Newsletter Number 765 - January 2010

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HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of our readers from HUMAN SERVICES TRAINING ADVISORY COUNCIL and STAFF

Working Communities International Congress 24-26 March 2010

Registration is now open for the Working Communities International Congress, and delegates can recieve Early Bird rates when registering before 3 March. Further discounts are available for NESA members and presenters who have been accepted as part of the call for case studies, innovative models and research papers. If you are not already a NESA member, you can still receive the member rate for the congress if you apply and pay for NESA membership prior to registering for the congress.

The latest keynote speaker to be announced for the congress is Cecilia V. Estolano. Cecilia was CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency in Los Angeles, California up until December 2009, when she joined Green For All, a National USA organisation advocating for broad community access and opportunity in the new clean-energy economy. To read more about Cecilia's background, and for more information on other keynote speakers, click on the following link: Read More>>

To learn more about the congress, visit the home page by clicking on the following link: Read More>>

If you would like to register for the congress, click on the following link: Registration>>

If you would like to speak to somebody about the congress, you can contact NESA on 03) 9686 3500, alternatively, you can send an email by clicking on the following link: Email>>

SevenScope - the new online workforce analysis tool

Give your business or organisation a check-up

Do you want to ensure a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future?

Now you can check the health of your workforce using a simple online tool - SevenScope.

SevenScope is an initiative of the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council. It's an innovative online analysis tool that allows you to review seven key areas of your business, including your funding model, employment structures, training requirements, customer/client needs, professional alliances, and employer ownership profiles. This comprehensive analysis tool is based on cutting edge international research and will allow you to check the skills growth progress and sustainability of your organisation.

For further information, click on the following link: Read More>>

COAG Breakthoughs

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 28th meeting in Brisbane on December 7, 2009. Two landmark agreements were reached:

Children's Services: COAG signed a landmark agreement to drive higher quality early childhood education and care. Long-term social benefits are derived when children are given the best possible early opportunities for development. The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC) is working with stakeholders and policy makers in the Children's Services sector to ensure that the current Community Services (CHC08) and Health (HLT07) Training Packages continue to enable workforce development within the sector. The Skills Council will release a mapping between the new Early Years Learning Framework and the CHC08 Children's Services qualifications this year.

Vocational Education & Training (VET) regulation: COAG also agreed to the establishment of a national VET regulator to drive better quality standards and regulation and to strengthen Australian's international education sector. To find out more, click on the following link: Read More>>

National Green Skills Agreement: A commitment was reached by the commonwealth, state and territory governments to embed green skills into the VET system, within the requirements of the national regulatory framework. This will involve upskilling VET instructors and teachers, a review of training packages by the Industry Skills Councils to embed green skills, knowledge and principles into training packages, and the implementation of a transition strategy to teach new skills to vulnerable workers. Read More>>

2009 Australian Training Awards Winners

Several Community Services students were winners at the 2009 Australian Training Awards, held in Canberra on 19 November. To see the winners, click on the following link: Read More>>

EASA January Workshops

Friday 22 January: 8.30am-12.00pm

Personal & Professional Stress Management

Excessive stress is on the increase and learning to manage stress can mean the difference between success and failure. This workshop looks at the nature and causes of stress, both at home and in the workplace. Participants will be empowered to recognise signs and symptoms of stress in themselves and others and to become more aware of a range of relaxation techniques. Read More>>

Thursday 28 January: 8.30pm-4.00pm

Conflict Resolution

'Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the successful resolution of it'

Knowing how to deal with conflict in a proactive way and being empowered with effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes. This workshop is designed for all levels within an organisation, and will identify the causes of conflict and provide strategies to effectively deal with them. Read More>>

To book a place in either workshop, please visit EASA's website by clicking on the following link: Register>>

Project Management for Community Services

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC) is offering The Great Escape Project Management workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during late February, and Avoiding Project Disaster - Lessons from the Titanic workshops during early March in the same cities. Noted international speaker Mark Kozak-Holland will present these workshops using his unique approach - utilising lessons from projects in history. Mark has also written two books, of the same names as the workshops, and discounts of up to 69% are available for workshop attendees. For further information about the workshops, click on the following links: The Great Escape>> or Avoiding Project Disaster>>

To register for workshops, click on one of the following links:

The Great Escape - Registration>>

Titanic Workshop - Registration>>

Environmental Scan 2010 Consultation - HURRY - Have your say before January 27!

Following on from the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council's (CSHISC) second Environmental Scan in 2008, the 2010 Environmental Scan is currently under development and the CSHISC is inviting its stakeholders in the community services and health sectors to contribute their valuable knowledge to drive national policy for workforce development and to inform the CSHISC work plan. The consultation survey is currently open and will remain open until 27 January 2010.

To learn more about the Environmental Scanning process, or to participate in the survey, visit the CSHISC website by clicking on the following link: Environmental Scan 2010>>

CAAPS need a Training Manager!!

CAAPS is currently seeking a Training Manager with the skills and experience to manage an established RTO. CAAPS works with Aboriginal and Islander people from across Darwin and remote parts of the Top End. Their work encompasses many areas of substance misuse, including awareness, information, prevention, treatment, and training. For futher details, please click on the following link: Read More>>. If you would like to speak to somebody about the vacancy, you can call CAAPS on 08) 8922 4800. To get a copy of the duty statement and selection criteria, you can email CAAPS Human Resources Manager Kay Gehan by clicking on the following link: Kay Gehan>> or you can email CAAPS CEO Matthew Bonson at the following link: Matthew Bonson>>.

The Hum @ HSTAC

Welcome to 2010

HSTAC Council and Staff hope that all of our readers enjoyed a wonderful festive season and a great start to the New Year.

AGM - Call for Nominations

HSTAC will hold its Annual General Meeting on Friday 19 March at the Darwin City Council Civic Centre. New Council members are voted in at the AGM, and HSTAC is now calling for Council nominations. If you are currently working in the Community Services, Health, Local Government, or Correctional Services sectors and you are interested in joining the Council, which meets 4 times per year, please contact HSTAC's Executive Officer Barbara Pitman on 08) 8981 2550. Alternatively, you can email Barbara by clicking on the following link: Email>>