SSV Newsletter: Issue 12
Staff Changes
Reframing the Future ProjectS 2008
Events community of practice
SSV was successful this year in gaining funding for a community of practice project that will look at the issues facing the events industry in terms of mismatch of expectation between students, RTO's and industry.
It will be a three meeting format designed to get industry concerns on the table, allow discussion with RTO's and look at solutions to ensure that students graduating from qualifications have the skills that the industry are looking for and can therefore find employment in the events industry in Victoria, especially following the level of investment into venues and new hotels.
Consumer Affairs Victoria - Liquor Licensing Best Practice
LLV wants to tap into your experience in the hospitality industry and share your ideas and practices with other licensees.
Liquor Licensing is compiling a list of successful ideas licensees have implemented to encourage best practices in their venues.
If you have an idea or a system in place that you'd like to share, please e-mail it to rsa@justice.vic.gov.au
You can view the existing ideas register at www.consumer.vic.gov.au
Developing Tourism Leaders Awards
The Melbourne Airport Developing Tourism Leaders Awards are run by SSV and is an innovative employment development exercise for final year tourism, hospitality and events students from Victorian universities and TAFEs, requiring them to create original business or event concepts and submit business or event plans. The plans are judged by a panel of industry representatives based on the feasibility of the business, product innovation and knowledge of the tourism industry.
Institute visits covering both universities and TAFE's have begun, with appointments being scheduled across the state ensuring students have access to the information and make a decision on whether it is something they feel they can commit to for their final year of study. The website has undergone an overhaul for 2008, simplifying information and making movement around the website easier (www.dtlawards.com) The registration process was also changed due to increase in website content management fees; therefore SSV will now manage the registration process from our Melbourne office.
Training Packages - Update (check the latest update on SSA's website www.serviceskills.com.au)
Retail Services
The NQC endorsed the SIR07 Retail Services Training Package on 24 August 2007 and Ministers approved this endorsement on 17 September 2007. The Package has also now been uploaded to the NTIS website.
Funeral Services
The Funeral Services Training Package was submitted for endorsement in December 2007. The state training authority teleconference was held on Friday 14th March 2008 and Service Skills Australia is currently addressing the issues raised.
Following the resolution of all issues, the training package will be submitted to the National Quality Council for final endorsement.
For more information on changes, please visit SSA website at www.serviceskills.com.au
Beauty Training Package Continuous Improvement
Service Skills Australia has undertaken widespread consultation into the scope of the beauty industry and the contents of the current training package to inform its continuous improvement. During 2007, a discussion paper was distributed to facilitate comment on current trends and changes within the industry that may impact on skills need and Training Package content. All comments provided during the 2007 consultation phase have since been collated, reviewed and incorporated into the Report into the Continuous Improvement of the Beauty Training Package. The report was endorsed by the Steering Committee. Service Skills Australia distributed it to stakeholders for validation of the contents. The contents of the report inclusive of recommendations for change will guide the future re-write of the Beauty Training Package and potential incorporation with other training packages.
Comments on the Report into the Continuous Improvement of the Beauty Training Package have closed and have been included in an updated version. This version is now available to view on the SSA website; www.serviceskills.com.au
Floristry Training Package Continuous Improvement
Service Skills Australia has undertaken widespread consultation into the scope of the floristry industry and the contents of the current training package to inform its continuous improvement. During 2007, a discussion paper was distributed to facilitate comment on current trends and changes within the industry that may impact on skills need and training package content. All comments provided during the 2007 consultation phase have since been collated, reviewed and incorporated into the Report into the Continuous Improvement of the Floristry Training Package. The report was endorsed by the Steering Committee. Service Skills Australia distributed it to key stakeholders for validation of the contents. The contents of the report inclusive of recommendations for change will guide the future re-write of the Floristry Training Package and potential incorporation with other training packages.
Comments on the Report into the Continuous Improvement of the Floristry Training Package have closed and have been included in an updated version. This version is now available to view on the SSA website; www.serviceskills.com.au
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Continuous Improvement
Service Skills Australia have commenced work on the Continuous Improvement of the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package. Three areas have been identified by industry for further scoping and action. These three areas are:
- Scoping of Inert Gas Safety
- Scoping of Coffee Art
- Scoping of Sommelier
- Updating of Wine knowledge units of competency from Agri-Foods
There will be more information available on this project page as consultation begins.
Review of the Caravan Industry Training Package
Following widespread consultation with the caravan industry, Service Skills Australia has completed the revision of qualifications and competency standards that the industry will use in the future.
Consultations included industry members from all over Australia involved in the manufacturing, servicing and retail of caravans, and caravan park operators. The manufacturing and servicing qualifications and standards will now form part of the Manufacturing Training Package, which is overseen by Manufacturing Skills Australia. The qualifications for caravan parks will be endorsed as part of the newly revised Tourism, Hospitality and Events Training Package.
2008 Victorian Training Awards
World Skills National Competition
National Tourism Accreditation Program
Martin Ferguson, as Federal Minister for Tourism has announced that he will be working towards the development of a 'National Tourism Accreditation Framework'. This is expected to involve the development of a single tourism accreditation 'brand' that is supported by governments, state and federal, and can assist our industry to become more professional and to improve the quality of our customers' experiences. Ian Nicolson, as Executive Officer of the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria, has been invited to join the Ministerial Working Party that is preparing a paper to be tabled at the Tourism Ministerial Council meeting in July. It is expected that this paper will establish the process for developing the National Tourism Accreditation Framework.