DISU Projects and Activities
1.0 Short term strategy "Monitor the Skilled Occupation List and the Migration Occupations in Demand List to ensure that skilled migrants relevant to the Defence Industries are treated in an equitable way to those in other sectors of the Australian economy”
DISU has established links with the Western Australian Government’s Skilled Migration Program administered by Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) and will interact with this agency by:
- DISU will receive regular updates of the skilled migration list ;
- Receive advance notice of overseas recruitment drives.
- Meeting with SBDC on a periodical basis to exchange information, issues and imperatives to assist either agency in its task.
2.0 Medium Term strategy
This area of strategy focuses on Defence Industry workforce upskilling by:
- Ensuring compatibility between industry requirements and education and training offerings
- Connecting industry with relevant upskilling options
- Customise accreditted courses for Defence industry where relevant
- Brokering customised fee-for-service training solutions
- Assisting multiple applicants to mount proposals for training funding from sources such as Skilling Australia ’s Defence Industry (SADI) program
- increasing the uptake of Apprentices through promotionof the Group Training Scheme (GTS)
The Board is aware that the Air Warfare Destroyer build project, managed by ASC in Adelaide , may result in significant module building contracts in Western Australia . They will be monitoring this situation and be ready to coordinate workforce upskilling in a timely way.
3.0 Long Term Strategy
Two projects are underway that seek to increase the flow of skilled people from the education sector to industry; click here for more info:
Project 1 Promoting Engineering, Education, Training and Articulation
Project 2 Ingenious
4.0 Increasing the uptake of apprentices
A 2006 survey showed that there is a negative mismatch between defence industry companies’ intention to increase employee numbers over 3 years and their intentions to take up apprentices.
DISU is seeking opportunities to promote the increased uptake of apprentices including the use of group training schemes, whereby no one company need commit to an apprentice for their full term of training.
A letter encouraging a positive response to this message was sent by Chair Paul Papalia, MLA to around 2000 firms in mid-2007.
Work Experience Programs
Work experience for school and university students is not only vital to their development but provides employers with the opportunity to trial prospective employees. In times of skills shortage and low unemployment, it offers a significant recruitment advantage
For further information contact:
Dr. Jane Lorrimar
Manager Defence Industry Pathways Project
Challenger TAFE
08 9329 8172
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Events to promote engineering education and training issues
DISU is working with Engineers Australia to highlight issues associated with the supply of engineers to industry and expects to hold events in 2008 co-badged with that association.
For further information contact:
Chris Fitzhardinge
Director
South West Group
9364 0631
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Cooperation with other States
DISU collaborates with other States to acquire solutions to WA Defence industry’s skilling needs, rather than “re-invent the wheel”.
This is currently occurring on two fronts:
South Australia
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists between the Premiers of Western Australia and South Australia to cooperate in matters concerning winning Defence projects for their industries. The MOU includes agreement to cooperate in matters of education and training.
In pursuance of this agreement DISU’s Chair and Manager conducted an itinerary in August 2007 to ensure they are fully appraised of strategies being employed in South Australia . The visit has enhanced the spirit of information exchange and cross-fertilisation.
In particular, DISU became aware of SA developed courses that could be run in WA and the potential to cooperate on training funding applications.
Queensland
DISU is studying for comparative purposes an industry training model in this State involving a Government funded training centre which is associated with specialist Government funded high schools known. The arrangement has unique aspects that will be analysed and considered.
For further information contact:
Terry Booth
Manager DISU
94948904, 0419 867893
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4.5 Group Training
Group training companies exist to make apprentices available to companies for a part of their training term, an option that suits many WA small to medium enterprises. DISU is seeking to promote the use of group trainers as a means of increasing the uptake of apprentices in areas of industry relevant to Defence contracts.
To this end DISU has on its Board the Chairman of Group Training WA, who can be contacted as follows:
Robert Shaw
Group Training WA
915 2395, 0404 823 639
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