Commonwealth Scholarships Program skilling young Australians for the future 

The Australian Government’s Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians has offered over 50 scholarships to young people undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in regional areas with high youth unemployment. These scholarships support students through their VET training by providing study assistance up to $10,000, as well as $3,000 for a work placement or a 20-day internship.

The scholarships are for VET students training for qualifications that will lead to occupations in identified areas of growth and skills need.  In Round 1 of the program, two of the top three occupations that the study will lead to are child care workers and aged or disabled carers. In the face of the current threat of the COVID-19 virus, we are seeing firsthand how important it is to have people skilled in these areas and how they can make all the difference.

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Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships – Applications for 2020 now open 

The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships were first launched in 2014 to assist apprentices who have experienced hardship in their life to successfully complete their apprenticeship. The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships assist apprentices in NSW who have demonstrated:

• hardship in their personal circumstances
• aptitude for vocational education and training to lead to successful completion of their trade training
• a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in off-the-job training

Scholarships are open to NSW registered apprentices in both metropolitan and country areas, including school based apprentices.

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New website to assist jobseekers in disability services 

Western Australian Disability Services Minister, Stephen Dawson recently launched a new website that will support WA’s disability sector to continue providing high quality and safe services, and minimise disruption for people with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jobs in WA Disability Services website has been established by National Disability Services WA (NDS), with funding from the WA Department of Communities, to enable jobseekers and employers across the State to access employment opportunities in the disability sector. Jobseekers with experience working in customer facing roles, including in the disability, community or health sectors can use the new website to register their interest in working in the disability sector and make themselves known to employers needing additional staff during the pandemic.

View here.

Reconciliation Action Plan 

ESA is proud to join more than 1000 organisations across Australia in developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The ESA RAP was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia earlier this month.

Reconciliation involves building stronger relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. Our RAP is our commitment to be active in this space.

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Initial and continuing VET in Australia: clarifying definitions and applications

This report examines whether a distinction can be made in Australian VET between initial vocational education and training (IVET) and continuing vocational education and training (CVET), as applies in a number of other countries. Assisting students to more effectively identify and undertake courses that will optimise their outcomes from VET is the major rationale for this investigation.

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Theme: Workforce ready: challenges and opportunities for VET.
The 29th National Vet Research Conference ‘No Frills’ will be held online for the first time ever, with a combination of pre-recorded content, key note speakers, workshops and presentations on the future of VET.

For more information, click here.

The Australian Training Awards recognise and celebrate excellence, promoting the benefits of vocational education and training.
The Australian Training Awards have extended the nomination period for its Direct Entry categories to Tuesday, 30 June 2020.

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