Skills eFlash #128

Date: 11-Jul-2024

Date: 11 July 2024

In this edition: | EOI re opens for last SCADA micro credential places | qldwater Annual Forum 2024 | qldwater Queensland Water Workforce Skills Survey | and much more!

1. Micro-Credentials EOI extension - SCADA

There are a handful of spots left for the micro credential course on SCADA, delivered by Murray Thompson on 4 and 5 September 2024.

The course is introductory and will provide a fulsome grounding in the subject, as well as a qldwater digital badge on successful completion.

The initial delivery is a 2-day course, hosted at the qldwater offices in Eagle Farm, with refreshments provided on the day.

We hosted a webinar during Micro Credential May, where Murray spoke to the course and gave an outline of what learners could expect. For those that missed the webinar the recording can be accessed here.

Here is the EOI form – numbers are strictly limited for the course and we are close to capacity so please do not hesitate to register if you have an interest.

The Micro-Credentialing Program is part of the Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 and is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

2. qldwater Annual Forum 2024

Registrations are now open for the qldwater Annual Forum which will take place on Thursday 22 & Friday 23 August 2024 in Brisbane.

The theme of this year’s forum is “Managing the (Infrastructure) Risk Curve,” where Water Service Providers, industry professionals, and regulatory agencies will come together to address strategic challenges in the water sector as well as discuss the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the water sector.

You can find more information and registration on our website.

3. Release of the qldwater Queensland Water Workforce Skills Survey

In addition to the regular snapshot reports, qldwater engaged Balmoral Group Australia in 2024 to deliver a Queensland Water Workforce Skills Survey Report to ground truth the available information and data about skills and workforce in Queensland.

The report was funded through QWRAP and aims to assist QWRAP partners and qldwater in its role as Industry Skills Advisor to inform BuildSkills Australia on water industry workforce dynamics, skills and training needs and challenges in attraction and retention.

Download the Report here.

An early reminder that the qldwater team will be in touch towards the end of the year with a request for data for the next Industry Workforce Composition Snapshot Report.

This important piece of work informs Governments on the composition of our sector, highlighting the challenges faced and the positive movements the industry is experiencing.

It is central to the advocacy work that qldwater does and has now also become the blueprint for a similar survey being undertaken for the first time in NSW.

4. Inside Water Magazine upcoming water events

Join Civil Survey Solutions in July for a series of webinars and virtual user forums designed for water engineers and modellers across Australia. Gain insights, practical knowledge, and hands-on experience while connecting with professionals from both government and the private sector to drive innovation in water infrastructure management.

On 23 July they are hosting a webinar on Drainage Design with Autodesk InfoDrainage and Civil 3D Integration.

There are also some upcoming user forums as an opportunity to have open discussions with modellers and experts in your industry from across Australia.

Mediated by Civil Survey Solutions and Urban Water Solutions, you can network with peers, discuss projects, share insights, and learn some new tips and tricks.

These take place on 24 and 25 July covering “Water Distribution Network Modelling” and “Sewer & Stormwater – From Design to Management”.

More information and register here.

5. DESBT Queensland Skills Strategy Released

To keep Queensland's economy powering and good jobs in reach of Queenslanders, The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) has developed Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028.

It will provide pathways into good jobs for Queenslanders while delivering priority skills in traditional and emerging industries so our communities, industries and economy can thrive.

It is also Queensland's roadmap to deliver on the National Skills Agreement, tackling national priorities like critical skills growth, delivering TAFE Centres of Excellence, improving course completions and greater access to foundation skills.

The strategy is an action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

You can access the full report or the summary via these links.

6. DEWR Hiring Outside the Box Webinar Series

The Department of Employment and Workforce Relations (DEWR) is running a series of webinars in their Hiring Outside the Box series.

You'll learn about alternative recruitment practices to develop your workforce. Hear from industry experts and employers about practical strategies they’ve used, including the benefits of tapping into new pools of talent, and hiring a diverse and inclusive team.

All webinars (both those upcoming and previous recordings) can be accessed at the DEWR website.

7. The Many Faces of Completion & Non-Completion in VET

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) recently published an interesting report into the reasons behind completion and non-completion in VET.

The analysis also showed that students mix and match various elements of training by enrolling in and completing subjects, either alone or in addition to program enrolments, and that compliance or regulatory-related subject enrolments impact training outcomes in complex ways.

The report paints the full picture and makes for interesting reading.

8. Ongoing Invitation - BuildSkills Australia – Make a Case for Change

A reminder that the new Jobs and Skills Council, BuildSkills Australia, is looking for sector feedback on the issues that they need to look at around training packages and workforce planning.

George Wall, National Manager Water Sector Industry Engagement made a call to the sector to engage with the BuildSkills Australia Make a Case for Change system, which lodges sector issues and allows BSA to assess issues that require positive action.

We would encourage members to engage andsubmit issues via this link.

This enters the issues into the BSA system, allowing investigation, follow up and feedback. It is important that members lodge issues, whatever they may be, so that BSA can examine them.

Be as specific as you can with the changes you’d like to see – this provides intelligence to BSA on issues troubling the sector.

9. RSL Partnership – Skilled Candidates Available

As members will hopefully remember from previous Skills E-Flashes, 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.

We have received a list of skilled candidates looking for employment across all regions.

Our members can also place adverts on the RSL Employment Boards without charge and the dedicated RSL will seek to align the roles with their skilled cohorts. In the first instance if interested members can please reach out to skills@qldwater.com.au, we will coordinate with the RSL team.

Just copy and paste the URL of the advert and qldwater and the RSL will do the rest.

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.

10. International WaterCentre Water Leadership Program

Applications are now open for the next round of the International WaterCentre’s Water Leadership Program (WLP).

If you are interested in leading teams and people more effectively, or playing a more influential and effective role in driving forward the implementation of more sustainable forms of water management then the WLP will provide you with evidence-based tools, knowledge and skills to be able to do so.

There are 5 available scholarships for the WLP this year. For more information and to apply for the program or scholarship, visit https://watercentre.org/training/water-leadership-program/.

The program operates on a first come first served basis with a total of 32 places available for the next round – 16 for male and 16 for female applicants.

qldwater interviewed three program alumni who have harnessed the power of the WLP to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact in their communities – read about their experiences in our latest newsletter.