For more information about the WELL program, contact Jenni Oldfield, ForestWorks WELL Broker

The recent publication of Skills Australia’s Skills for prosperity – a roadmap for vocation education and training report outlines the comprehensive reforms required to ensure the VET sector remains developed, organisation and financed. ForestWorks participated in the development of this advice on behalf of the industry over the past two years. On this report, ForestWorks CEO Michael Hartman said, ‘It is really pleasing to see a wide range of recommendations that actually reflect industry advice and input over a period of time. Skills Australia is demonstrating that it has the capacity to consider a wide range of issues and how they impact on industry’. The value of this publication is evident in the early adoption of some of its recommendations in the recent Commonwealth Budget.

The report is available for download from the ForestWorks website.

For more information, contact Michael Hartman, ForestWorks CEO

With sustainability rapidly becoming a key consideration for all organisations, ForestWorks is excited to announce the introduction of the new Advanced Diploma in Forest Industry Sustainability. This qualification is flexible and enterprise-based, offering a comprehensive working knowledge of all aspects of sustainability in the forest and timber products industry. It allows workers to update their skills to meet their organisations’ sustainability requirements and creates leaders in sustainable work practices and procedures for the future. This qualification is a great way to recognise the industry’s credibility on issues of sustainability.

ForestWorks recently attended the highly successful ANZIF Pacific Forestry – Growing the Forestry Future conference in New Zealand. The conference provided a great opportunity to learn more about forestry throughout the Pacific, from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. ForestWorks took the opportunity at the conference to spread the word about our new Advanced Diploma in Forest Industry Sustainability to our neighbours in the Pacific.

ForestWorks joined HVP to celebrate at the graduation ceremony for workers  (pictured, left) who recently completed their Certificate III in Horticulture at HVP’s Gelliondale Nursery. The qualification was delivered by East Gippsland Institute of TAFE and incorporated units from ForestWorks’ Forest and Forest Products Training Package. One of the new graduates, Damian Pearson remarked, ‘The certificate has given me more confidence to do my job and has encouraged me to ask questions so that I can continue learning’. During the ceremony, HVP General Manager, Owen Trumper said, ‘HVP has always done lots of training but this was our first time working with TAFE and ForestWorks. It’s really a pleasure to see success and it shows that education does two great things – you learn important skills and you learn to persevere, and they are great assets both for yourselves and for our business.’

At the recent Furnishing Awards hosted by Furniture Australia, ForestWorks was pleased to sponsor the Diploma of Furnishing Technology Award. The award was won by Sarah Gunn, who is studying at the RMIT School of Design. Sarah received her award from ForestWorks’ Sharyn Wright (both pictured, left, at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne). A wonderful evening was had by all and it was fantastic to see the furniture created by the skilled and talented finalists.

There were many insights to be garnered at the recent APPITA conference on New Zealand, with sessions covering technological and sustainability advancements, safety matters, and issues relating to biomass and energy conversion. Of particular interest to ForestWorks following our work on embedding skills for sustainability into our training packages, were the sessions relating to sustainability, where such diverse processes as vermiculture farming in New Zealand (to divert wood residues from landfill) and the use of wood wastes and other by-products to generate steam were explored.

ForestWorks is requested to comment on issues affecting training and skills development in the forest and timber products industry. Some of our recent commentary includes a recommendation for retraining unemployed workers in regional areas (The Australian, 10/5/11) and funding for niche skills development (Australian Financial Review, 5/5/11).

Government Skills Australia professional development workshops

May-July (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney)

Government Skills Australia (GSA), the national Industry Skills Council for the government and community safety sectors, is conducting a series of professional development workshops and information sessions. Comprising a combination of presented information and practical activities the sessions are designed to contribute to the requirement by RTOs to participate in professional development as required by AQTF 2010 guidelines.

Adelaide              25 May 2011, Education Development Centre Hindmarsh

Brisbane              8 June 2011, Holiday Inn Brisbane

Melbourne         22 June 2011, Jasper Hotel, Melbourne

Perth                     5 July 2010, Australian Institute of Management, Floreat

Sydney                 20 July 2010, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney

Visit Government Skills Australia’s website to view the program and download the registration form. 

30 May – 3 June 2011 (Hanover, Germany)

LIGNA Hanover is the world fair for the forest and wood industries and will, once again, put the spotlight on the latest solutions and developments in the forest and wood industries. The exhibition will show efficient, innovative and future-defining ways of using raw materials and the latest technologies.

Further information is also available at http://www.ligna.de/homepage_e

15-16 June 2011 (Brisbane)

21-23 June 2011 (Rotorua, New Zealand)

SawTECH 2011 showcases the latest tools and technologies that can be adopted by sawmilling companies to improve their efficiency and will focus on using practical hands-on sessions with sawmilling experts.

Full details on the SawTech 2011 program are available here.

21 July 2011 (Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne)

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Annual ATTA/ForestWorks Workshop

 25-28 July 2011 (Lakes Entrance, Victoria)

Hosted by Forestech (East Gippsland TAFE) and organised by Trevor Wait, the 2011 ATTA/ForestWorks Workshop will include a combined workshop program, with integrated sessions throughout the first three days. The Day 2 field trip will include visits to local enterprises, as well as demonstrations from Forestech, featuring tree climbing and wood-chopping, and a tour of their fire training ground and furniture design workshop.

For more information about the workshop please email: secretary@atta.org.au

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Save the date! 2011 Conference for Industry hosted by ForestWorks is on 14 September 2011

14 September 2011 (Hyatt Hotel and Parliament House, Canberra)

For more information about the conference, contact Cathy Ashton, ForestWorks Communications Officer

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To register an event on the ForestWorks website or in Skills Update contact forestworks@forestworks.com.au