The photography courses will be held in the Bellingen Shire Libraries see pdf ABC Open Summer School Flyer BSC

The Social Media course will be held in the Bellingen Library and if  successful will run it the other centre’s at a later date. See pdf ABC Open Summer school SM BSC

University main round offers out today: Apprenticeships and traineeships are a great alternative to Uni

NSW’s largest provider of apprenticeships and traineeships, Australian Business Limited (ABL) Apprenticeships Centre, said that young people who didn’t get into their preferred university course tonight or were having second thoughts about university should consider the multitude of apprenticeships and traineeships on offer.

Main Round Offers for university courses will be released at 9pm tonight by the Universities Admission Centre (UAC).

“There are a huge number of career opportunities available that don’t require spending three or more years at university. An apprenticeship or a traineeship is a great way to learn new skills, develop a career path and earn an income at the same time,” said Andrew Balls, Field Operations Manager of ABL Apprenticeships Centre.

“If you are having second thoughts about whether university is the right path for you, an apprenticeship or traineeship could suit you better.

“There are more than 700 traineeships or apprenticeships available and many of them lead to further qualifications. From business services and IT to community services, transport, horticulture and traditional trades like plumbing and bricklaying, the opportunities touch every industry.

“Australia is once again facing a skills shortage in a number of industries and employers are looking to take on new trainees and apprentices to fill the shortage.

“There are great opportunities for young adults who have completed their HSC to take up a traineeship or apprenticeship – employers are looking for new recruits right now.”

Mr Balls said that ABL Apprenticeships Centre’s Skillsroad online portal, which connects young adults with jobs and traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities, was experiencing a shortfall in candidates for a variety of trade employment areas.

“The national economy is in the position of having a skills shortage in about 60 critical skills areas. For a young school leaver with plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn new skills, they can set themselves up on a great career path for the future.”

Young people interested in taking up a traineeship or apprenticeship should visit www.skillsroad.com.au to find out more.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 0419 692 236

Embargoed until Wednesday 14 December 2011

Life after the HSC: Apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities available for school leavers

NSW’s largest provider of apprenticeships and traineeships, Australian Business Limited Apprenticeships Centre (ABL Apprenticeships Centre), said that the sky was the limit for students receiving their HSC marks today and that taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship was a good way to start out on a fulfilling and exciting career path.

“Today’s HSC results marks an important milestone in the lives of our young adults as they leave school and begin to develop their career paths – paths with more options available for them than at other times in our employment history,” said Andrew Williams, General Manager of ABL Apprenticeship Centre.

“For many of the 72,000 students, who get their HSC results, today marks the start of their working lives – an apprenticeship or traineeship is a great way to start that career and begin to develop the skills that will set them up for life.

“An apprenticeship or traineeship is an opportunity to learn a qualification and earn a wage at the same time.

“Trades in building and construction, the automotive and electrical industries and manufacturing were amongst the most popular with school-leavers in 2011 and this trend is expected to continue into 2012.

“There are great opportunities for young adults who have completed their HSC to take up an apprenticeship and many employers are recruiting school leavers right now.”

Mr Williams said that there will be competition for places with many employers and he recommended that students take a pro-active approach to securing an apprenticeship. Asking family and friends if they know of any employers looking for an apprentice, utilising contacts at local sporting and community clubs and scouring the yellow pages or internet for local businesses can be a good place to start.

“For a young school leaver with plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn new skills, an apprenticeship can set them on a great career path for the future.”

HSC school leavers interested in taking up an apprenticeship should visit www.skillsroad.com.au to find out more.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 0419 692 236 or Amanda Wood 0409 050 244

17 November 2011

BUSINESS CALLS FOR COMPETITIVE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING SYSTEM TO BOOST SKILLED WORKFORCE

NSW’s peak business organisation, NSW Business Chamber, has called for a more flexible and demand-driven vocational education and training (VET) system to encourage further workforce skill development in its submission to the NSW Government’s review into the state’s VET system.

“The NSW economy would benefit from greater competition between public and private education and training providers for funding of training places. It would make the system more responsive to student demand and increase the take up of VET qualifications,” said Stephen Cartwright, CEO of the NSW Business Chamber.

“The most recent NSW Business Chamber Business Conditions Survey confirmed that two out of five (42%) employers in NSW are having difficulty securing the skilled employees they need. Employers need a VET system that can deliver the skills that are required in the workplace.

“One of the key components of a demand-driven VET system is the flexibility and responsiveness of the system as a whole. Flexibility in training delivery is essential for lowering the overall costs of training to both industry and students.

“The introduction of a student entitlement model in NSW, as has been done in Victoria, provides opportunities to achieve greater efficiency, encourage innovation, offer flexibility in course delivery, and creates the potential for further growth in the vocational education sector.

“The introduction of a student entitlement to training in Victoria has increased VET participation level by more than 44 per cent in just three years. While NSW might take a slightly different approach, the current review provides NSW with the scope to shape a robust vocational education model for NSW.”

Mr Cartwright said the introduction of competition into the VET system does not challenge TAFE but offers it a significant opportunity to advance its strengths in education and training delivery.

“TAFE is a recognisable brand and is known for quality delivery of training. By its nature and through its infrastructure, TAFE has a competitive advantage over private providers and this means it will be well placed to compete with alternative providers.”

Mr Cartwright said the international experience has long shown that the most successful reforms to vocational education are those which create and strengthen its links with tertiary study.

“There is an unfortunate tendency for vocational education to be perceived as low status and low quality. We recommend that skills reform in NSW should strengthen links between VET and higher level study. Vocational education is a valuable and legitimate path not a consolation prize, and it should be valued as such. Reform will help deliver this outcome.”

Submission available at www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 0419 692 236

Youth Leading the World (YLTW) is a 3-day Youth Environmental Leadership Congress bringing together thousands of young people in over 30 locations around the world to focus on what is happening globally and how we can make a positive difference to our world together.

See full details in pdf  yltw midnorthcoast

Chamber paper calls for comprehensive review of HSC media release

Alicia Bales

Faculty Ecological Sustainability Project Officer

North Coast TAFE

PO Box 528 Port Macquarie 2443

P: +61 2 6586 2263 f: +61 2 6586 2333 m: 0439 882 809

e: alicia.bales1@tafensw.edu.au w: northcoast.tafensw.edu.au

The Bellingen Chamber of Commerce is proud to present another two great speakers on Friday 2nd September at The Old Butter Factory Cafe, Doepel Street, Bellingen

Cosy fire if still needed – All welcome!

PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESS AND YOUTH

Paddy Warfield, Project Officer Youth Directions Inc. will outline the considerable benefits of the School Based Traineeship & Apprenticeship Program.

Paddy has had a varied career ranging from Para Legal Conveyancing Clerk to Owner/Manager of Restaurants in Sydney and Armidale to Vocational Trainer, Group Training Consultant and Program Manager, Co-ordinator for Government funded training programs, Real Estate Licensee to Staff Training & Development Consultant in her own business, Smart Nation. This is a web-based business, operating for almost eight years, that also involves her husband and is responsible for web & financial administration.

While new to Bellingen Paddy lived in Armidale for many years, so Bellingen is a familiar place and her son, who is connected with many Community Projects, has lived here for some time. During seven years with a Group Training Company on the Sunshine Coast Paddy worked with the School Based Traineeship & Apprenticeship Program and saw that this program might be ready to expand in New South Wales and wanted to be part of that growth. Paddy says Queensland has played a significant role in the take up of School Based arrangements, with currently about 70% of all SBATs enrolled in Queensland – more than the rest of the nation put together !

Youth Directions Inc. based in Coffs Harbour, is funded by Government to broker community partnerships in this region specifically with the outcome of keeping kids engaged and at school to complete their HSC year. They saw that implementation of SBATs was a great strategy to assist in achieving their goals. Youth Directions has incorporated Directions Group Training Ltd., a not for profit company, with a specific focus on SBATs – implementation, monitoring and supporting trainees and apprentices to successful conclusion of training and issue of a nationally recognised and accredited qualifications to accompany a student’s HSC results. In many cases, successful completion of an SBAT can count towards an HSC or University Entrance score.

Paddy’s role will be to provide information to the community – business leaders, schools, parents’, kids – about SBATs and how everyone can become involved, following this with indenture and enrolment, administration of all aspects of employment and the training plan and ongoing support and counseling. Paddy also holds a Diploma of Professional Counseling as part of her long list of qualifications.

Paddy will be accompanied by Cath Cosgrove, Youth Directions Inc, who will be available to answer questions.

plus

PRODUCTIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE …. NATURALLY

Thea O’Connor, Transition Bellingen and Local Health Educator presents evidence about the effects of a brief nap on productivity, workplace accidents and errors, mood and fatigue.

Bellingen Chamber of Commerce September Business Breakfast presents two outstanding speakers with a different perspective on the way we educate and do business.

Thea O’Connor, Transition Bellingen, will present evidence of the beneficial effects in a brief nap on productivity, workplace accidents and errors, mood and fatigue while Paddy Warfield, Project Officer – Group Training with Youth Directions Inc. will outline the considerable benefits of the School Based Traineeship & Apprenticeship Program and

Thea O’Connor has twenty years experience in the health sector, ranging from her current work as a health journalist and speaker, to her former work as a clinical and community dietitian, QUIT smoking facilitator, masseuse, Director of Body Image and Health Inc (a Victorian not for profit organisation committed to the prevention of body image and eating problems) and Partner of Corporeal~ a health consultancy to workplaces.

Thea visited the nap-friendly culture at Google headquarters to investigate how it has created a environment where workers feel permission from their bosses, co-workers and inner bosses to make a mini-snooze a regular part of their working day. A high-tech sleeping pod is available for workers who want an afternoon pick-me-up, without having to resort to another coffee and a hammock swings in the library, where workers can mull over a problem or take a quick kip. Thea has also visited other napping workplaces as well as contacting researchers around the world to find out the latest science of napping.

What is the scientific evidence? What are the critical success factors for sanctioning down-time on the job and if you want to nap, how can you increase your chances of success? Thea has offered to share her findings to Chamber members and friends.

Thea moved to the mid north coast from Melbourne in 2004. Now mother of a three year old, she and her partner live in Bellingen where she is actively involved in Transition Bellingen.

“TB recognises the importance of personal sustainability as well as environmental and social sustainability … that’s why it got behind Australia’s first Nap-In – as napping really is such a great renewable energy practice. I’ve long been interested in promoting work habits that respect our body rhythms, rather than fight against them. The post-lunch mini-siesta is one such habit, that isn’t just good for health but is also great for performance, enhancing concentration as well as reducing workplace errors.“ says Thea.

Everyone welcome ! Bookings essential by Wed 31st August. Registration 7am for 7.30 start. Chamber members and their guests – $20, Non members – $25. Pay on the day. RSVP coordinator@bellingenchamber.com.au

Our vision is to be a market leader in promoting business excellence and to provide a supportive environment for the Bellingen business community to grow into a sustainable future.

We are a little early this week to give you time to time to think about attending the FREE Pizza oven workshop this weekend - details below.

We receive requests to send out information from many sources and details are included as attachments to this newsletter.

Transition Bellingen News

Reskilling workshop Jam and conserve making on 26 June 2011 – . The workshop is fully booked, but we are starting a waiting list in case someone cancels. Ring Olivia on 0408 322 393 to get on the list.

Free Market Sunday 3 July at the Bellingen Showgrounds 2-4pm. – (see attachment)  Free Market

Remember the rain at the Vision fair 2009 – footage on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAsTeIq3DwM

Other News

Free Pizza oven Workshop for people of all ages @ the High School Community Garden this weekend, Saturday the 25th & Sunday the 26th of June from 1 to 4.30 pm. Booking essential. To book your place, please contact Olivia on 0408322393 or email food4LYF@bellingeneye.com

Fertile Ground – Supporting women that feed the world. A special opportunity meet inspirational Ugandan women’s farmer leader in Bellingen

You’re invited to meet and hear from Polly on Monday 27th June from 5.30- 7.30 pm at the Bellingen Uniting Church (see attachment)  Action Aid Polly Apio 27 June 2011

RSVP nick@foodsovereigntyalliance.org by c.o.b Sun 27th June

All the projects organised by Transtion Bellingen rely on support from volunteers and donations. If you would like to help, please reply to this email and help Bellingen become resilient. The Transition Bellingen web site address is http://www.transitionnetwork.org/cms/bellingen

Transition Bellingen is part of the world wide Transition Initiative. For up to date information on progress of the network, click on the Transition Bellingen link above and click on “home”

Links to Other Groups

Coffs Coast Local Food Alliance http://coffscoastlocalfood.ning.com/

Bellingen EYE is a group of inspired youth from the Bellingen Shire http://www.bellingeneye.com/

Bellingen Seed Savers http://bellingenseedsaversunderground.blogspot.com/

Food Sovereignty Alliance – receive a lot of information by subscribing to

http://mail.foodsovereigntyalliance.org/mailman/listinfo/chat_foodsovereigntyalliance.org

North Bank Road Community Garden Face Book – http://www.facebook.com/Northbank.Community.Garden

Bello Food Box – http://www.bellofoodbox.org.au/

Bellingen Community Gardens Association Face Book – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellingen-Community-Garden-Association/128326590578311

http://sites.google.com/site/bellingenenvironmentcentre/enviro-groups#TOC-Dorrigo-Bellingen-Urunga-Bike-Users – which has links to other groups too doing good work