Current News
Productivity Places Program - Additional Training Places Available to 30 June 2009
As part of its Skilling Australia for the Future initiative, the Australian Government recognises the importance of nationally endorsed training in assisting job seekers to acquire skills and gain lasting employment and assisting existing workers to update or upgrade their skills.
In order to ensure training places remain available for the remainder of 2008-09, the Australian Government has announced the release of additional training places for job seekers as part of the Productivity Places Program.
Read more about the Productivity Places Program
ABC Learning Centres – Voluntary Administration and Receivership
The Australian Government has welcomed the receivers of ABC Learning Centres, McGrathNicol, commitment to keeping the child care centres open and that they would continue to operate as usual.
More information on this announcement can be accessed from www.mychild.gov.au.
Online portal mychild.gov.au for families launched
A new online portal for information on early learning and care was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Maxine McKew on 22 October 2008.
Read more about the mychild.gov.au launch
Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
On 17 August 2008, the Australian Government announced the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.
Read more about the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme
Improving adult language, literacy and numeracy
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, announced the release of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The ACSF will help tackle language, literacy and numeracy challenges in adults and will be used as a tool for industry, vocational training and in community settings where adult learning takes place. The ACSF describes and measures English language literacy and numeracy skills, focussing on performance in the five core skills—Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral Communication and Numeracy.
View the Australian Core Skills Framework
New Employment Services
The Australian Government announced it would be introducing new, simpler and more effective employment services nationally to commence on 1 July 2009. The new services will provide opportunities for job seekers to train in areas of skill shortage. There will also be a greater emphasis on helping employers find work ready job seekers.
You can view more details at the New Employment Services page
