Skills Update Edition 6, August 2008

ForestWorks Skills Update - August 2008

In this issue...

• Skills Australia to participate in ForestWorks Skills and Employment forum
• ForestWorks to launch Climate Change Information Sheets at Conference
• ‘Green-Jobs’ a new fad or part of forestry’s future?
• FurniTAC/FurniTAG Forum
• PPP on the web – what does it all mean?
• Have your say - our new ‘Issues Register’!
• Skill shortages? Then post your job online for FREE!

Skills Australia to participate in ForestWorks Skills and Employment forum

ForestWorks has invited Skills Australia to attend the Skills Employment Council (SEC) forum prior to the Asia-Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference, which be held in Sydney at the Sofitel on 18 August 2008. The morning session, facilitated by Michael Hartman, CEO ForestWorks is an open meeting for the SEC and all are encouraged to attend.

The session will outline the skills development action plan with a focus on skills shortages and pathways into the industry. Skills Australia will be participating in order to report to the deputy prime minister the Hon. Julia Gillard the Minister for Education Employment and Workplace Relations.

If you are in a position to speak with authority regarding skills issues in our industry, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible by emailing mhartman@forestworks.com.au.

ForestWorks to launch Climate Change Information Sheets at Conference

ForestWorks, the Industry Skills Council for the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry, is making sure industry has the information and knowledge it needs to participate in Australia’s efforts to reduce the effect of greenhouse emissions.

ForestWorks has produced the Forest Industries Climate Change Information Sheets because it saw a clear need to provide industry with more information about climate change, its’ causes and the role sustainable forest management can play in reducing the impact of climate change.

The Information Sheets cover:
Information Sheet One: Climate Change Causes and Impacts. This sheet provides 'technical' information on greenhouse gases, where carbon comes from and goes to, how climate change affects our lives and the role forests play in the carbon cycle.

Information Sheet Two: Climate Change - forestry's influence on greenhouse gases includes a description of the natural role of forests in the carbon cycle, the forestry supply chain and the carbon cycle, the role of forests in carbon sequestration and Australian/global forest CO2 storages.

Information Sheet Three: Climate Change - forestry's opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions includes discussion on key opportunities for native forests, expansion of plantations, forest products and residues and renewable energy.

Information Sheet Four: Climate Change - how the world is responding, includes a profile of the current global agreements, challenges to achieve a new, post Kyoto agreement, what other countries are doing and how Australia is preparing to take action on climate change.

The information sheets will be launched at the Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference and will be available free for download from http://www.forestworks.com.au/ towards the end of August 2008.

‘Green-Jobs’ a new fad or part of forestry’s future?

Michael Hartman will be delivering a workshop on sustainable employment and the concept of ‘green jobs’ within the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry at the afternoon breakout sessions at the Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference on Wednesday 20 August 2008.  

The majority of Australians are starting to realise that achieving environmental sustainability – avoiding climate change, using our natural resources efficiently, managing our water supplies wisely, keeping our rivers and landscapes healthy and protecting our biodiversity – will mean substantial change.

It is being recognised that future job growth is likely to occur in ‘low environmental impact’ industries – such as forestry, rather than in high environmental impact industries. A flexible and efficient response to climate change within the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry will place a premium on currently scarce skills, for an industry that is already struggling with skill shortages and associated issues.

For more information regarding the Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference please http://www.forestworks.com.au/ or email forestworks@forestworks.com.au for a copy of the registration form now.  Please note that places are limited. 

FurniTAC/FurniTAG Forum

On 6 August 2008, industry representatives and training providers met to discuss some of the training and skills development issues currently impacting upon the Furnishing industry.

This first forum, facilitated by ForestWorks, was in response to a discussion paper, researched and authored by the FurniTAC in 2007, entitled, “Furnishing Industry Skill Issues: Quality Training and Assessment”.

The forum provided 30 participants with the opportunity to work together on four issues identified in the research paper: Communication, Assessment Moderation & Validation, Professional Development for TAFE Teachers, and Flexible Delivery Options.

Early feedback indicates the first forum was successful in creating realistic outcomes for further development. The second, and final, forum in this series, will be held on 16th September.

PPP on the web – what does it all mean?

ForestWorks is playing a role in the implementation of the new Australian Government Productivity Places Program (PPP) to address skill shortages and identify training needs in our industry.

As your ISC, ForestWorks is providing a leadership role in ensuring that you are kept informed on the future direction of this initiative. To support this, we have developed a webpage which contains the latest information on this issue. Look out also for a special information bulletin coming shortly for more up-to-date news on this program.

You can view the Productivity Places Program page here.

Have your say - our new ‘Issues Register’!

ForestWorks has developed an ‘Issues Register’ where you can have your say and help improve the FPP01 Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Training Package and the FPI05 Forest and Forest Products Training Package.

Skill shortages? Then post your job online for FREE!

An important feature of the ForestWorks website is the 'advertise a job' feature. This enables anyone seeking a career in our industry the means to be able to view all vacant positions online and in one place.

To post your job online for free, please click here.

Upcoming Events 

August 2008

Skills Forum, Sydney, 18 August 2008. Contact: mailto:mrobinson@forestworks.com.au

The Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference, Sydney, 18-20 August 2008. Contact: Carolyn Day-Programs Coordinator on mailto:cday@fitzpatrickwoods.com.au

September 2008

'Windows on wood - skills, training, viability, working for our future' - VicForests 3rd Symposium, Melbourne -1-2 September 2008. More information: http://www.vicforests.com.au or contact: Veronica Pendergast, 03 9608 9556, mailto:veronica.pendergast@vicforests.com.au.

ForestWorks Board Meeting (venue tbc), 11 September 2008. Contact: mailto:mrobinson@forestworks.com.au

Skills Enhancement and Training (SET) Meeting, Hobart - 12 September 2008. Contact: mrobinson@forestworks.com.au

October 2008

Australian Timber Trainers Association, Darwin - 27-29 October 2008. Contact: David McElvenny at secretary@atta.org.au.

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