Child Care subsidy changes to benefit 250,000 Australian families

A quarter of a million Australian families will be more than $2200 a year better off when additional childcare subsidies are introduced early next year.

The additional subsidies for families with two or more children in care were due to start in July 2022, but the federal government has brought the start date forward to March.

Education and Youth Minister Alan Tudge said the $1.7bn boost to the subsidy scheme would ease pressure on working families and encourage more parents into work.

“These changes are good for families and great for the economy, and it’s significant that we are able to deliver them sooner,” Mr Tudge said.

For more information, please visit here.

October 14, 2021 News Comments Off on Child Care subsidy changes to benefit 250,000 Australian families

Plan to bring thousands of nurses and doctors into ‘Fortress Australia’

Australia will allow 2000 overseas nurses and doctors to enter the country for work under a plan being finalised by the Commonwealth and states to ease a healthcare staffing crisis.

With Melbourne and Sydney’s hospital beds jammed with COVID-19 patients and the health systems of other states also under strain, the reinforcements will be flown in over the next six months and predominantly dispatched to outer suburban and regional hospitals and GP clinics.

For more information, please visit here.

October 14, 2021 News Comments Off on Plan to bring thousands of nurses and doctors into ‘Fortress Australia’

IDP Live transforms international landscape for next generation of students

IDP has recently launched its new student-centred app, IDP Live. IDP Live brings together a suite of tools, including a ground-breaking new service that fast-tracks students through to receiving an offer, prior to submitting their application – ensuring that students can find the right courses and institutions faster and more easily.

For more information, please visit here.

October 14, 2021 News Comments Off on IDP Live transforms international landscape for next generation of students

The journey from comfort zone to the growth zone

Going out of the comfort zone is not easy. It is difficult, challenging and it can be scary. But what if you knew that there was no way to grow without leaving the comfort zone?

The journey from comfort zone to the growth zone can be a tough one. There are many uncertainties and insecurities associated with it. But, if you want to grow as a person, it is important to step out of your comfort zone.

There are various ways in which we can take baby steps and make the transition from our comfort zone to the growth zone easier.

Generally speaking, humans are creatures of what we do as routine practices. They are creatures of habits. However, while we may sit about and talk about doing exciting things and wanting to live life on the edge, what we truly desire is security, safety, protection and stability. There has been no change in wanting and keeping these attributes. The change frightens us and we prefer to remain in our familiar surroundings.

The comfort zone

Our comfort zone is the place where we feel most in command of our lives. We are familiar with how things function and have established routines. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Your good habits may include brushing your teeth after every meal, not leaving clothes on the floor, and returning milk to the refrigerator once you’ve finished with it. But there’s more to being a successful person than just having good habits.

The first step to move out of your comfort zone is being accountable for your actions. You have to be ready to accept the truth about yourself, not what you want it to be. This will help you know what needs improvement and where you need development.

The second step is taking action, even if it is small. But with small steps, we can reach the growth zone and make a change in our lives for the better.

Having a sense of security in our familiar surroundings

The comfort zone is a place where we can find stability and a sense of security. It serves as our compass in life. To be honest, who wants to live in a world where everything changes on a daily basis and we never know what will happen next? Even if some things will always be beyond our control, our comfort zone provides a sense of assurance and protection.

Our comfort zone entails a modest level of danger. That’s one of the reasons we like it. However, it comes with a poor monetary payoff. Continually remaining in our comfort zones does not allow us to grow or learn anything new about ourselves. In order to accomplish this, we must try something different. We must make a shift in our thinking.

Change is necessary for us to progress. Change, on the other hand, might be difficult. Our comfort zone is challenged, and this is uncomfortable for all parties involved. Any change, regardless of how significant, such as contemplating a new job or career direction, should be welcomed. Alternatively, it could be something minor, such as opting to try a different restaurant for lunch. When you try something new, there is a risk involved.

The fear zone

Fear of the unknown is what makes people uneasy with change. If you don’t like the new eatery, what do you do? Or is it that you’re not very competent at your new job? Naturally, the hazards in these two circumstances are not the same; but, the feelings or concerns about not doing either are the same in both cases. Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the most prevalent phobias that most individuals face. It is this dread, whether it is fear of the unknown or fear of failure, that causes so much discomfort for many of us.

Consider the experience of returning to school. You’re in the middle of a lesson when a thought occurs to you. It’s an excellent question. You’re waiting for the right moment to ask it. As time passes, however, you begin to question whether this is such a good question after all. You give it a shot in your thoughts and see how it goes. After that, you arrive to the conclusion that the question is dumb. And you certainly don’t want to appear foolish, so you’re not going to ask that question right now, are you?

The same is true for any type of change. For the simple reason that it is unpleasant, we want to avoid it. Then we come up with a list of reasons why it may not be such a good idea after all. Perhaps the new restaurant’s menu will not be to your liking. The illumination is excessively low in this room. It’s possible that it’ll be too pricey. After a few moments of contemplation, you’re back at your favourite eating establishment.

We’ve mastered the art of talking ourselves out of making changes.

When it comes to stepping outside of our comfort zone, we’re experts at convincing ourselves that it’s not a good idea.

This can also happen when we are attempting to make adjustments in our way of life. In any situation, whether it’s beginning a new diet, going to bed early, or quitting smoking, we hunt for reasons not to do something. It’s not going to taste good. You’re only going to watch one more episode of your favourite show on Netflix. Every one of your friends is a smoker. The list could go on and on. And while many of these justifications are reasonable, they aren’t at the heart of the problem of why people are resistant to change.

Consider the following scenario: you wish to get up a half hour earlier each day to workout. The alarm goes off on the first morning of the week. You’re exhausted, and it’s pitch black outside. You convince yourself that you only need a few more minutes in bed before getting out of bed. In no time at all, you’ve used the snooze button twice more, and you’re forced to report to work. You assure yourself that you’ll start the next day.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

All of this is very normal. There are moments when we’ve all been there a number of times. However, we must recognise that stepping outside of our comfort zone is beneficial to our health. It adds to the excitement of everyday living. It’s beneficial. Doing the same thing over and over again can become tedious and stale, both in terms of our physical and mental health. The ability to accept and embrace change allows people to continue to grow and retain their youthful vigour.

This does not imply that you must make significant adjustments in every element of your life. That would also be ineffective because we require our comfort zone to act as an anchor for our efforts.

Learning zone

In order to grow, one needs to be in the learning zone. One can’t just stay in their comfort zone all the time. There is no growth there. In the learning zone, you face challenges, risks, barriers and difficulties that require you to learn new skills and acquire new abilities.

The first step of entering the learning zone is to set some personal goals. These goals should be realistic and achievable. The next step would be to start your learning process by doing some research on how to go about achieving those goals and finding out what you need for this process. Finally, find someone who would like to support you in this process and make sure that they know what you are trying to achieve.

Growth zone

Growth is one of the most important aspects of life. It is important for your personal growth, your professional growth, and your spiritual growth. This is the space where you grow and become a better version of yourself. Where you get to be your best self. Where you allow yourself to dream and then take steps to make them a reality. The growth zone has new challenges but it also has new opportunities. There are uncertainties and insecurities of the unknown territory but there is more room for creativity and experimentation. The more challenges you face, the more you grow!

Conclusion

The first step to take to make the journey from the comfort zone to the growth zone, is to identify what you want. It may seem like a cliché but it’s important to know what you want – do not settle for less. Once you are clear about what you want, then figure out how to get there. This will help build your confidence.

Do not be afraid of rejections or failures, they are natural parts of life and they will happen more often than not. So don’t let them stop you from trying again and again because failure is only a temporary state of being – so keep trying until success comes knocking on your door!

In partnership with Edu Learning and CAQA Skills, CAQA provides a variety of professional and personal development opportunities. We may also tailor the training to meet your specific requirements and skill level as well. For additional details, please contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

 

October 4, 2021 News Comments Off on The journey from comfort zone to the growth zone

Australian Government has approved the International student return pilot programme

In a joint decision, the governments of Australia and New South Wales have authorised a second significant student return pilot, which will see up to 250 international students per fortnight returning to the state to continue their studies. According to current plans, the pilot will begin accepting students in December 2021 and will operate within the following critical parameters:

  • Returning students will be invited by their participating higher education institutions;
  • Only students who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be eligible,
  • With the additional requirement that they have received a vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration will be eligible (TGA).

The vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Janssen have all been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Due to this, students from some key Asian markets – particularly Nepal and China, where Sinopharm vaccines are more regularly used – will be less likely to be included in the early stages of the pilot programme, which is a significant point to consider.

As part of the quarantine process, returning students will be obliged to stay in specially constructed student housing in Sydney. For a 14-day quarantine period in Redfern, the accommodation provider Scape has been confirmed. The facility has been converted to COVIDSafe requirements and has been certified by NSW Health and the NSW Police Departments to host up to 650 students.

There are 11 participating public universities in the pilot plan– including the Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, The University of Newcastle, The University of Sydney, UNSW, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University and the University of Technology Sydney – as well as a number of private providers, including International College of Management Sydney, Kaplan, Navitas, RedHill and Study Group.

Students who wish to take part in the pilot will fly to Sydney on chartered flights, with the cost of travel and quarantine being covered by the participating institutions and the participants themselves.

The significance of the new pilot programme can be attributed in part to the fact that the state is home to a significant proportion of Australia’s total foreign enrolment population.
Prior to the establishment of COVID, about four out of every ten overseas students in Australia could be found in New South Wales. According to Study NSW, there are around 60,000 international students enrolled in NWS institutions who are now outside of Australia and unable to enter the country to continue their studies.

For more information please read this media release Pilot plan to return international students

October 4, 2021 Education, News Comments Off on Australian Government has approved the International student return pilot programme

The websites that will help you become much more productive and efficient.

The internet has a lot of resources that you can use to simplify your life. Websites like Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and Amazon are among the most visited websites today. These sites make it easy to surf the web and all the information you need is at your fingertips.

With the world becoming more and more digitised, we need to rely on the internet as a tool. Unfortunately, the web is not as simple as it seems. This is why we need to find websites that can provide us with information and make our lives easier.

We all know that the internet is full of amazing websites that will make your life easier and more simple but where are they and why should we use them? In this article, we will explore some of the most useful websites that you can use in your daily life.

Autodraw https://www.autodraw.com/

AutoDraw.com is the first of these websites. You can use the Auto Draw website to create a decent drawing, many people will assume that we can do the same thing with Microsoft Paint as well. However, when you create a drawing in Microsoft Paint, it does not convert to a nice and clear image that can be used in any project or anywhere else.

In order to get rid of this difficulty, you can go to the Auto Draw website. This website was developed and published by Google. Google is experimenting with artificial intelligence through this experiment. This means that you can put your trust in this website.

If you make a design on this website, the artificial intelligence (AI) of this website will attempt to match that design with the format that is currently accessible in its database. Once the design is matched, the artificial intelligence (AI) of this website begins to show you the structure that is similar to the design. If you select one of those designs, the newly developed format will be displayed in lieu of the previously made design.

Before you can begin using this website, you must first open the autodraw.com website on your computer or laptop using any web browser of your choice.

It is necessary to click on “Start Drawing” after opening this website in order for the editor page of this website to be displayed. Here on the editor page, you will have to create some designs that you want to make perfect, after you have finished creating the design, release your mouse button, and in a few seconds, you will see various designs on the top bar of this website; select the design that you want to use in your drawing.

Pixabay https://pixabay.com/

Sites like as Shutterstock are extremely pricey for the majority of average consumers; Pixabay is a considerably more affordable alternative. It provides access to more than two million royalty-free pictures, drawings, videos, and vector graphics, all of which can be downloaded for free.

For anyone who wants to dabble with basic design or needs a freely available stock image for a project, this is a useful resource to have at their disposal.

Dictation.io https://dictation.io/

Dictation.io allows you to dictate your emails and documents directly into Google Chrome in whatever language you know how to speak. It accurately transcribes speech to text in real-time, and it recognises smileys, paragraphs, and even punctuation when voice commands are used to create text.

It’s a useful site to have as a backup if you can speak faster than you can type.

PDF Escape https://www.pdfescape.com/

This online PDF editor allows you to effortlessly make changes to a PDF without the need for additional software. Annotating a PDF file and filling out fields in a PDF form are two of the alternatives that are available.

It is compatible with all major browsers and is completely free to use unless you wish to utilise the desktop version or work with large file sizes.

Infogram https://infogram.com/

With the help of this website, you can generate visually appealing infographics, as well as charts, reports, and social media images. You may use it to show information in an engaging manner because it is current and elegant.

AlternativeTo https://alternativeto.net/

Have you ever come across an app that you really want to use, but it’s either too pricey or doesn’t operate on your prefered platform? Alternatively, you may be wanting to replace one of your favourite programmes that have lately been discontinued by another. AlternativeTo can be of assistance in these situations.

Simply enter the name of an app or programme, and the site will provide suggestions for similar alternative apps or programmes. There are both free and paid choices available.

I2ocr Free Online OCR https://www.i2ocr.com/

Intuitive i2OCR is a free online Optical Character Recognition (OCR) service that extracts text from photos and scanned documents, allowing it to be edited, formatted, indexed, searched, or translated.

Lumosity https://www.lumosity.com/en/

A straightforward online tool that enables anyone to unlock the full power of their brain. Any person, regardless of their age or socioeconomic status, can benefit from feeling wiser, sharper, and brighter.

Photopea https://www.photopea.com/

Image editing website platforms such as Photopea are available on the web and may be used with both raster and vector graphics. It may be used for a variety of tasks such as picture editing, illustration, web design, and converting between various image formats. Photopea is a free piece of software that is financed by advertisements.

Brain.fm https://www.brain.fm/

Music that will assist you in concentrating and focussing. The website makes use of specific sound frequencies that help you concentrate, feel less tired, and maintain your concentration.

What websites do you know that have been really beneficial to you and would like us to consider including them in our future edition of helpful websites? Please contact us via email at info@caqa.com.au.

 

 

October 4, 2021 News Comments Off on The websites that will help you become much more productive and efficient.

Different types of disruptions in training and education businesses: What are they and how can they impact You?

In a world where disruption is happening at a lightning speed, the question of how to thrive in this fast-paced environment is increasingly important. There are many who have been disrupted out of business and there are many more who would be disrupted in the near future.

Disruption occurs when someone or something does something that causes your business model to no longer function as effectively as it once did. Let’s take a closer look at what we just stated. Your business model is the mechanism by which you generate revenue. In exchange for money, you provide clients with an excellent value offering. The most typical forms of disruption imply that you will receive significantly less money or nothing at all for the value you provide. Customers, in other words, have stopped appreciating what you have to provide or supply to them. It’s possible that all of your clients are affected at the same time. At other times, it may be specific client groups that are targeted. As a result, things no longer function in the same way they did previously. You reached a conclusion that you must make a difference.

Disruption in the education industry is imminent. With low enrolment rates, colleges are facing a recruitment crisis. The world’s economy is increasingly digitised and has gone from a linear to a circular economy. The boundaries between work and life have become blurred. In this world, it becomes important for education and training organisations to find their way in the changing environment or they will get disrupted out of business.

The pandemic and other unforeseen events

As the truth of the situation begins to sink in, As a result of months of dealing with COVID-19-related disruptions, business executives are beginning to recognise that the new normal is disruption after disruption. The answer is a state of ambiguity. No one has a game plan in place to manage all the uncertainties and disruptions an event such as a pandemic can produce. New business methods are being implemented slowly but steadily by companies. The pandemic has demonstrated that substantial, unforeseen business disruptions are not only possible but also probable; sales and business development teams must be built on strong and agile foundations that can adapt to these shifts in business conditions.

The computer viruses and opportunistic attacks

Malicious software, sometimes known as ‘malware,’ is a type of computer virus that impacts businesses on a daily basis. It causes disruptions in information technology and computer systems, and in extreme circumstances, it has the capability of deleting, stealing, or holding for ransom sensitive company and personal data. When a computer virus is attached to a file and the file is accessed, the virus infects parts of or the entire machine. When you access or open any email or attachment, you must exercise extreme caution if you are not certain of its origin or if you have legitimate concerns such as that it is not from the proper source, that it has spelling errors, or that it contains emails that you did not expect.

The regulatory standards and practices

The regulatory environment is getting more and more complicated every day. But with a good understanding of these regulations, you can manage the risk better. Failure to comprehend or appropriately interpret the standards could result in very serious consequences very quickly for you and your organisation. In order to avoid any serious consequences that can result from not complying with them, it is important to understand these regulations and standards properly and clearly. Having compliance consultants can help you tremendously to understand your obligations and responsibilities and also these standards, guidelines and protocols.

Trainers and assessors

Trainers and assessors are crucial for any organisation, however, it is not possible to rely on one trainer or assessor for your organization. It is important to always have a Plan B in case something happens to your main person. It is, therefore, important to have more than one trainer and assessor so that you can rely on them when the other one is unavailable.

Marketing practices

We are living in an era where organizations are looking for training programs that are economical, time-saving, and most importantly, scalable. Marketing practices are not new. However, with the rise of new technologies that help develop better marketing strategies, businesses can now reach out to their target audience in a faster and more efficient way. There are many ways that marketing practices have changed with technology, but there are also many ways that they haven’t. The most important thing is to see the difference between old-school techniques and new ones so you can use them in your business to your advantage.

These days, there are more and more digital marketing practices that can be used for marketing purposes. These new marketing practices should be used to reach and communicate to your students and learner cohorts. They will make them a lot easier to reach out to. For example, a good way is through social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram where they can easily see who created the content and what it has been posted about. This way, you will know if the students have seen your content or not, so you can easily figure out if their strategy is working or not.

Personal and professional development

Personal and professional development is the main factor of success for any person or business. So, we should always invest time and money in improving ourselves and our business practices. We have to be observant of what is happening around us, both in personal life and at work, so that we can take advantage of opportunities that come our way. You must know all about yourself, what are gaps in your skills and knowledge and be ready to fill them with professional development and personal development opportunities.

Not having a risk management strategy

In the event that your organisation has not produced or maintained a risk management strategy, this may be extremely problematic for you. Make sure you also participate in a full risk audit, which will allow you to identify any gaps in your system, policies, procedures and practices, and then target and eliminate them in a methodical fashion. Risk management consultants are qualified professionals who are skilled in the field of risk management. They offer advice, consultation and audit services to help businesses, corporations or individuals reduce their exposure to various types of risk.

The pace of change

Education and training organizations are responsible for the future of millions of learners. They cannot afford to be left behind, but it is no easy task to keep up with the pace of change. The ever-evolving nature of new technologies has changed the way that we work and live. The way that learners interact with content is also changing all the time, necessitating a shift in teaching styles to meet their needs. For example, mobile device usage has increased massively in recent years. A significant number of mobile users say they “never” use desktops or laptops anymore. This relatively sudden shift in technology will have an effect on how educators deliver learning material. With the fast pace of change, it is important for an education and training organization to keep up with the changes and offer solutions such as e-learning, m-learning according to the client’s expectations and the requirements dictated by the time and technologies.

New entrants into markets and new services

The need for a better product or service is what will drive new entrants to the market. In order to ensure you are ready to face them, you must conduct business analysis to analyze what your competitors offer and how you can improve on it. One of the best ways of doing this would be by looking at their digital footprint and studying social conversations about them on social media.

In order to make sure that you are successful in your new endeavor, you should:

  • Create an all-encompassing value proposition statement for your product and services,
  • Establish credibility with customers through testimonials and case studies,
  • Use the right marketing channels and tools such as ad networks or search engines

How to manage the disruptions?

Business upheavals and disruptions are continuously questioning the effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures. Risk management policies and procedures should consider these factors and evolve to keep up with these changes. This will ensure that businesses are at an advantage during such times of business upheavals and disruptions.

Why use CAQA services for risk assessment and risk management

The CAQA team can guide you to make well informed decisions about your organisation’s current and future needs. We consult businesses on how to manage their operations and increase profits. We do this by providing high quality, independent and impartial advice tailored to suit your situation. We are committed to the success of our clients, and we approach each task with care and attention. When you come to CAQA for help, you can be confident that we will listen carefully and work with you in your best interests.

You may be asking as to how we might assist you with business development, business analysis, risk management, auditing and regulatory compliance consulting. Please contact us by email at info@caqa.com.au.

 

 

October 4, 2021 Education, News Comments Off on Different types of disruptions in training and education businesses: What are they and how can they impact You?

The Australian Government supports eligible employers who hire an Australian Apprentice with a new Australian Apprenticeship Program

Boosting Apprenticeships Commencement (BAC) wage subsidy is a new wage subsidy announced by the federal government to assist apprentices and trainees who are eligible for the wage subsidy to complete their qualifications. The Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) scheme, worth $716 million, would give qualifying employers with a subsidy of up to 10 percent of an Australian Apprentice or trainee’s gross pay in their second year of work, and 5 percent in their third year, depending on their business needs.

These subsidies are limited to a total of $1,500 per quarter (paid in arrears) per apprentice or trainee in their second year, and $750 per quarter in their third year, per apprentice or trainee. Employers of apprentices or trainees who are registered with and entitled to receive the BAC wage subsidy are the only ones who can benefit from the subsidies. Registration for the BAC expires on March 31, 2022.

Under the new changes from October 2021, eligible employers will receive a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, and five per cent in the third year. The Morrison Government’s investment is expected to continue to support the 270,000 anticipated commencements under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program from October 2020 to March 2022.

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said the new Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program will help maintain a pipeline of skilled workers right across the economy with 348,200 Australians training as at June 2021, 30 per cent more than the previous 12 months.

‘The Morrison Government has supported a generation of Australian apprentices in the face of the biggest shock to our economy since World War Two,’ Minister Robert said.

‘While other countries shed their apprentice workforces, our highly successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement program saw new apprenticeships increase 141.5 per cent year on year.

‘The Morrison Government is now protecting the pipeline of apprentices today so they become the skilled workforce of tomorrow through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program, giving employers the confidence to retain an apprentice in their second and third years of training right through to completion.

‘Securing the skilled workforce of tomorrow through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program is in addition to a record $6.4 billion investment in skills this financial year, including a $500 million expansion of the JobTrainer Fund, which recently hit more than 230,000 course enrolments.’

Find more information, click here and ministers.dese.gov.au

October 4, 2021 News Comments Off on The Australian Government supports eligible employers who hire an Australian Apprentice with a new Australian Apprenticeship Program

Live webinar with CAQA – Your questions and answer series – Trainers and assessors competency and compliance requirements

The CAQA Live webinar series will be a great opportunity to learn from the experts who have been in this field for a long time.

What makes this event so special is that the CAQA team has personally selected the topics and speakers for this Webinar Series. They have also designed it to be specifically catered to anyone in the industry looking to advance their knowledge, skills, and abilities.

This month we are launching our “Your questions and our answers series”, a free webinar series that will occur on Friday the 29th of October, 2021 between 12 to 1 PM. If you have questions do not hesitate to send them to us and we will try to answer them during the live sessions.

The first topic we have selected is competency and compliance requirements for trainers and assessors.

In this series, you will learn about:

  • What are trainers and assessors?
  • The role of trainer and assessor in the workplace
  • How to become a qualified trainer or assessor?
  • What do the legislation, regulation and guidelines mention related to trainers and assessors?
  • What are the competencies that must be met for trainers and assessors?
  • What is the difference between training and assessment?

These webinars will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from experts in the field.

If you are interested to attend this free webinar, and also receive a certificate of attendance and participation, please click here.

October 4, 2021 News Comments Off on Live webinar with CAQA – Your questions and answer series – Trainers and assessors competency and compliance requirements

The strategies for achieving personal and professional success.

There are many strategies to success you can use in your life.

Some people are successful because they work hard. Other people are successful because they have a great opportunity that came their way. Some people are successful because they have the right connections, but most people are successful because they have good timing.

These strategies may not be easy to implement, but if you follow them and find ways to make them work for you, the chances of achieving your personal and professional success will increase.

Here are some of the best strategies that you can use in your personal and professional career.

Being responsive

It is critical to respond quickly and effectively to all stakeholders. For example, you’ve received an email from your manager. The options you have are to choose between reading and doing nothing or reading and checking how well you comprehended the instructions and information supplied.

Self-motivated learning

If you are interested in knowing more about a particular topic then you should conduct your own research and study the subject. If you are a learner, the curriculum, or the job description, are only the starting points of one’s learning journey. Self-motivated learning allows you to accomplish far more.

Enhance your research skills

You must understand how to conduct effective information research on the internet and through other offline mediums. For example, having the following abilities is required when searching for information:

  • Pay close attention to the details
  • Take note
  • Management of one’s time
  • Problem-solving
  • Good communication and reporting skills

Have a positive, can-do attitude

The vast majority of the work takes place in your head, regardless of the job task or activity you are performing; if you are clear about what you want, you will quickly figure out how to get it. Whatever your belief about your ability or inability to perform a job activity, you will find that the outcomes of you performing the job tasks will be pretty similar to your thinking. You must maintain a positive attitude, be self-assured, and be willing to deal with challenges or new duties that may arise in your life.

Embrace the change

When you embrace change, it means that you don’t perceive it as difficulty, but rather as an opportunity to grow yourself or experience amazing adventures. You must remain optimistic towards your current circumstances, your strengths, and your ability to adjust to change. Change forces you to grow as a person and become more evolved. You learn how to adapt to different situations, come up with creative solutions, and focus on accepting yourself. All of these adventures work together to help you grow as a person.

In partnership with Edu Learning and CAQA Skills, CAQA provides a variety of professional and personal development opportunities. We may also tailor the training to meet your specific requirements and skill level as well. For additional details, please contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

October 4, 2021 News, Training and Assessment Comments Off on The strategies for achieving personal and professional success.

What to do if you think someone is infringing on your copyright? – Margaret Ryan (lawyer and trademarks attorney)

The short answer is to speak to a lawyer. But make sure that they are the right lawyer. Copyright law (or, more generally, intellectual property law) is a specialisation. The law is complex, and your lawyer needs to be familiar with it.

A copyright lawyer will guide you through the process, but it typically involves:

  1. Gathering evidence of the infringement. You may have done this already. Keep any photos or screenshots of websites or purchases of the infringing product that you have made (with the receipt). If anyone has told you that they saw what they thought was your material somewhere else, keep a note of who said this to you, what they said and when. Show it all to your lawyer.
  2. Trap purchase – Your lawyer may want to obtain further evidence, such as a trap purchase, although this is usually not necessary if the copying can be seen on a website. A trap purchase involves, usually, a private investigator buying a copy of the allegedly infringing material. This can show the identity of the business that sold the material and the date of purchase and, if it becomes necessary, the investigator can give evidence in a Court case.
  3. Is there an infringement? – Your lawyer can then advise you whether or not there is an infringement in Australia. Reasons, why there may not be an infringement, include:
    • If the alleged infringer has permission to use the copyrighted material – you may need to check within your organisation to see whether there has been a grant of permission.
    • Is the material sufficiently close to be a copy? It is not necessary that the whole of your material has been taken, but it is necessary that the part taken is similar to your material.
    • Is there a possible defence to copyright infringement? There are quite a number of defences in Australian copyright law, but these usually do not allow copying for commercial use.
  4. Do you own the copyright? – The only persons who can threaten copyright infringement in Australia are the owner or the exclusive licensee of the copyright. Normally the copyright owner of written and artistic works is the author, or, if the work was created in the course of their employment, the employer. If you commissioned written resources or artwork and the contract says nothing about copyright, normally the author (or their employer) will own the copyright – not you. You need to work out who the author or authors of your material were (if it was not you) and check whether or not you own the copyright. Your lawyer may suggest that you seek an assignment of copyright, to transfer outstanding rights to you. It is possible that you cannot find the author, or they may wish to charge for assigning the rights to you. This is why it is best to get a copyright assignment at the time you engage the author.
  5. Letter to alleged infringer – This can either be from your organisation or on your lawyer’s letterhead. Some businesses may send a letter first and only consult a lawyer if these overtures are rejected. However, DIY enforcement is risky, in part because, if it turns out that there was no copyright infringement, or you did not own the copyright, you or your organisation may be liable for your “unjustified threats” of infringement to anyone who suffers loss because of your letter.
    A copyright lawyer can “ghost write” a letter to the infringer that is sent on your organisation’s letterhead which may be softer than a legal “letter of demand” (also called a “cease and desist” letter). Alternatively, the lawyer can write a stern letter of demand, requiring the infringement to stop, infringing materials be handed over and may ask for information designed to uncover the amount of profits made by the alleged infringer from its copyright infringement.
  6. After the letter of demand – hopefully the alleged infringer is willing to compromise, and there will usually be settlement negotiations and an agreement signed. Some parties may be prepared to stop but not pay any money. Others may deny infringement altogether. In these last two cases, if after further correspondence from your lawyer, they will not budge, you may consider suing them.
  7. Litigation (or going to Court) – This can be a very expensive undertaking and you will need to weigh up the pros and cons of litigation with your lawyer. Factors to consider are how much loss you have suffered e.g. from lost sales, has there been damage to your reputation or the exclusivity of your copyright material, how strong is your case legally and how reasonable is any offer from the alleged infringer.

The main remedy that is sought in copyright cases is a Court order to stop the infringement. Most cases settle along the way, but if the case goes to trial and you win, your legal costs may be greater than any compensation that you may receive. If you are successful, the Court will usually order the other side to pay a proportion of your legal costs – but the flipside is that, if you are unsuccessful, you may well have to pay the alleged infringer’s costs. This means that you need to think carefully before you press the litigation button. But, if the stakes are high enough, litigation may be recommended.

Margaret Ryan is a lawyer and trade marks attorney with over 30 years’ experience in intellectual property, including copyright, and consumer protection law, working with organisations to find solutions, maximise the value of their IP and protect their business. IP by Margaret® – www.ipbymargaret.com.au

October 4, 2021 News, RTO Comments Off on What to do if you think someone is infringing on your copyright? – Margaret Ryan (lawyer and trademarks attorney)

Message from the CEO (4 October 2021)

Message from the CEO

Our professional development event related to Skills First Funding was a huge success, with hundreds of people in attendance. We have made the video available online on our websites so that you can check out the material.

We are a team of quality and compliance experts who have been in the business for decades. We have been answering your questions since the early 2000’s and we thank you for sticking with us.
This month we are launching our “Your questions and our answers series”, a free webinar series that will occur on Friday the 29th of October between 12 to 1 PM. If you have questions do not hesitate to send them to us and we will try to answer them during the live sessions.

You can read more information in the “Your questions and our answers series” article. Join us for an hour of free compliance education! All attendees will receive certificates of attendance from us.
As always, if you require assistance in any way, please contact us via email at info@caqa.com.au.

Sukh Sandhu
CEO

October 4, 2021 News, VET Sector Comments Off on Message from the CEO (4 October 2021)

Influence of COVID-19 on future plans

Training providers indicated a strong interest in incorporating more online training in the future, with 61.8% of those who moved some training online in response to the pandemic confirming that they were likely to use more blended learning in the future.

In addition, other plans to expand online learning in the future included:

  • likely to permanently shift more units/parts of qualifications online (22.1%)
  • likely to permanently shift more full qualifications online (10.6%)

Influence of COVID-19 on future online training delivery plans (%)

All content from The online delivery of VET during COVID-19: Research Report by Sheila Hume & Tabatha Griffin. National Centre for Vocational Education Research

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Influence of COVID-19 on future plans

Delivery of training before and during COVID-19

Although there was a substantial transition (75.2%) to partial or full online delivery in response to COVID-19 (see the below table), more than half (52.5%) of the RTOs who did not (or could not) move any face-to-face training or assessment online had to suspend either full programs or certain subjects/units.

This issue raises the question of the immediate and longer-term impacts of these suspensions on students and, potentially, on RTO viability. Among those who did not move any training online, the main barriers preventing a transition were identified as unsuitable subject matter (47.5%) and the unsuitability of online delivery for students (44.4%). The next stage of this project will explore these issues in more depth through interviews with RTO staff

Incidence of shifting face-to-face training online in response to COVID-19, and barriers to shifting among those who did not move any training or assessment online (%)

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Delivery of training before and during COVID-19

Overview of training provider response.

COVID-19 has had an undeniable impact on the VET sector, with the significant and rapid transition to online learning early in the pandemic establishing the groundwork for and influencing the likelihood of RTOs using more blended learning in the future, as outlined in the below figure.

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Overview of training provider response.

Who pays and the relationship to online delivery?

The overall increase of online training has coincided with a substantial rise in the number of governments funded online-only subject enrolments, with these enrolments increasing by almost 362 600 in 2020 (an increase of 40.4%; table 3).

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Who pays and the relationship to online delivery?

Now and into the future

Approximately 12 months after the commencement of COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, only about one quarter (25.1%) of the surveyed RTOs who had transferred some face-to-face training online had reverted fully to their pre-COVID-19 approach to training.

The survey findings demonstrate a strong pattern of RTOs continuing to offer online training in areas where it was not available prior to COVID-19. More than one-third (35.5%) of respondents had only partially returned to their pre-COVID-19 approach to training delivery, while 23.3% were expanding online delivery, with a further 11.9% continuing to operate at the same level as their initial shift online.

More than 61% of RTOs who transitioned to at least some training online in response to COVID-19 indicated they would be more likely to use blended learning in the future

The ongoing and increased level of online delivery identified through the survey is reflected in the plans held by many survey respondents.

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Now and into the future

Is blended delivery the future of Australian VET education?

A research by Sheila Hume and Tabatha Griffin, NCVER demonstrate that there was a strong response from the VET sector to COVID-19 restrictions, with the number of subjects delivered online increasing by about 24% between 2019 and 2020. The research reported that the shift to online training delivery was more pronounced for government-funded subject enrolments than for those funded via domestic fee-for-service arrangements (increases of 40.4% and 15.7%, respectively).

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Is blended delivery the future of Australian VET education?

MIT tops QS employability ranking 2022

Global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds has named the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US as the leader of its graduate employability ranking for a second year in a row.

The QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 take a closer look into how well universities are preparing students for the world beyond higher education, using various ratings of employer partnerships, sectoral leaders among alumni and location-adjusted graduate employment rates.

For more information, please visit here.

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on MIT tops QS employability ranking 2022

Offshore learning hubs keep overseas students engaged

Universities in Australia and New Zealand, where borders have remained closed to international students for over 18 months, have found innovative ways to keep online learners engaged by setting up special learning centres in China.

And student ‘hubs’ elsewhere in Asia are supporting students enrolled in different universities overseas, and who would otherwise be isolated at home with online learning.

For more information, please visit here.

October 4, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Offshore learning hubs keep overseas students engaged
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