Archive for January, 2011

AMIC Food Safety Now at William Angliss

Monday, January 24th, 2011

From the William Angliss Meat Processing Newsletter (December 2010):

The Meat Processing department is committed to the AMIC Food Safety Plan, Practical classes are run like a retail outlet.

Students are trained in using and collating the AMIC Food Safety Plan documentation so that they will have a better understanding of what is expected to them in their workplaces. The Food Safety Plan is delivered both in theory and practical classes.

For more information, please contact the Meat Processing department on (03) 9606 2111.

Click here to read edition 2 of ‘the scoop’ [PDF: 2MB] a William Angliss Institute Meat Processing Newsletter.

Posted in Meat Processing | No Comments »

Winners of the ISS Institute Fellowships announced

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Congratulations to the following International Specialised Skills (ISS) Institute Fellowship winners, which were awarded in November:

Gary Mahon from Northern Melbourne Institute who received a Skills Victoria International TAFE Fellowship

From the ISS Institute December 2010 Newsletter:

Gary will travel to Italy and France where he will get a first-hand understanding in the high-quality, modern practices used in bread making and Viennoiserie pastries. He’ll also analyse the different qualities of the breads and pastries produced and how to improve the standards of pastries in Australia.

Bronwyn Turton from the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia/GOTAFE), who received a Skills Victoria International TAFE Fellowship

Bronwyn will look at international trends relating to functional foods. Through her travel in the US and Canada she’ll gain a further knowledge of bioactive components of milk and milk products and their functional value.

Francesca Jorio from William Angliss Institute, who received a Skills Victoria (Italy) International TAFE Fellowship

Francesca will experience ‘land to table’ models in local regional areas of Italy. Through her Fellowship Francesca will gain an understanding of how agri-tourism and community involvement in produce production can be adapted to Victoria and how it can create jobs in regional areas.

Click here to view a full listing of Fellows on the ISS Institute website.

Posted in Baking, Dairy, Food Processing, Industry Awards | No Comments »

Ryan announces $140,000 for East Gippsland Food Cluster

Monday, January 24th, 2011

From the Department of Regional & Rural Development, Victorian Government website:

The Coalition Government will provide $140,000 towards the development of the East Gippsland food growing and processing industry, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan announced today.

Speaking at Bairnsdale alongside Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull, Mr Ryan said the funding would support Stage Two of the East Gippsland Food Cluster project which focused on implementing priority projects identified through the East Gippsland Food Cluster feasibility study.

“The East Gippsland Food Cluster has the opportunity to develop innovation in the food growing and manufacturing sectors of East Gippsland,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Food Cluster has been meeting regularly over the past two years, and it’s encouraging to see eight local food businesses working together to further develop our local food industry.”

The Board includes Frais Farms, Patties Foods, Oneharvest/Vegco, Dennison Food Manufacturing, Bonaccord Produce, Bulmers Family Farm, Riviera Farms and Kerton Farms.

Mr Ryan said the objective of the cluster was to work together with key stakeholders to generate economic growth, export opportunities, and employment.

Click here to read the full article on the Department of Regional & Rural Development, Victorian Government website

Posted in Food Processing | No Comments »

Executive Officer/Project Officer Position Available at East Gippsland Food Cluster

Monday, January 24th, 2011

The role of Executive Officer/Project Officer has become available at the East Gippsland Food Cluster. Below details the job specifications:

From Seek.com.au website:

East Gippsland has a thriving and growing food sector, with an industry cluster committed to its sustainable development. This is a newly created role built around the delivery of strategic and specific project plans, which will focus both on business development as well as sectoral capability development requirements. The successful applicant will manage a comprehensive strategic planning and communication framework that formulates, measures and reports on the cluster’s aspirations, objectives and achievements while ensuring effective communication with its stakeholders. The role offers considerable scope and autonomy and a genuine opportunity to make a difference, and would suit an individual wishing to work on a contract/consultancy basis. You will be encouraged to execute your strategic thinking, project management, business acumen, capability development and communication expertise to take the cluster into its next phase of development.

Click here for more information on the position on the Seek website

Posted in VFITB General | No Comments »

Agrifood Skills Australia Baking Project

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

MP900443656[1] In partnership with the baking industry, AgriFood Skills Australia, the national Industry Skills Council covering food processing, has initiated a labour research project covering bakers employed across the industry. The project will review the labour and skill needs of the industry and investigate strategies to address any current or projected shortages. Other workforce development issues such as career pathways will also be examined.

If you are interested in the project, please contact Ross Ord on 02 6163 7207 or email: rossord@hotmail.com.

The VFITB will be assisting Ross with this work, liaising with industry, training providers, and the Baking Industry Association of Victoria. If you are interested in the project, please contact the VFITB office on info@vfitb.com.au.

The new Certificate IV in Advanced Baking is due for accreditation in early 2011, ready for implementation in the second half of the year.

Posted in Baking, VFITB General | No Comments »

Amendments to the Practical Placement Guidelines

Monday, January 17th, 2011

From John Stapleton, Skills Victoria (email):

Skills Victoria has released amended Practical Placement Guidelines which assist Registered Training Organisations and employers to meet their obligations with respect to arranging practical placement for students of technical and further education . These amendments are made under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETRA) and replace the previous practical placement guidelines issued under ETRA in September 2010.

The purposes of these amended guidelines include:

Providing information about the making of a new Secretarial Order under ETRA on 23 December 2010 to the effect that practical placement students are not required to be paid for work undertaken on the placement;

Providing updated information about the position in relation to Workcover insurance eligibility for students on practical placements; and

Reiterating the requirements of ETRA in relation to practical placements.

The amended guidelines are effective immediately and are available on the Skills Victoria website.

Click here to view the updated Practical Placement Guidelines on the Skills Victoria website.

For further information, please contact Mr Nick Chiam, Director, Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Youth on either (03) 9637 2799 or at nick.chiam@diird.vic.gov.au.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Food Processing, Meat Processing, Seafood, Wine | No Comments »

Training Packages to focus on the Essentials

Friday, January 14th, 2011

From the National Quality Council website:

The National Quality Council (NQC) has endorsed a new design and structure for Training Packages. This reform has been a key priority for the VET Products for the 21st Century project and is the culmination of more than two years of research and consultation by the NQC.

Simplified, Shortened, Segmented
Streamlined Training Packages are to be characterised by simplified language, and shortened and appropriately segmented content that will address concerns of Training Packages becoming too complex, bulky and difficult to use.

UNITS OF COMPETENCY will be simplified to be an expression of performance standards only.

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS are to be strengthened and given their own section, with performance and knowledge evidence linked to the elements and performance criteria in the unit of competency.

Required skills will be expressed in ELEMENTS and PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.

FOUNDATION SKILLS will be explicitly listed in the unit of competency.

The range statement is to be renamed RANGE OF CONDITIONS and reflects context and operating conditions only.

What the changes mean
The new design will mean

EASIER TO USE: simpler language, less repetition and greater consistency will make Training Packages much more user-friendly and accessible.

GREATER FOCUS ON ASSESSMENT, KNOWLEDGE AND FOUNDATION SKILLS: targeted sections of the Training Package will make it easier for RTOs to address these issues.

MORE SUPPORT FOR RTOs: companion volumes will provide detailed advice on the use and implementation of a Training Package. They include guides on RTO implementation, learning strategies, knowledge, assessment strategies, and will be released concurrently with each Training Package.

Click here to read more of the changes on the National Quality Council website.

Posted in Training Packages | No Comments »

Coalition push to slash TAFE fees

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

From The Age website 11 January 2011:

Low-income students could have TAFE fees slashed by 95 per cent, with state Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall pledging to try to fast-track a Coalition promise to reduce financial barriers to study.

Mr Hall told The Age that re-introducing concession-fee places for students studying for a diploma or advanced diploma would be one of his priorities in government.

Under the changes, healthcare card holders would have their TAFE fees cut from $2000 a year to $100 from July 1 as part of a Coalition plan to cut fees by $96 million over four years.

Click here to read the full article on The Age website.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Meat Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Seafood, Wine | No Comments »

Postgraduate Vocational Qualifications – VTG Eligibility Changes

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

From Philip Clarke, Skills Victoria (email):

Skills Victoria has made changes to the Victorian Training Guarantee eligibility relating to enrolments in the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma qualifications.

All RTOs are advised that when assessing the VTG eligibility of individuals enrolling in 2011, for the purpose of determining the highest qualification held, the Australian Qualification Framework applies. For example, qualifications at Bachelor Degree level are lower than qualifications at Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma levels. As a result, individuals with a Bachelor degree as their highest qualification will be eligible for funded places under the VTG when enrolling for courses in the two Vocational Graduate levels.

If you have any further queries, please contact Skills Victoria on (03) 9651 9999.

VFITB Note: There are now two new specialist programs in Victoria for the food processing industry, the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Food Industry Management and the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Food Industry Management. Many prospective students will now be eligible for 65% of course fees to be subsidised by the Victorian government.

GO TAFE/NCDEA is currently offering the Certificate and can be contacted on (03) 9217 5235 or mrobinson@gotafe.vic.edu.au.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Food Processing, Meat Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Seafood, Wine | No Comments »

Fireside Chat: AgriFood Skills ISC – 10 Mar 2011

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

arthur

Arthur Blewitt, CEO of AgriFood Skills Australia has been invited to give his input on on the AgriFood Industry Skills Council’s plans for 2011 – 2013.

From VISTA:

Enjoy an informal discussion over dinner with Arthur regarding how the ISC will advise Government about meeting this vision.

Event Details

Venue: Dimattina’s 306 Lygon St Carlton Date: 10 March, 2011
Time: start at 6.30pm finish by 10 pm
Cost: VISTA members $55 (plus GST) non members $75 (plus GST)
Includes 2 course set menu. Drinks available at bar prices.

Click here for more information and to register on the VISTA website.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Food Processing, Meat Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Seafood, Wine | No Comments »

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Industry Advisory Committee

Archive for January, 2011

AMIC Food Safety Now at William Angliss

Winners of the ISS Institute Fellowships announced

Ryan announces $140,000 for East Gippsland Food Cluster

Executive Officer/Project Officer Position Available at East Gippsland Food Cluster

Agrifood Skills Australia Baking Project

Amendments to the Practical Placement Guidelines

Training Packages to focus on the Essentials

Coalition push to slash TAFE fees

Postgraduate Vocational Qualifications – VTG Eligibility Changes

Fireside Chat: AgriFood Skills ISC – 10 Mar 2011

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