Star Rating Scheme

The Star Rating Scheme is administered by The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence and recognises excellence in trade and skills training among TAFE and private Registered Training Organisations.

Pam Christy – TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute Director stresses the importance of the independent, industry conferred Star Rating Scheme

“At TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute we are proud to have been assessed as providing top quality training at our colleges.

The star rating scheme is public recognition for the excellent links that we have with industry, the calibre of our teachers and our facilities.

Most importantly this industry rating helps potential students find out which training providers are specialist centres in their field of interest”.


The Star Rating Scheme identifies the very best training providers, industry by industry, to enable employers, career counselors, potential students, and parents to distinguish excellence in trade training by evaluating training providers.

Industry areas within Registered Training Organisations which apply receive either a: One Gold Star; Two Gold Star; or Three Gold Star Rating to indicate that they have achieved excellent results for their students.

The Star Rating Scheme focuses on the following eight areas of skill shortage:
- Automotive
- Building & Construction
- Electrical
- Hospitality & Personal Services
- Manufacturing
- Metals & Engineering
- Mineral Resources
- Rural & Farming

Evaluations are carried out against three broad criteria that were developed in partnership with the industry.

The evaluation process includes an initial self evaluation by the relevant faculty or school, followed by a site visit to schools or faculties who demonstrate potential to achieve a One Gold Star, Two Gold Star or Three Gold Star rating.

Brian Wexham, Chief Executive Officer of The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence said that The Star Rating Scheme reassures students that they are selecting the most appropriate course.

“One of the biggest concerns when choosing a training organisation to attend is whether or not it will get people the job they want when they complete the course. Thanks to The Star Ratings Scheme, prospective students and employers now have a credible source to help them with their decision.

“The Scheme aims to recognise high performing registered training providers and help individual schools and faculties understand exactly what their clients want from their training.

“The Star Rating Scheme is an industry driven initiative and has been developed by The Institute and industry to provide a platform that will deliver the vocational training outcomes required to meet industry needs” said Mr Wexham.

Rick Duynhoven of Randwick College sees the scheme as a benchmarking tool and one which inspires reflection.

“The star rating scheme is an excellent opportunity for teaching sections to reflect on their current teaching practices and relationships with industry. Whilst the teaching section have all the best intentions to provide the best teaching and educational service to students and industry, the Star Rating scheme provides position feedback against the benchmarks required by the industry which is the customer.

For a complete list of courses which have received a Star Rating go to the following site: www.skillsone.com.au/Article/60/5/Star-Rating-Scheme/

2008 Trades and Skills Winner Announced

Northern Territory Delivering Teaching Excellence

Brian Heim is announced the 2008 Australian

Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year

Friday, 21^st November 2008 ‐Dr. Brian Heim, a resident of Katherine NT, was named the National Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year at the Australian Training Awards Gala Dinner which took place last night at the Darwin Convention Centre.

Dr Heim competed against fourteen winners from eight industry categories to take out the title of National Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year 2008. The Awards were presented by Deputy Prime Minister The Hon Julia Gillard MP.

Dr. Heim works as the NT Manager of Primary Industries & Community Services with Charles Darwin University. He tackled the shortage of VETs in an unique way. He leads a team of teaching professionals and provides hands-on involvement by skilling cattle producers in testing animals for pregnancy prior to live export.

He was interviewed along with three other candidates at The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year event on the 31st October. At this event he was awarded the Agriculture Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award.

Aaron Devine, Director of Vocational Education Training (VET) at CDU understands clearly the reason why Dr. Heim was recognized.

“Brian’s fulfils all the qualities we look for at CDU in our trainers and leaders: hard working, industry respected, and resilient. This award is a credit to his commitment to his industry and the indigenous communities in which he works”.

Dr. Heim is a firm believer in the importance of these awards. “I believe that there are many VET teachers out there who are also deserving of recognition and thank the Institute for identifying and providing a pathway for teachers in a wide variety of trades and skills areas to demonstrate just how good they really are”.

“Winning the overall 2008 Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year award on top of the Trade Teacher Award for Agriculture is a huge honour for me”.

Mr Brian Wexham, Chief Executive Officer of The Institute emphatically reiterates the importance of regognising Australia’ s trades and skills teachers and explains the concept behind the awards.

“This award acknowledges leadership in developing tomorrow’s trades and skills professionals. It was established to give deserving teachers like Brian Heim in the trades and skills arena the opportunity to implement professional developmental projects, that otherwise would not have been possible without funding.

“The awards also demonstrate a commitment to excellence providing quality outcomes for industry and importantly, the students”.

Mr Duncan Fraser of the NFF says the Award, which pits winners from eight industry categories against each other – including Automotive; Manufacturing; Building and Construction; Metals and Engineering; Electrical; Mineral Resources; Hospitality, Tourism and Services; and Rural and Farming – is important recognition for agriculture teachers.

“We know the vital and growing role skills-based education and training plays in modern farming’s ability to be competitive and sustainable,” he said. “The farm sector is screaming out for not only more employees, but a higher skilled and more qualified workforce than at any time in our history”.

“We congratulate Dr Heim, for his excellent work in not just leading a team of teaching professionals, but for his hands-on involvement in skilling cattle producers”.

Brian Wexham further states that the Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award recognises teachers who dedicate their lives to ensuring tomorrow’s trades and skills people are armed with the very best skills through their innovative teaching methods.

“The Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award derives its success from identifying teachers who are able to move beyond delivering only to curriculum and who meet industry standards to ensure Australia continues to turn out the most highly skilled men and women,” said Mr Wexham.

Please go to www.skillsone.com.au for further information on the Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award winners.

2008 Trades and Skills Teacher Awards Close for Nomination -5th September

Hello All,

Just a friendly reminder to those of you in Australia that the 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards will close for nomination on the 5th Septemeber. With prize money of $5,000 and recognition from peers and industry on offer- all good reasons to nominate!

There is still plenty of time for you to nominate your favourite teacher or indeed to self nominate, in the following categories:

Automotive
Manufacturing
Building & Construction
Metals & Engineering
Electrical
Mineral Resources
Hospitality & Personal Services
Rural & Farming

Further information and a entry form can be found by following this link;
http://www.tradeskills.com.au/trades_and_skills_teacher_awards_2008_about.html

Thank you,
Gemma.

Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards

Hello All,

Nominations will soon close for the 2008 Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards.

Give a teacher you know the recognition that he or she deserves and the chance to win $5,000.
Or if you are a trades or skills teacher why not nominate yourself.

Go to www.itse.com.au for more information.
Remember nomination for the awards close on the 5th Septemeber.

Go on nominate today!

World Skills Event

Hello All,

SkillsOne have been very busy this weekend and have filmed and filmed and captured all the skills and emotions of the competitors at the WorldSkills competition.

Videos can be viewed on www.skillsone.com.au/worldskillsone/


Happy Viewing!

Gemma.

SkillsOne-New Online Magazine

Hello All,

SkillsOne going even one step further in innovation- have just launched a new online magazine- an e-zine. it's called One+1 and is available to view here:

http://www.skillsone.com.au/Ezine/1/

SkillsOne Videos Now Available for All to Embed

Great news for all those looking to promote trades or skills from stonemasonary to scuba diver instructor- the gambit is wide and varied...at www.skillsone.com.au videos are now available for all to embed.

SkillsOne is the ultimate resource for all info and videos on trades and skills. The SkillsOne team captures peoples passion, skill and love for the job and this is obvious to all those who watch the videos.

Go to http://www.skillsone.com.au/ to find out how to embed videos in your webpage or blogspot.

2008 Trades and Skills Teacher Awards Now Open

The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence has announced the 2008 Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards are open for nomination via http://www.itse.com.au/

Following the success of the inaugural Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards in 2007, The Institute is again calling for nominations for the very best Trades and Skills Teachers across Australia who work in Registered Training Organisations, including TAFE’s and Private training colleges.

The Institute has announced twenty three categories for the Awards (outlined below), across their eight industry groups: Automotive; Building and Construction; Electrical; Manufacturing; Metals and Engineering; Hospitality and Personal Services; Rural and Farming; and Mineral Resources.

From the semi-finalist Industry Trades and Skills Teachers, eight finalists will be chosen by the Institutes‘ industries of focus, following which the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher will be named at the Australian Training Awards which will take place on Thursday, 20 November, in Darwin.

The 2007 Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year was Marion Fitzpatrick from Northern Sydney TAFE in Ryde New South Wales, who was awarded for her commitment to developing and improving the quality of teaching in the Cookery field.

“Since being named the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year I have had the unique opportunity of participating in the recent 2020 Summit and contributing my views on how education and skills development might look by the year 2020.
“Winning the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year has enabled me to further my skills and development in the Hospitality Industry,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.

Gary Sewell was named the 2007 Bakery Trade Teacher of the Year. Gary used his prize money to further develop his e-learning program to train bakers by distance which has now been implemented by a number of top baking franchises across the country including Bakers Delight and Tip Top.

Gary said that he would never have been able to launch such a program if The Institute hadn’t awarded him Bakery Trade Teacher of the Year.
“There’s no doubt about it, the $5,000 project money received from The Institute was the impetus for this project...with the $5,000 we ran pilot classes, were able to set in place the resources and framework to then roll out the Fast Track Apprenticeship Project.

Gary used the prize money from The Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Awards to further develop his project and apply for a $50,000 grant from the Federal Government.

“Without the prize money from The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence we wouldn’t have been able to approach the Government for Federal funding for the program,” Mr Sewell said.

About the Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award

The Trades and Skills Teacher Awards are run by The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence, an organization dedicated to recognizing excellence in trades and skills education and training.

Brian Wexham, The Chief Executive Officer of The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence said that
“This Award acknowledges leadership in developing tomorrow’s skills and trades professionals. It was established to give deserving teachers in the trades and skills arena the opportunity to implement professional developmental projects, that otherwise would not have been possible without funding.

“The Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year Award derives its success from identifying teachers who are able to move beyond delivering only to curriculum and who meet industry standards to ensure Australia continues to turn out the most highly skilled men and women,” said Mr Wexham.

Go to http://www.itse.com.au/ to apply.

Campus Review

Campus Review

Letter to the Editor from Brian Wexham
Chief Executive Officer
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence


In this article Brian Wexham discuss's the future of The Institute and how The Institute will remain strong and in operation