Skills eFlash #108
Date: 18-Jul-2022
In this edtion: Water Skills Forum and Meeting| RTO Market Update| Zoho Water Skills Partnership Group| Micro-Credentials| Fundamental Webinars| Clontarf Foundation| DESBT Reporting: Industry Price List Review Feedback| OzWater 2022 Wrap
1. Water Skills Forum and Meeting
Thank you to all who attended the forum on 2 June and meeting on 22 June.
The minutes have now been distributed and we would like to invite any members who wish to discuss any of the topics further to contact Anna at amehonoshen@qldwater.com.au
2. RTO Market Update
- Skillstech (TAFE Queensland) announced on 31 May that it would no longer be delivering Water Training Operations qualifications. Students were initially given to 30 June 2022 to submit their assessments for marking and informed they would need to transition to a new training provider with the help of the Apprenticeship Network Provider.
- It is our understanding that as a result of various interventions from DESBT and input from other state agencies including DRDMW, that TAFE Queensland is now offering more direct support for transitioning students.
- Both Simmonds and Bristow and Water Training Australia are still offering training services in Queensland. At the time of writing we were attempting to clarify some registration anomalies but are advised that DESBT is working with the RTOs to resolve.
- qldwater has been raising awareness of the risks arising from our declining registered training market for some time with a number of strategies in place, but no silver bullets. While there is clearly a short-term impact from these changes and this is very serious for the impacted students, there are other emerging opportunities.
- Following the water skills forum in June and subsequently, the DG RDMW has made representations to DESBT to look at options to remove barriers for new RTOs to enter the market, as well as other agencies with the proposed establishment of a cross-agency group to look at the broader issue of essential staff shortages.
DESBT has requested qldwater pass on any feedback our members have on the transition process from TAFE Queensland, but also any general feedback on RTO availability and performance. Please contact Anna if you have any information to provide or questions about the current supply market status.
3. Zoho Water Skills Partnership Group
qldwater has a Zoho Connect network as a method for communication and discussion with and among our members, a similar style to Facebook. In this network is a Water Skills Partnership group that has been set up specifically for Skills news, feedback and discussion.
I have added a draft Workforce Snapshot Report data collection template for feedback and will be add more items this week such as the DESBT Industry Price List Review for feedback (see next topic below) and starting discussion threads for Fundamental Webinars, Micro-Credential Courses and feedback for Skillstech transition process.
An invite will be sent out to all subscribers to the Water Skills Partnership. Once you have accepted this invite you will be added to the Water Skills Partnership group. If you’re not already a member of this group and are in the qldwater Zoho network and would like to join, please email Anna.
4. Micro-Credentials
The interest/demand for Micro-Credential programs has increased due to the current RTO shortage and there are signs of more funding opportunities being opened by the government. Below is a list that was developed at the Water Skills Partnership Meeting including the four courses already delivered by qldwater.
- Water Treatment
- Wastewater Treatment
- Network Operations
- SCADA (existing)
- SCADA (more detailed, software-specific)
- Data Analytics and Trends
- Other gap knowledge topics not covered or not covered well in accredited courses
Please contact Anna if you have any other course ideas you’d like to put forward as potential options or find this topic in the WSP Zoho group for discussion. We are aiming to have high level outlines for each course in the next month to be ready for potential grant applications and other offset funding sources.
5. Fundamental Webinars
The focus of the Fundamentals Webinars is to build a library of resources to support training with a focus on practical tasks.
Below is a list of topics that were discussed as potential future Fundamental Webinars.
- Regulation for operations staff, especially DWQMPs
- Leak detection
- Metering technologies
- DMA Selection and implementation
- More seasonal impact topics
As above, please contact Anna or seed discussion on Zoho if you have other ideas.
6. Clontarf Foundation
The Clontarf Foundation has academies inside high schools across Australia to provide support to male year 11 and 12 indigenous students to assist them with building a sustainable life through education, employment, and sport.
Anna and Des met with the QLD Partnerships Manager and QLD Zone Manager from Clontarf Foundation to discuss the potential of forming a partnership with qldwater. The meeting was a positive one as Clontarf Foundation shared that the water industry is a popular vocation in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Clontarf Foundation does not set up traineeships themselves, this is between the school and the industry provider, they do provide mentorship and assist learners with keeping on track with their course.
We were invited to visit a school with an academy to see how its run and were also invited to observe one of their Employment Forums where industries get 10 minutes with each group of students to discuss their industry and employment options.
If you’d like to be involved with the development of this partnership, please contact Anna.
7. DESBT Reporting: Industry Price List Review Feedback
One of qldwater’s quarterly reporting requirements is the Industry Price List Review. This review focuses on the funding that is provided for the qualifications in the National Water Package. qldwater provides a context of current/future supply and demand issues, industry intelligence, links to government strategies and rationales for recommendations.
This review document has been shared to the Water Skills Partnership on Zoho to gain feedback from the partners. The close date for the feedback period is 5pm, Friday 15 July 2022.
8. OzWater 2022 Wrap
qldwater was well represented at Ozwater’22 in May with staff making the most of this signature event being held on our home turf this year. It was a great opportunity to connect with our members, affiliates, partners and the broader water sector. The event was jam-packed with lots of interesting keynote speakers and 8 streams of presentations running concurrently over the course of three days.
One of the highlights included our workshop to develop solutions to the water industry’s training supply market crisis, where we explored some of the issues and opportunities relating to learning resources, delivery methods, subject matter experts and regulation of minimum competency standards.
Thank you to our topic leaders who pitched their provocations to attendees before we split into groups to share ideas on possible solutions.
Following on from our workshop, a “call to arms” report is currently in draft.