Media Release: 19 August 2024
Issued by The Capital Group on behalf of National Skills Week 2024
Victoria Skills Commissioner Craig Robertson launches National Skills Week 2024 Monday 19 August at Monash College
People have more than one pathway to obtain in-demand skills throughout their working life
Monday 19 August 2024 – Victorian Skills Commissioner Craig Robertson will officially launch National Skills Week Victoria in conjunction with Monash College Future Skills on Monday 19 August from 5pm at 750 Collins Street, Docklands.
The celebration will include discussions on Skills and VET programs and initiatives, as well as the official launch of Monash College Future Skills Cyber.
Guests will enjoy hearing from industry experts in the cyber and education space including:
- Official Welcome by Jo Mithen, CEO, Monash College
- Launch of National Skills Week Victoria by Brian Wexham, Chair, National Skills Week
- Craig Robertson, CEO, Victorian Skills Authority
- Introduction to Monash College Future Skills Cyber Pillar by Michael Jack, Assistant Director ICT and Cyber Skills, Monash College
Panel discussion
- Jason Murrell (Panel Chair) – Chair, CSCAU
- Jamie Wiggins – Intelligence and Vulnerability Management Lead, Healthscope
- Richard Magalad – Chair of Cloud Branch, AISA
- Udeesh Millathe – Senior Manager, Compliance and Zero Trust Security, Microsoft
Closing remarks by Jane Trewin, Executive Director, Future Skills, Monash College
The decision to hold the Victorian launch of National Skills Week at Monash College Future Skills is to showcase the collaborative relationships that can and are being formed between the VET sector and the higher education sector. This is in line with the findings from the Australian Universities Accord Review report.
Australian Universities Accord Review Panel Chair, Professor Mary O’Kane AC, has stated that,
“We identified significant government and institutional investment in higher education needs to continue, and all parts of Australia’s education system need to work together to meet our national future skills challenge.
“Education in the early years and through the school system delivers the student body required to grow the higher education system. And growth in higher education needs to be paired with similar growth in vocational education and training (VET), which will be an essential part of Australia’s skills mix into the future.
“For example, lifting the tertiary attainment rate of the working age population (people with at least one Cert III qualification or higher) from 60 per cent currently to at least 80 per cent by 2050 will require both the higher education and VET sectors to grow substantially as well as work more closely together.”
Victoria Minister for Skills and TAFE, and Minister for Regional Development, the Hon. Gayle Tierney MLC commented:
“I said in my first parliamentary speech back in 2006 that working families want governments to have a positive vision for the future and find ways to ensure the next generation will not be worse off economically. People should also be able to realise their life goals through long-term stable employment. Demand for digitally literate workers is growing, and so too is the need for people who have a range of business practice skills, can perform well in health care, or can enhance industry sustainability in various ways.
About National Skills Week
Now moving into its 14th year, National Skills Week (August 19-25 2024) will again set out to bring to life the positive messages, highlighting the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia to the wider public and employers. The week is dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational learning.
Past years achieved much, with unparalleled media coverage accompanied by the practical inclusions of over 500 known events taking place across the country delivering engaging and inspirational messages, promoting the VET sector generally.
Two VET success stories available for interview
Rebecca Hope, Eaglemont 3084
Current Role: Program Coordinator at Amaze.
Qualifications:
- Certificate IV in Business
- Certificate III in Business
- Certificate II in Community Services
- Certificate II in Animal Studies
- Certificate I in Work Education – 22566VIC
- Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Foundation)
Achievements:
- 2023 – Australian Training Awards Trainee of the Year – Finalist
- 2023 – Victorian Trainee of the Year – Winner
- 2022 – Apprenticeship Employment Network Apprentice Training Awards – Inspiration Award: Disability Achievement – Winner
- 2020 – Holmesglen Awards – Outstanding Individual Achievement Award – Finalist
Rebecca’s story:
Living with autism, Rebecca once struggled to attend school without one-on-one support. Now, she thrives in the human resources field and has become a guiding light for disability awareness.
Rebecca completed her traineeship and a Certificate IV in Business through NECA Education and Careers at the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.
Rebecca’s previous experiences allowed her to highlight some of the challenges that people with disability may face when seeking employment, and she created a disability support services directory to improve the level of customer service provided.
Rebecca also facilitated regular discussions with staff members around inclusion, which saw an increase in disability program engagement. Where tasks lacked written directions, Rebecca began creating basic handbooks to provide instruction for others on how to complete the task. Staff at her workplace have confirmed that these manuals were useful in improving team efficiency.
Rebecca has become an advocate for traineeships for people with disabilities, highlighting the benefits of financial independence and heightened self-confidence. Her own experiences are her guide for others living with disability, demonstrating there are opportunities to grow by creating strategies that suit them.
Following completion of her traineeship, Rebecca obtained full-time employment as Program Coordinator at Amaze, Victoria’s peak body for autism. Employing her profound experience and organisational skills, she delivers initiatives to enhance the lives of people living with autism.
In 2023, Rebecca was named the Victorian Trainee of the Year and a finalist for Trainee of the Year at the Australian Training Awards.
Leela Subramaniam, Melbourne 3000
Current Role: Junior Sous Chef
Qualifications: Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Achievements:
- 2023 – Australian Training Awards Apprentice of the Year – Runner-up
- 2023 – Victorian Apprentice of the Year – Winner
- 2022 – WorldSkills Australia Cookery Competition – Silver Medal
- 2022 – Aus Tafe Culinary Trophy (Third Year Apprentice Category) – Winner
- 2022 – National Apprenticeship Challenge – Bronze Medal
- 2022 – Nestle Golden Chef Hats Melbourne – Bronze Medal
- 2022 – World Food Championships Australia – Bronze Medal
Leela’s story:
Leela’s career in hospitality almost started by accident. After working part time in hospitality for many years while studying at university, Leela realised that she loved cooking.
Relishing in the high-pressure environment of a commercial kitchen and seeking the opportunity to learn new skills, she pursued an apprenticeship in the Flinders Hotel kitchen.
With great encouragement from her teachers, Leela entered and won awards in 6 state and national cookery competitions.
Challenging herself in a high-pressured competitive kitchen environment took her passion to a new level—it elevated her cooking skills and taught her to stay calm under pressure.
After completing her apprenticeship, Leela was promoted to junior sous chef. Her head chef commented that she was the first apprentice that he immediately promoted to a leadership role in his 20-year career.
Now, Leela helps run the kitchen and leads a team of 8 during busy shifts, ensuring each meal that leaves the kitchen is perfect.
Leela is currently completing her final year in a Bachelor of Business and will soon head to Europe for a self-funded experience in a Michelin Star restaurant to improve her skills.
Leela’s goal is to own her own fine dining restaurant and earn her own Chef’s Hat one day.
In 2023, Leela was named the Victorian Apprentice of the Year and Runner-up for Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Training Awards.
Background information:
- 750 Collins Street, Docklands, has been the home of Monash College since 2021. Students can study the full range of Monash College courses that offer a pathway to Monash University.
- English, Foundation and Diploma programs as well as the Monash College Professional Year all use modern amenities across ten floors, including a library and learning centre, student hub, art and design studios, science labs and music studios.
- The Australian Universities Accord Final Report 2023 can be downloaded here.
- A biography of Professor Mary O’Kane AC is available here.