear from those who work within the training system on the last of these questions.

Send your submissions and comments

Submissions marked ‘Environmental Scan submission’ may be forwarded electronically to reception@agrifoodskills.net.au and should be with us by no later than 31 December 2009.

PO Box 5450
Kingston ACT 2604
T: 02 6163 7200 F: 02 6162 0610 E: reception@agrifoodskills.net.au.

Click here for more information on the AgriFood Skills Australia website.
Click here to find the AgriFood Environmental Scan 2009 on the AgriFood Skills Australia website.
Click here to view the AgriFood Environmental Scan 2010 explanatory flyer [PDF: 282KB].

Melissa MacDonald,
Training Development Officer (Well Broker)

From AgriFood Skills Australia

What is WELL?
WELL is the acronym for Workplace English Language and Literacy. It is a Government funded program that funds language, literacy and numeracy training for employees below a certain level in conjunction with undertaking accredited training.

For information on Workplace English Language and Literacy for the agrifood industry please visit the AgriFood Skills-Australia website.

Click here for the official Federal Government WELL website.

View more Government Initiatives on the VFITB website.

From the Federal Government:

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced Apprentice Kickstart – a $100 million investment to support two measures designed to counteract the impact of the global recession on Australian Apprenticeships commencements and retention.

Between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010, the Australian Government will provide a $3,350 Apprentice Kickstart Bonus to employers who take on a young person aged 19 years and under into a traditional trade Australian Apprenticeship. The introduction of the Apprentice Kickstart Bonus represents a tripling of Government support for employers of eligible Australian Apprentices in their first year of an Australian Apprenticeship.

Visit the Apprentice Kickstart page on the Australian Apprenticeships website for more information.

View more Government Initiatives on the VFITB website.