NEWSLETTER

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• RESA News
• Events
• Training Programs
• Funding Opportunities
• Industry News

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2011 is coming to an end, but the team at RESA are showing no signs of slowing down.

We have recently launched our new website, so please take a moment to have a look after reading our newsletter, to learn more about the solutions RESA is providing to industry.

Please also be sure to visit the website for the 2012 RESA Skills Summit in Adelaide which you will read about later in this newsletter.

We hope you enjoy reading about whats been happening at RESA. May the year ahead be one to remember and have a Merry Christmas!

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RESA AND SACOME SIGN MOU

RESA and SACOME have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to achieve improved outcomes through collaboration in developing the skills and workforce of the South Australian Resource Sector.

The Memorandum was executed by the SACOME President Mr John Roberts and Chair of the RESA board, Mr Paul Dowd and witnessed by Chief Executive Jason Kuchel (SACOME) and Chief Executive Officer Phil de Courcey (RESA).

The memorandum describes the mutually agreed responsibilities of each party to achieve these objectives, and management arrangements.

EYRE PENINSULA WORKFORCE STUDY LAUNCH

The Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance and the Training and Skills Commission recently launched the Resources Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula (WEP) Workforce Scoping Study on the 27th October 2011 and we are pleased to share with you a copy of the final report.

The Study commissioned by the TaSC was requested by  Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre, to scope   the Workforce demand of the sector and to identify the social and economic impacts the expanding mining industry will have on the region.

The report provides up to date data on the current and forecasted workforce through to 2020 based on occupation.  It forecasts and details considerable workforce growth in that region, should the seven mines included in the study proceed to operating phase, it estimates more than 2200 ongoing direct jobs will be created in mining and processing operations over the next decade.

RESOURCES WORKFORCE PLANNING COUNCIL

RESA coordinated the first official meeting of the Resources Workforce Planning Council on Thursday 1st December 2011.  The council is a cross representation of the resources sector and aligned industries, with representation from the Mining Sector, Small to Medium Enterprises, suppliers, contractors, labour hire, Department for Education and child development and industry bodies.

The council appointed Darryl James, Training Manager OZ Minerals and Phil Benton, Training Manager Boart Longyear to co-chair the council.

The council is driven by passionate industry representatives to develop innovative solutions; to improve the training capability within the state, achieve efficiencies through innovative training delivery and identify the career pipeline for improved attraction and retention strategies.

RESA REGIONAL MANAGER ELECTED TO THE GLOBAL MAINTENANCE BOARD

Congratulations to Renee Preece, Regional Manager of RESA who has recently been elected as a board member for Global Maintenance, Upper Spencer Gulf.

Renee will be a valuable board member with her strategic outlook for skills in the resource sector and overall knowlege of industry in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

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2012 RESA SKILLS SUMMIT - REGISTER NOW!

“Enhancing Company competitiveness through an innovative and socially responsible approach to your workforce” is the theme of the inaugural Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA) Skills Summit to be held on 22 February 2012 in Adelaide.

The RESA Skills Summit will focus on strategies and solutions to address skills shortages within the resources and aligned sectors, drawing on the experience of industry leaders who will identify initiatives that can be applied to address South Australia's skills and labour needs.

The Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills Tom Kenyon will open the conference, and other confirmed speakers include Paul Heithersay, Chair of the Olympic Dam Expansion Taskforce, Catherine Pattenden from the Centre of Social Responsibility and Mining and Chris Natt of the Minerals Council of Australia, with further talent yet to be announced.

The event will be more than a theoretical exercise so people leave at the end of the day armed with new insights and effective strategies that can be adapted to their own needs.

To register for the 2012 RESA Skills Summit visit the website.

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RESOURCES INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

RESA has been working with the Australian Training Alliance (ATA) to coordinate the delivery of a Resources Indigenous leadership Program in Roxby Downs and Ceduna.

The program, which entails a Certificate IV in Frontline Management, followed by cultural awareness units have attracted 30 employees from Iluka Resources, Exact Mining, Xceptional Recruitment and the Far West Coast Traditional Lands Association, who are all well underway in up skilling to create a career progression pathway.

Watch this space for further updates.
Photo courtesy of OZ Minerals.

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CRITICAL SKILLS INVESTMENT FUND

RESA has been successful in an application for Critical Skills Investment Fund securing 540 training places to up skill existing workers and new entrants to the Resources and Engineering sector.

The aggregated application represents the training needs of 10 resources sector organisations and leverages $2.2 million to subsidise the total cost of training.

The Critical Skills Investment Fund is a DEEWR funded initiative subsidising between 50% and 90% of the cost of training, the level of support calculated on the size of the organisations workforce. The program will support the VET qualifications and nationally endorsed skills sets in line with the Australian Quality Training Framework.

PRODUCTIVITY PLACES PROGRAM EXISTING WORKERS

RESA has been success in an application for Productivity Places Program (PPP) securing $804,000 to subsidise the cost of training to up skill 222 existing workers with VET qualifications. RESA's aggregated application supports the training needs of 7 resource sector organisations with training to be carried out of the next two years.

PPP is a competitive funding initiative, administered by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) providing up to 90% subsidy to up-skill existing workers with nationally endorsed Vocational Education Training qualifications. The program will support a range of qualifications at Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels.

The Productivity Places Program is a part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the Future initiative and is a joint federal and state government and industry initiative to raise the skill level of people already in the workforce and address South Australia's skill demand.

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ASSETS PROGRAM

ASSETS is an annual, national, residential summer school designed to engage 30 Aboriginal students in cutting edge science education, excite them about study and career possibilities, enhance and consolidate their cultural understandings and leadership potential and support them as they work to achieve their goals.

Dannielle Ghezzi, 2009 Alumni states, “ASSETS made me realise that I had a passion for science.  In 2012 I will graduate to become a “medical scientist” and I hope to become a researcher in biotechnology and push for more research and application into Indigenous Health.”

ASSETS is running our first micro-donation campaign to raise much needed funds to continue changing the lives of students like Dannielle.  Please click here to donate and find out more.

RESOURCES AND ENERGY CAREERS PROMOTION ROADSHOW

The Resources & Energy Program (REP), an initiative of the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) with RESA and DFEEST’s SA Works, recently staged a Careers Roadshow for the mining, engineering and energy generation sectors in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

The aim of the initiative was to increase awareness of careers in the resources sector and engaging and bringing together students, parents, teachers, training organisations, employers, industry and industry groups and the community.

Industry leaders explained what employers are looking for in an employee and the skills needed to succeed. Information on how career pathways can be accessed and how to apply for work within the mining and energy generation sector was supplied to over 300 participants in Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla.

Contact Sean Holden, Principal Manager - Resources & Energy Program for further information.

NEW WHS LEGISLATION KICKS OFF

In early 2012, the new National Harmonised Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations will come into force.

As a result organisations across Australia will need to enhance skills of their Management, Supervisors and Employees.  Owners, Directors and Senior Officers will have a big role in ensuring Operational risk controls are progressively being driven for all resource alliance organisations during 2012.

NSW and QLD have already implemented the changes and the other states including SA are in the process of finalisation of the Act and Regulations. Safework information sessions are being held in each State and implementation progress will vary for the introduction across States

Norgrove Training, a nationally recognised training provider of RESA clients, is rolling out a comprehensive series of educational, active learning and training programs. These sessions will be targeting Directors, Owners, Officers, Supervisors, Safety Reps, Committees, Contractors and Employees, with sessions commencing in early 2012.

Norgrove Training welcomes your interest and invites you to participate in these sessions.

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