Scott Cam will inspire the next generation of tradespeople in his new role as Australia’s first National Careers Ambassador, helping young Australians take advantage of surging demand for skilled workers.
Mr Cam will highlight how practical and technical training can lead to high paying and fulfilling jobs, while also working with the National Careers Institute, alongside government, industry, education providers, career advisors, parents and employers to improve career options.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as our economy changes we need people to have a mix of skills and experience and this includes having more Australians with technical, trade and practical skills.
“For many years going to university has been the default expectation imposed on our young Australians, but it’s not the only path to rewarding and successful employment.”
“It’s time we broadened our view and recognised the many other successful avenues available to young Australians and talked about the opportunities in fast growing industries like health and construction through technical and skills education.
“I want to see more Australians become plumbers, electricians and bakers than lawyers and consultants. I would like to see more of them going on to become their own boss.
“Scott Cam is proof that undertaking a trade can be a very valuable, rewarding and successful career choice, and there are plenty more who can tell a similar story to Scott.
“In my own electorate in southern Sydney, there are numerous stories of Australians who have been able to look after themselves, their families and make a real contribution, often starting their own businesses and creating jobs and livelihoods for others.
“By learning a trade you’ll earn more, your skills will be in demand and you’ll help build our country and keep our economy strong.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash, said vocational education and training was key to building our future workforce.
“The Morrison Government is committed to creating more than 1.25 million jobs over the next five years and alongside that goal we are rolling out a $100 billion infrastructure investment.
“To take advantage of this, we will need to make sure people and businesses have access to the right skills at the right time, and understand how their skills relate to current and emerging career pathways,” Minister Cash said.
“As National Careers Ambassador, Scott will help Australians at all ages and stages to make informed decisions about learning, training and work pathways. Working with the National Careers Institute, Scott will make sure individuals and businesses can take advantage of the pathways on offer.”
The Morrison Government is currently undertaking a major modernisation of the vocational education and training sector.
The Government’s first instalment of our modernisation plan, a $585 million skills package, is now rolling out.
This package includes increased incentives for up to 80,000 new apprentices and expanded apprentice wage subsidy trials in rural and regional areas and 10 new Industry Training Hubs in areas of high youth unemployment to better connect schools with local employers, industries and training providers.
The National Careers Institute is holding co-design workshops around the country from 4 October 2019.
For more information on the National Careers Institute and to engage in the careers conversation go to www.nci.employment.gov.au
Month: October 2019
Newcastle’s unique attractions immortalised in custom Monopoly board
The world’s most famous board game now has embraced a unique Novocastrian theme.
A special edition Newcastle Monopoly was launched today by Winning Moves, City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Mr Monopoly at Newcastle Museum. Also in attendance were members of the community keen to be the first to get their hands on the new local version of the classic board game.
“Newcastle is an iconic city so it’s only fitting we have our very own Monopoly board game to celebrate our spectacular built and natural attractions,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re certainly spoilt for choice for board game worthy locations to feature, from our renowned beaches to locations like Newcastle Museum, Blackbutt Reserve, and Fort Scratchley, which are all up for grabs for players.
“I’m thrilled our city now has its very own version of Monopoly and know it will be embraced by Novocastrians young and old. It’s wonderful to think people will create memories playing the game based on our very own city.
“It’s the perfect family friendly gift for Christmas or for those looking for something truly unique. It’s also sure to prove popular with visitors to the city,” Cr Nelmes said.
The fast dealing property trading game features special twists like Newcastle locations and themed board design.
“This edition is everything you love about the traditional board, adapted in a way that Novocastrians will enjoy for generations to come,” Winning Moves’ Dale Hackett said.
Monopoly first hit the shelves in 1935 and since then has secured its spot in pop culture and people’s homes as a best-loved game.
Newcastle Monopoly is available at the Newcastle Visitor Information Centre and in selected stores from today.
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS
More than 550 former rough sleepers have been housed in safe and stable accommodation across the state thanks to the NSW Government’s expansion assertive outreach services.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said World Homeless Day is an opportunity to highlight the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s nation-leading work in line with its ambitious homelessness targets.
“Our Government is not only putting a roof over the heads of vulnerable people, but helping them on a pathway to independence,” Mr Ward said.
“The Premier’s Priority, aligned with the global Vanguard Agreement, aims to halve street sleeping across NSW by 2025.
“We have taken some significant steps towards achieving that target, but we know there is much more to do and we’re committed to building on the strong foundations we have set.”
New outreach services in Tweed Heads and Newcastle are underway in collaboration with the non-government sector, building on the success of the program in Sydney.
“More than 90 per cent of people that we have housed in Sydney have sustained their tenancies and are turning their lives around,” Mr Ward said.
“By providing housing and wrap around support services for people at risk of homelessness, we are helping them break the cycle.”
Trial street counts have recently been conducted in regional areas ahead of the first comprehensive, coordinated statewide count planned for early next year.
The NSW Government is investing $1 billion to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, Aboriginal people, young people and rough sleepers.
NSW SMASHES VISITATION RECORDS AT HOME AND ABROAD
Visitation to NSW is at a record high with international and domestic tourists streaming to Sydney and the regions, latest data shows.
Latest Tourism Research Australia figures released today show NSW remains Australia’s number one destination for visitors from home and abroad, with steady increases in the number of visitors, visitor nights and visitor related expenditure generated for the State.
In the year ending June 2019, NSW received 37.2 million domestic overnight visitors and 4.4 million international visitors – the highest volume ever from both markets.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government, through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, was making solid progress on the 2030 visitor economy target.
“These latest surveys show unprecedented growth for NSW, with domestic overnight visitors spending $22.6 billion in the state – an increase of 13 per cent year on year,” Minister Ayres said.
“International visitors also contribute significantly to the NSW economy with $11.3 billion generated through overseas traveler spend, which is up eight per cent.
“There have been significant gains in the high-yield markets of the United States and Japan which is the result of fantastic airline partnerships and trade initiatives in these countries. NSW welcomed 522,000 US visitors in the year ending June 2019 who generated $853 million in tourism spend (up 18 per cent) and 205,000 Japanese visitors who generated $402 million for the State.”
Japan has now surpassed Korea in the State’s top five source markets, joining China, US, New Zealand and United Kingdom.
On the home front, New South Wales leads Victoria and Queensland in attracting domestic overnight visitors, visitor nights and tourism related expenditure.
“In the latest survey NSW has reached its highest ever lead over Victoria and Queensland in terms of domestic overnight expenditure, proving that Australians love the Harbour City and the many unique experiences and landscapes of regional NSW,” Minister Ayres said.
NSW achieved its highest growth in domestic visitor nights on record, with 37.2 million visitors staying 116.1 million nights – 11 per cent more than the previous year.
Regional NSW specifically welcomed almost 27 million international and domestic overnight visitors.
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO KEEP STREETS SAFE
Fraud fighting measures, graffiti-busting art projects and twilight sports to help young people kick life goals are just some of the initiatives funded from the latest round of the NSW Government’s $10 million crime prevention grants program.
Attorney General Mark Speakman and Police Minister David Elliott today announced six new projects worth almost $300,000 designed to drive down crime.
“The Government’s crime prevention grants inspire local councils in NSW to think outside the box and deliver innovative ideas to tackle problems like graffiti, theft and assaults,” Mr Speakman said.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in and around their home and this program is all about empowering local communities to help tackle the issues they face.”
Mr Elliott said a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t always the best way to go and this approach draws on local, grassroots knowledge to build tailored projects.
“From Camden to Canterbury, we’re supporting practical projects to safeguard communities, including security bollards for crowd safety and better lighting to make people safer when they’re out and about at night,” Mr Elliott said.
“Police Area Commands also play a vital role, working closely with councils and residents to support these programs so locals feel more secure on their streets.”
The six local communities that have received grants are:
- $50,000 Northern Beaches Council – cut youth crime such as graffiti
- $32,000 Strathfield Council – improve street lighting at petty crime hot spots
- $48,000 Camden Council – install security bollards to protect public places
- $50,000 Fairfield City Council – teach older people and migrants about fraud
- $50,000 Canterbury-Bankstown Council – twilight youth sports program
- $50,000 City of Parramatta – improved street lighting in the CBD
More information about the grant program is available here.
NEW NETWORK TO DELIVER MORE JOBS, LESS WASTE
More jobs and less waste will be the key outcomes of a new Circular Economy Innovation Network launched today by the NSW Government.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Network, known as NSW Circular, will help boost manufacturing jobs in regional NSW as the State moves away from the traditional ‘take, make and dispose’ model.
“With China no longer accepting our recycled waste, our manufacturing industry must evolve. This is our chance to bring more jobs back to our own backyard, particularly in the Special Activation Precincts in regional NSW,” Mr Stokes said.
“This isn’t just the right thing to do for the environment; it makes good economic sense – there are significant jobs and growth opportunities for existing and new businesses across NSW.
“Three pilot projects are already underway through the Network that aim to create new supply chains, turn trash into valuable products and materials for manufacturing and divert waste from landfill.”
The Network, funded through the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, brings together industry, government, local councils, researchers and the community, and will be led by Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) at UNSW Australia.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said NSW Circular will complement other important initiatives already in development, including the Government’s 20-Year Waste Strategy and Plastics Plan.
“There is a lot of activity in this space, but to date it has lacked a degree of coordination and connectivity,” Mr Kean said.
“This new network will help us develop the programs we need to increase recycling and create a circular economy.”
IMPROVING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY IN NSW
People with disability who come into contact with the justice system will be better supported back into the community under a landmark agreement struck at the COAG Disability Reform Council today.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the decision to introduce Justice Liaison Officers (JLOs) will contribute to achieving the Premier’s priority of reducing recidivism in the prison population.
“We know that a significant number of offenders in both adult prison and juvenile detention have disabilities and don’t necessarily get the support they need when exiting the justice system,” Mr Ward said.
“As part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, JLOs will provide a coordinated approach to supporting people with disability, to help them transition to a life free of crime.”
An interstate working group will produce an implementation plan for the roll out and report to the Council in December. At today’s meeting the Council also agreed to:
- Improve the Information, Linkage and Capability Building (ILC) component of the NDIS to better target all people with disability, their families and carers
- Develop an approach to improve the access and experience for participants with psychosocial disability in the NDIS
- Continue work to provide greater transparency and accountability around how the NSW Government’s contribution to the NDIS is spent
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will continue to lead national reform when it comes to the disability sector,” Mr Ward said.
“As a partner with the Commonwealth, we are committed to helping improve the NDIS so it delivered great outcomes for people across our state.”
The NSW Government contributed $3.3 billion to the NDIS in the 2019-20 NSW Budget.
More than 100,000 people are benefitting from the scheme across the state. Close to 40,000 of them are receiving services for the first time.
Dozens of stolen items located – Lake Macquarie
Police have located and seized dozens of items believed to be stolen from the Lake Macquarie region.
On Wednesday 25 September 2019, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at Arlington Street, Belmont in relation to several alleged copper thefts in the area.
During the search, police located and seized more than 50 items alleged to have been stolen.
The property seized includes a field line marker, floor polisher, floor sander, concrete cutter, high pressure cleaner and ceiling projector.
It’s estimated the value of the stolen goods is approximately $50,000.
Police are now looking to locate the owners of the stolen property.
Anyone with information can contact Belmont Police Station on (02) 4922 8899 or call Crime Stoppers.
Missing woman – Cooranbong
Police are appealing for assistance to help locate a woman missing from the Lake Macquarie region.
Skye Conway, aged 37, was last seen leaving a property in Cooranbong about 11.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 9 October 2019).
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced an investigation.
Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to medical reasons.
She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, with a thin build, blonde hair and brown eyes.
She was last seen wearing a black singlet, grey track pants and polka dot socks.
Skye is also known to have connections in the Cronulla area in Sydney’s south.
Anyone who has seen Skye or knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact police.
Public-funded private dams prove corporate corruption killing Murray-Darling
Research released today by The Australia Institute showing taxpayers are funding private dams for big business, further proves corporate corruption is killing the Murray Darling Basin and inflicting further suffering on farming communities, the Greens say.
“Corporate irrigators are ripping off the River, ripping off their neighbours and ripping off the taxpayer,” Greens Spokesperson for Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“It’s outrageous private dams that stop water flowing to downstream users and the environment, are being built with public money for the exclusive use of big business, and yet no public information on these dams exists.
“There should an urgent audit of water licences and storages, both public and private. We also need a Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin to get to the bottom of this mismanagement.
“Dams are not the answer and they are definitely not a drought policy. If the Federal Government really wants to help farmers and ensure the sustainability of our food bowl, they’ll start by getting a climate policy and cleaning up the mess they’ve made in the MDB.”