The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has subsequently provided a further statement on the use of the contextualisation advice. The statement confirms that the contextualisation advice must be applied by an RTO that is delivering HLTINFCOV001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures as part of one of the newly endorsed skill sets.

The AISC has also confirmed that credit transfer cannot be granted between HLTINFCOV001 and HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

For further information, click here.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has approved the skill sets on infection control to upskill workers and manage risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The skills sets comprise of one unit of competency, HLTINFCOV001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures. ASQA will automatically approve 592 RTO’s which have HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures on scope, however RTO’s may choose to opt out of this approval by contacting ASQA.

Read more.

The Productivity Commission has released an interim report into the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD). This report examines how well the Federal, State and Territory governments have achieved their goals for the vocational education and training (VET) system. The Productivity Commission has urged interested parties to examine the interim report and to make written submissions by 17th July 2020. The final report is expected to be submitted to the Australian Government by November 2020.

For further information, click here.

The Australian Government has provided advice on the latest health information, and on adopting flexible and online modes of delivering education and training.

• For advice on reducing exposure to COVID-19 and reducing disruption to the VET sector, click here.
• For information offering flexible learning arrangements for international students, read here.
• For information about how to deliver online courses to students based in China, click here.

For further resources and information, please read.

AATIS has launched a School Guide to Australian Apprenticeships to help careers advisors and teachers have conversation about apprenticeships and traineeships with their students. The Schools Guide launch webinar can be viewed and accessed via the Careers Advisors page.

For further information, click here.

The new Entry into Care Roles Skill Set was jointly announced by the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash and Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP on Thursday 21 May 2020.

The new skill set will provide foundational knowledge and skills, including safe work practices and infection prevention procedures. It is designed to boost the aged care and disability support workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery phase by rapidly upskilling people to work in these sectors.

Read more.

Skills Tasmania is implementing a new policy that will allow RTOs providing funded training and assessment services to Tasmanian apprentices and trainees whose training contracts are suspended or have been cancelled as a result of COVID-19 on or after March 2020, to continue training and assessment for the duration of the suspension period or for up to 3 months following cancellation.

A copy of the policy can be viewed here.

To minimise the spread of COVID-19, we are not conducting RTO site audits while physical distancing guidelines are in place. If we determine a desktop audit is suitable, an RTO can participate in the audit remotely.

If we determine that a desktop audit is not suitable or practical for an RTO, we’ll make arrangements for an extension of the RTO’s registration for up to six months.

For further information, click here.

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).

It provides a brief overview of the key aspects of IVET and CVET internationally and commentary on the Australian context, and outlines the VET system with the features pertinent to IVET/CVET.

Read more.

The National Australian Apprenticeships Association (NAAA) has released a their Apprenticeships and the Recovery Briefing Paper, exploring the impact a recession will have on the apprenticeship sector and the many ways in which apprenticeships can help recover the situation.

The overall aim being to provide high quality school to work transitions for vocationally oriented students, support business activities through the recovery phase and in so doing ensure that Australia has the right mix of skills to underpin future growth and economic development.

Read more.

The National Apprentice and Trainee Re-engagement Register support apprentices and trainees from small businesses who have recently lost their jobs, to reconnect and explore ongoing work.

The register is available for apprentices and trainees who have lost their jobs with small business employers as well as employers from any size business who have a vacancy for an apprentice or trainee.

For further information, click here.

The Department of State Growth, through Skills Tasmania, has released a new grant program to support businesses and existing workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening date for the program was 29^th April 2020. The Train Now Fund will provide subsidised training to:

• ensure employers who have urgent training needs can access funding support
• improve the likelihood of businesses remaining sustainable
• increase the future productivity of the business to support economic recovery and growth
• increase the skill level and future employability of employees who remain with their employer, through completion of nationally recognised training.

For further information, click here.

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.

This webinar will bring together a panel of experts from the VET sector to discuss remote and online learning for VET in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar will discuss how organisations have responded to education and training delivery demands either through their pre-planned and implemented online learning, or in response to the pandemic with the development of emergency remote learning services.

Register here.

Theme: Challenges facing Vocational Education and Training
The TVET World e-Conference will be delivered completely online and broadcasted live. 24 international speakers presenting their analysis and solutions to TVET challenges.

Read more.

The Tasmanian Training Awards will open from Wednesday 3^rd June until Monday 20^th July 2020. The awards are for excellence in VET and workforce development.

Read more.

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.

Read more.

The following training packages have been updated on training.gov.au:

• CHC: Community Services
  Revised: 19^th May 2020.
• HLT: Health Services
  Revised: 12^th May 2020.
• MSF: Furnishings
  Revised: 7^th May 2020.
• ICP: Printing and Graphics Art
  Revised: 6^th May 2020.