Skills eFlash #121
Date: 13-Sep-2023
In this edition: qldwater Micro Credential application update | EOIs Special | New Regional Jobs Committees | and much more!
1. qldwater DYJESBT Micro Credential Application Update
We have received confirmation from the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training (DYJESBT), that our application for four micro credentials, on topics previously identified by the Water Skills Partnership, has been approved.
The work of developing the MCs will start once service agreement documents have been issued by the Department, signed and returned to them by the Directorate.
We will keep members updated as we progress through the development process, leading to delivery of the micro credentials in 2024.
2. EOI – RSL Ex-Navy Mechanical Engineering Degree Candidate
As members will hopefully remember from the previous Skills e-Flash, qldwater has partnered with the RSL Employment Program, which works with employers across Australia to assist ex-serving and partners of current and ex-serving Defence members in making connections and ultimately finding meaningful employment.
The team at RSL have reached out to advise they have a candidate who has a Mechanical Engineering Degree, completed just prior to joining the Service. He is keen to get back into an industry where he can utilise this and his experience from Service to support the community. He is based in South-East Queensland.
In the first instance if interested members can please reach out to skills@qldwater.com.au, we will coordinate with the RSL team.
We now have four member organisations who have posted roles on the board and we would encourage all members to reach out to us with roles that are advertised elsewhere. Just copy and paste the URL of the advert and qldwater and the RSL will do the rest.
As we can see here, there is a dedicated team who are solely motivated to place clients in the right roles, relative to skill sets and experience. You may find that candidate you’ve been looking for in a cohort you’ve not accessed before, many of whom may be highly skilled and/or experienced.
Please email the URLs of your adverts to skills@qldwater.com.au
You can encourage your recruitment teams to forward adverts through at any time when positions go live elsewhere in the future. These can be at any level in your organisation, to even the most senior roles aligned with the water/wastewater or network teams.
3. EOI – WSAA Transforming Water Industry IoT and OT Cyber Security Skills Courses
Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) have recently received funding approval and have developed courses on the Internet of Things (IOT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems.
There are three target streams for the courses themselves:
- A senior management-oriented cybersecurity course (available from September 2023): aimed at executives and board members, so they are aware of the cybersecurity risks posed by emerging smart technologies and how organisations can be protected from a governance and risk perspective. This would be an online, facilitator led course in small group format of 2 hours duration. Cost = $400 per participant.
- A general awareness course (available from October 2023): particularly aimed at educating field operators and remote workers on cybersecurity best practice. The focus is on protection of handheld and wearable devices, and systems connected through SCADA, OT and IoT devices. A 6-hr course with the majority of teaching through an online facilitator, in blocks of 1.5-2 hours. Cost = $800 per participant.
- A technical course (up-skill – available from early 2024): aimed at specialist IT and OT/SCADA staff who need to develop their knowledge of SCADA, IoT and OT cybersecurity. Focusing in on the risk and how it is managed from awareness, implementation and ongoing prevention aspects including procurement, installation and maintenance. The course would provide more general education on general cybersecurity best practice to better protect data and the organisations’ IT infrastructure. This would be an in depth online mixed content (some teacher lead and some self-led) course of approximately 5 days duration. Cost = $2,300 per participant.
Note that a training competence certificate is available for each course. There are also some scholarship places available, with one place likely for each organisation that takes part. The scholarships are available to women, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
There may well be some flexibility in the dates depending on demand levels. In the first instance, please direct EOIs through to either greg.ryan@wsaa.asn.au or arohi.maihar@wsaa.asn.au who are both coordinating initial enquiries.
4. EOI - Water Quality Fundamentals Training
TPS Precision Measurement have a long history (founded 1968) of manufacture of water quality testing equipment, all made here in Australia. They are also the preferred partner of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee.
TPS have been listening to the market and early soundings are that there could be a need for brand agnostic training which would equip operators and technicians with the expertise to maximise the potential of water quality equipment.
They’ve devised a one-day course which they are looking to trial (depending on interest and/or feedback), with the first workshop planned on 22 September. This initial training experience would be based out of their Brendale facility providing knowledge and training on:
- The top five water parameters (pH, ORP, EC, DO and NTU)
- Good measurement practise
- Sensor technology
- Accuracy and verification
- Equipment care
- Calibration
- Troubleshooting techniques
- Best practice sensor storage
The cost of the course will be $1,000 per person and include access to all equipment, a competency-based assessment including certificate and food and refreshments on the day.
If demand is sufficient, then there is possibility to take the training out on the road, depending on interest levels.
Please direct initial EOIs, enquiries or feedback to skills@qldwater.com.au so that we can coordinate the interest and aggregate demand.
5. Workforce Planning Course | Taking EOIs for 2024
Throughout 2023 the University of the Sunshine Coast has been running a series of FREE courses designed to help Queensland business owners and managers fully understand their workforce, by developing an agile, flexible workforce plan to respond to changes in the business environment.
The bad news is that the popular series has now ended – the great news is that they’re back in 2024!
The Workforce Planning Course is proudly supported by the Queensland Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training (DYJESBT), in partnership with Jobs Queensland.
Employing principles of workforce planning and by examining the operational, tactical and strategic focus, the plan will complement and integrate into an organisation’s overall business planning.
The course is open to business owners and managers located in Queensland and is also a great way to experience what it is like to study at university and open up a pathway into a higher-level qualification. Upon completion of all modules and submission of assessment items, you will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion and a credit for one elective course in UniSC's Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
The content is delivered as workshops within this short course. The weekly schedule includes the development of a customised workforce plan and helps businesses to respond to workforce needs, challenges and changes. Topics covered will include stakeholder planning and analysis, creating a workforce profile and identifying workforce supply and demand dynamics.
Participants are welcome to attend in person at UniSC locations or via Zoom. If you’d like to take part, please express your interest here.
Based on previous experience, places will fill up fast so please be quick!
6. qldwater Annual Forum 2023 Toowoomba – Review
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to the team at Toowoomba Regional Council, who did such a great job in hosting us this year for the annual forum in our 20th Anniversary Year.
The site visits were greatly appreciated by all participants, everyone found something valuable in the tours.
To all our participants, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, stakeholders and audience, thank you for making the event the success that it was – we look forward to seeing you next year!
7. New jobs committees to help meet local workforce and skills needs
Three new Regional Jobs Committees – Sunshine Coast, Central Queensland and Mount Isa – will bring together business, government, and the community to meet local workforce and skills needs.
The committees will increase the current robust network of nine Regional Jobs Committees to a total of 12 across the state – supported by $3.4 million in Queensland Government funding since 2019.
The Regional Jobs Committee program is identifying challenges and opportunities for skills development, workforce participation and business growth in the regions, while delivering the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 (QWS).
The Sunshine Coast, Central Queensland and Mount Isa, from January 2024, will be part of a revised Regional Jobs Committee (RJC) program that will also extend the current nine RJCs to 12 until June 2025. The RJC program was launched in 2019 – growing from an initial six locations to the nine locations currently operating in:
- Cairns (delivered by Cairns Chamber of Commerce)
- Townsville (delivered by Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland)
- Mackay (delivered by Greater Whitsunday Alliance)
- Fraser Coast (delivered by Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett)
- Bundaberg (delivered by Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett)
- Redlands (delivered by Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce)
- Gold Coast (delivered by Regional Development Australia Gold Coast)
- Springfield (delivered by Regional Development Australia Ipswich and West Moreton), and;
- Toowoomba (delivered by Regional Development Australia Darling Downs South West)
Regional Jobs Committees bring together local stakeholders including employers, industry groups, training providers, unions, schools and councils to develop and implement collaborative place-based solutions to workforce challenges and opportunities within their regions.
From January 2024, under new Service Agreement provisions, funded RJCs will receive up to $200,000 per year in Queensland Government funding. A revised RJC operating framework is currently in-development and will be finalised this year.
Further consultation with local councils, economic development organisations and regional stakeholders will continue to occur in relation to the three new Regional Jobs Committee locations.
For more information on Regional Jobs Committees, please see here.
8. Activated Sludge and Biological Nutrient Reduction Intense one week course – COURSE FULL (update and waiting list only)
The North Queensland (NQ) Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program (QWRAP) team were successful in obtaining QWRAP funding to assist with establishing a pilot training hub in the NQ region to deliver an Activated Sludge and Biological Nutrient Reduction Course.
This intensive one-week course will be delivered by Griffith University in partnership with James Cook University in Townsville.
The course is currently full and is capped at 25 participants. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please contact Jessica Arthy, Programs Development Officer at Townsville City Council.
Upcoming Events
- 15 September - NSW Water Directorate Annual Forum, Sydney
- 18 October - Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance (WBBUWA) Operator Forum, Mundubbera
- 9-10 November - AWA QWater, Brisbane
- 24 November - Whitsunday Isaac Mackay Water Alliance (WIMWA) Operator Forum, Mackay
Kind Regards,
qldwater
qldwater is a business unit of IPWEAQ
Back to list