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Information about our programs and events can be found in our monthly newsletters.
Labour market info top
The Australian labour market is always changing, as a result of pressures such as technology changes, global events, an increase in part-time workers, increased involvement of women in the workplace etc. Some of the changes in the labour market involve changes to the demand for particular skills, for example, improvements in technology may have decreased the demand for particular skills for tasks which have now become automated, however has increased the demand for skills related to the use of technology. Some changes have also lead to skills shortages in particular occupations. Information regarding the labour market can be useful in helping people make career choices.
The following websites provide useful information regarding trends in industry, rates of employment and unemployment in regional areas, representation of men and women workers in particular industries, skills shortages etc.
Some of these sites provide other useful information, such as information about payslips, workplace rights, negotiating agreements on starting a new job, job loss, staring a business, pay and conditions and workplace issues:
http://www.workplace.gov.au/lmip/LabourForceData/
http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/LabourMarketAnalysis/
http://www.skillsinfo.gov.au/skills/Home.htm
http://jobsearch.gov.au/careers/pages/default.aspx
http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/
For information on award rates of pay, you can contact the office of industrial relations. They provide information on minimum rates of pay and employment conditions for jobs in major private sectors:
http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au
If you need assistance with information about an award, or the award that you are seeking is not listed, or you are unsure which award you are covered by, you can contact the Office of Industrial Relations online, or on 131 628 anywhere in NSW, and press the 9 as the option or (02) 9020 4849 for callers outside NSW.
Good news stories top
Child care toy winners
Fifteen year 9 and 10 students from Ku-ring-gai Creative Arts High attended the Childcare Taster day organised by MEGT in partnership with North West BEN on 4 May. They were advised about opportunities in the childcare industry, different career pathways available into the industry and the different types of centres those already in the industry are working in.
Following this event students were given the opportunity to take part in an Adopt a School Project, a competition in which students design a toy and provide a written summary of that toy. This was judged according to set criteria by staff at one of the centres visited, such as durability of the resource, presentation and creativity and developmental benefit. The winning student was to receive a $100 Westfield voucher.
The winner of this competition was Kirsten Levy, who created an underwater diorama which was commended for the extended play opportunities with additional sea creatures and the different textures she had incorporated into the toy, as well as the addition of fact boxes, considering many young children can read at an early age.
Two runner-ups were also identified, Stephanie Martin who built a red plane which students at the centre enjoyed playing with, and Peter Gilbert who created a cause-and-effect ‘ball and box’ toy. Congratulations to all winners.
Work placement as a trial
During visits to some of our employers who have hosted students on work placements last year, besides commenting on the high quality of students they had hosted for work placement, several have reported to us that they had been impressed enough with students to offer them part time or full time jobs.
One of the benefits for employers of taking on work placement students is the opportunity to trial a potential employee, and employers as well as students certainly seem to be benefitting from this.
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