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

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.

The Innovative Ideas Competition for Young People is open to high school, TAFE and University students living on the North Coast of NSW. This competition is part of the 2011 North Coast Innovation Festival and is aimed at demonstrating how innovative ideas can impact on and improve everyday lives.

Why is innovation important for young people? Innovative thinking leads to new insights, novel approaches, fresh perspectives, whole new ways of understanding and conceiving of things.

The ideas for this competition can be serious or crazy – they just need to be new and original and fall into one of three separate categories including:

Innovation at Home, School, Work, Play: What device can you invent that could make our lives easier at home, school or work? What will appliances at home and work look like in 2020?

Innovation Green Technology: What green innovative ideas would you want to see used by 2020?

Crazy Idea: If you’ve got an idea that seems a bit crazy, don’t hold back, we want to hear all about it!

The Innovative Ideas Competition encourages young people to be as creative as possible… Although, serious contenders will think to place emphasis on the actual real potential of their idea in terms of marketing the idea as an actual product or concept.

As long as the ideas are original, the young people can enter as many times as they like. The students can also enter as part of a team for the school, so get cracking!

To enter an idea and find out more about the competition go to the IDEAS Factory website at www.innovativeideascompetition.com.au

The winning idea is determined by the most votes – ‘likes’ – on the website. So, after a young person enters an idea their friends, classmates, family and teachers can vote for them. Anyone can vote for an idea but only young people can enter an idea.

The competition closes on 30 May… Time is already ticking away so please distribute to students/young people so they can start entering and voting for their ideas now! There is a $1,000 cash prize for the innovative idea with the most votes.

I have attached a flyer on the competition. It would be greatly appreciated if you could distribute information about the innovative ideas competition throughout your region. Please add to your website, include an article and link on e-newsletters and communications, send to your colleagues, business associates and throughout your networks. innovative ideas competition flyer

If you would like any further information on the innovative ideas competition or the North Coast Innovation Festival please contact me.

Best regards,

Tiffany Slack-Smith

Media, Events and Business Development Officer

Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast

Tel: 02 6583 8641

Fax: 02 6583 5285

M: 0412 880 085

E: tiffanys@rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

Suite 1, Oxley House 133-137 Gordon Street (PO Box 2537)

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

www.ncinnovationfestival.org.au

Dear Transition Bellingen Members, Lovely Lisa has just this week handed over this post to me, Vicki Parkes and what with a “bunch of other TB bizzo” I have left this email a bit late.

My apologies. There are a few things I have been asked to pass on:

Next HUB meeting is this coming Tuesday, the 15th at the BEC at 7pm. Anyone wanting to help with the Dana Lyons concert or any other event or just wanting to see what we get up to is welcome.

DOCUMENTARY MOVIE – STATE OF SIEGE – THURSDAY 17 MARCH AT UNITING CHURCH HALL 6PM AND 8PM

Controversial development and planning decisions seem to be everywhere: on agricultural land in Bonville, feedpads on the floodplains and residential developments along the coast.

A brand new NSW documentary takes us from the dodgy planning of the 60s (and how it was stopped) to recent changes in legislation, which may be sending us back to the 60s again.

A preview and news article can be watched here: http://www.tropicofoz.com/tropicofoz.com/Home_Page.html

Come and watch State of Siege at the Uniting Church Hall, Bellingen. Thursday March 17th. 6pm, then repeated at 8pm.

This one hour docco costs $5 a head with all profit going to W.I.R.E.S.

There will also be a time for discussion about the implications of the new planning laws for our local issues.

Eric Oldfield is organising showings around the mid north coast on behalf of its maker: Denis Grosvenor.

(parental note: there is one short scene of protestors being arrested in the 60s, involving “mild” violence, and brief discussion of a murder case from that time, but no graphic images).

AND IN APRIL IN COFFS HARBOUR THERE WILL BE 3 WEEKENDS OF EARTH DOME BUILDING WORKSHOPS BEGINNING WITH A FREE INTRO EVENING 7PM ON THE 7TH OF APRIL. FOR FURTHER INFO I have cut and pasted their email below

FOR THIS MONTH’S TRANSITION NEWSLETTER GO HERE: http://transitionnetwork.org/news/2011-03-03/march-2011-network-newsletter

Best Regards, Vicki ~ on behalf of Transition Bellingen

Earth Dome Building..Come join us in Coffs Harbour

If you would like me to call you to discuss anything, please email me.

Thanks and warm regards, Mike ph 0402686241

Coffs Harbour Workshop 1-3 Weekend Options RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL!

Course details: Experience 1-3 weekends of hands-on learning through building an earth dome to prepare you to build your own studio, home, eco-village, or school. The focus of this workshop is to build in a way that connects the structure and the participants to the energy flows of the planet. Chose to attend just one, two, three, or all four weekends. For every additional weekend you attend, receive a discount. This gives participants the opportunity to gain specific skills and the ability to pick and choose weekends that work for them. We encourage participants to attend all four weekends if you plan on building for your self or your community.

April 7 Free informational evening (7pm-9pm)

Come explore your future dreams as we discuss the designs of dome building. Partake in a discussion that asks why go natural? Focusing on natural possibilities that support you and our planet. An overview of the course will be covered this evening as well as a slide show of earth bag building.

April 9-10 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building

If you had to pick one weekend to attend, this would be it. This weekend has the most information focusing on how to walk onto your land and start building. But don’t worry; we will be doing plenty of hands-on practice while building the first 6-8 rows of the dome.

Weekend Includes:

Our relationship with the natural world and earthbuilding

Soil testing

How to mix soil with stabilizers

Earthbag foundations

Basics of the earthbag building technique

Installing the door form

How to install electric and plumbing conduit

How to build vertical walls with a center compass.

April 16-17 Finding Direction and Openings

This weekend will we will explore the magic of dome geometry and provide more experience laying bags with the extra challenge of each row stepping in to create the curve of the dome. We will be creating the window openings for the dome and be covering all the options for windows, doors, and entry vaults.

Weekend Includes:

Geometry of a dome

Hands-on bag laying and compassing for the dome curve

Exploring the arch – friction, buttressing, and forms

How to create window forms and openings

Exploring door, window, and entry vault possibilities

April 23-24 Way Up High- A New Perspective

For those thrill seekers out there you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff while building the top of an earth dome. This weekend we will be laying bag at the most challenging part of the dome that brings skills learned while the dome was low to new heights. For those who like their feet closer to the ground there will be plenty of learning to experience from down below.

Weekend Includes:

More experience creating window openings and pipe windows

Building the entry vault

Exploring mezzanine platform possibilities

Creating high vents

Exploring skylight construction

How to corbel bags when completing the top of the dome

Capping the dome

Exploring rendering and water proofing options for a dome

Date: April 7 (Free informational evening and registration at 7pm)

April 9-10 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building

April 16-17 Finding Direction and Openings

April 23-24 Way Up High- A New Perspective

Registration:

One Weekend $300

Two Weekends $550 ($50 discount)

Three Weekends $750 ($150 discount)That’s like half a weekend for free!

Register through PayPal buy clicking on the Upcoming Workshops page and scrolling down to this workshop.

Contact: phone: 61 3 9016 2675 AUS, 1(801)542-9386 USA, Skype Name: “neildeck”, and email at guidingstarcreations@gmail.com

–

Guiding Star Creations- shine your light

Upcoming Workshops:

Melbourne Earthbag 8 day Workshop- March

Coffs Harbour Earthbag 6 day Workshop- April

Adine Stella Michaels

Neil Decker

www.guidingstarcreations.com

guidingstarcreations@gmail.com

61-3-9016-2675 Australia

801-542-9386 USA

Skype Name: neildeck

Dear Colleagues,

A list of my workshops from March to May is available here. These practical and affordable workshops are specific to the needs of sporting organizations. If you can’t see one in your area, then muster up some mates and I’ll come to you (min. numbers for Metro Area must be 15; Regional area 25)

March

Writing Winning Grants

MPIO ( Member Protection Information Officer)

Planning your Club’s future

Media Releases / Sponsorship proposals

Getting more volunteers!

Resolving Conflict in sport

April

Planning your Club’s future

MPIO ( Member Protection Information Officer)

Writing Winning Grants

Planning your Club’s future

PLeadership in Sport / Managing change in Sport

Effective meetings / Committees

May

Writing Winning Grants

MPIO ( Member Protection Information Officer)

Getting Volunteers in your Clubs

Media Releases / Sponsorship proposals

Please note that these workshops are being offered at various times in the day and evening to try and suit as many of you as possible. For more details about each workshop and to book, please visit our Education page. I’d be really chuffed if you could send this email on to all your Clubs and contacts.

Please give me a call on 8116 9737 if you’d like me to do something specifically for your sport or organization… I always like a chat!

Warm regards

Julie Stafford

Education Coordinator

NSW Sports Federation Inc.

The Voice of NSW Sport

“The workshop was great, giving me some new ideas, and an understanding that most not for profit organisations /clubs share the same difficulties regarding manpower to run and organise things. Since doing the workshop, I have passed on many of the things discussed to the committee of my club, who all agreed that we have been managing our volunteers in a less that optimum way, and consequently are missing out on getting and keeping these people” Lorna, ‘Managing Volunteers’.

“I found all the courses interesting and informative and certainly well worth while”. Anne , Armidale, ‘Planning your Club’s future’.

“Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your “Writing winning grants” workshop. I has helped me gain insight, points and ideas and am looking forward to use it to our clubs advantage” Istvan, ‘Writing winning Grants’.

Julie Stafford

Education Coordinator

NSW Sports Federation Inc.

The Voice of NSW Sport

Ph 02 8116 9737 Fax 02 8732 1613 Mob 0405 841 016

julie.stafford@sportnsw.com.au www.sportnsw.com.au

6a Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127

PO Box 517, Sydney Markets NSW 2129