FEDERAL BUDGET

The Federal Budget included numerous measures that will impact many electrical contractors around the country. These include:

• The temporary reduction in the fuel excise should lead to at least a 22 cent per litre decrease in petrol prices. And with petrol prices this high,
• Apprentices in high-demand industries will get up to $5000 in cash payments for the first two years of training, but wage subsidies for employers will be scaled back.
• The new home buyers scheme has been expanded with the Home Guarantee Scheme expanded to 50,000 places per year
• Changes to parental leave will encourage more fathers to take extended time off to care for children within two years of birth.

Of course, with an election due to happen before the end of May, there is no guarantee the government, and that budget will be in power after the election.

The opposition’s budget reply, although not a full-costed document, outlines much of what the opposition would propose if elected. This included:

• Increase investment in cheap, renewable energy to create 604,000 new jobs by 2030, with a focus on regional Australia.
• Increase funding for training and education including 465,000 fee-free TAFE places.
• Build Australian battery manufacturing

Eligible businesses are encouraged to put their staff (from tradespeople to office staff) through a Traineeship. Your staff are eligible for salary subsidies up to $28,000 per annum.

INSIGHTS PAPER NO. 3 – ASQA’S STRATEGIC REVIEW OF ONLINE LEARNING

Insights paper shares findings from a detailed online learning provider survey (‘the survey’), jointly administered with the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

1. Nearly two-thirds of providers who were not delivering any online learning pre-COVID-19 incorporated online delivery in some form in response to COVID-19.
2. The biggest survey respondent by organisation type were private training providers (number=951)1, who went from 6.2% fully online (including face-to-face work placement) pre-COVID-19 to 38% post-COVID-19.

“A considerable proportion of providers (62%) who shifted their online delivery posture in response to COVID-19, indicated that they were likely to utilise more blended learning (a combination of digital learning and in-class, face-to-face learning) in the future. In addition, almost a quarter (22%) of providers stated they were likely to permanently shift more units/parts of qualifications online, and a further 11% were likely to permanently shift more full qualifications online. These responses indicate COVID-19 has influenced many providers to consider permanently shifting more of their training and assessment to online delivery.”

3. Barriers to shifting online

The most common obstacles identified by providers for transitioning to online training and assessment included:

1. The online delivery method is not suitable for students
2. The subject matter is not suitable for online delivery”

Overall, the survey results showed that providers perceived those trainers and assessor adapted well to the shift online. Not all survey respondents described success, but most did, suggesting that, in general, from a provider perspective, Australian VET navigated COVID-19 in a way that minimised disruption.”

PMV now offers a blended delivery, where up to 50% of the course can be delivered online via MS Teams/ Zoom. You can do part of the course from the comfort of your home and undertake hands-on practicals at one of our training centres in Perth, Karratha, or Adelaide on industrial equipment that you are likely to see at work. Providing flexibility is part of our ongoing commitment to offering quality training to our students.

For further course information, or to book in, contact the office.