Disability Coordination Office ACT - Negotiating the Maze

A new virtual Centre for Work Experience (CWE) has been developed in Western Australia through Edith Cowan University. Launched in June 2006, the CWE project was funded by the WA Department of Education and Training. According to its website, the goal of the CWE project is 'to develop a specialist and centralised source of on-line information and resources pertaining to work experience. It aims to assist those who seek work experience as well as to support employers, educational institutions, career practitioners and others who offer assistance to those seeking work placements'.

For further information on the CWE, contact: Lucretia Radhakrishnan, Project Officer, Youth Career Development Services, WA Department of Education and Training, Ph: (08) 9264 5732; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or visit: http://www.cwe.org.au

Source: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies – News: No. 123, November 2006

Canberra University (UC) has started accepting enrolment for undergraduate courses directly through their Admission Office. In the past, the only way to access UC undergraduate courses was via the University Admission Centre (UAC).

Applications can be submitted directly to the Admission Office for immediate assessment. One advantage of a direct application is the ready course advice we are able to provide. If you are mature-age and unsure about making an application or of your chances of getting into your course of choice, then please contact the University on 1300 301 727 for further advice. Staff are available to assist you with making a direct application.

For additional info call 1300 301 727 or visit:

www.canberra.edu.au/announcements/current/direct-application

Community organisations now have the opportunity to utilise the skills of a high achieving UWS student or graduate. With a suite of programs ranging from 4 weeks to 24 weeks, Cooperative Programs provides an innovative, economical way to resource a community project or position. Non-profit and community organisations may be eligible for a special rate for Vacation Projects.

In the past, talented students and graduates have completed diverse community placements, including:

• Data research on the mentally ill and homeless - Parramatta Mission
• Website development - Country Children's Services Association
• "Job Readiness" Project - Penrith Chamber of Commerce Employment & Training
• Vocational education requirements - Blacktown Regional Economic & Employment Development
• Quality assurance system - Blue Mountains Disability Services
• Survey of long term unemployed job seekers - Wesley Uniting Employment

To find out more about how your organisation could participate in these programs, phone: 02 9678 7193 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web: www.uws.edu.au/cooperative_programs

Source: IDEAS Inc E-NEWS Issue 29, 21 Dec 2006

Skills for the Future is a set of major new initiatives, announced by the Prime Minister on 12 October 2006. These initiatives, worth $837 million over five years, will focus on the need for continuous upgrading of skills over the course of an individual's working life.

The following groups fall under this initiative:

• Career Advice Australia (CAA) - an Australian Government initiative that provides a comprehensive national career development and transition support system for all young Australians aged 13 to 19 years.
• Australian Technical Colleges - cater for Years 11 and 12 students who wish to study for their Year 12 certificate and start an apprenticeship whilst still at school.
• Australian Apprenticeships - formerly known and New Apprenticeships - apprenticeships and traineeships that combine time at work with training. These can be full-time, part-time or school-based.
• SkillsInfo www.skillsinfo.gov.au/  providing skills-related information on education, training, industries and regions and data on industry employment trends and prospects.
• Australian Skills Vouchers Programme - targets basic skills development and business skills training for eligible Australians. As part of this program:
  • From January 2007, if you are 25 years or older you can apply for a voucher for up to $3,000 to complete Year 12 or enrol in a vocational Certificate II course.
  • From July 2007, if you are a worker 30 years or older, wage subsidies of up to $150 a week will be made available to take up an Australian Apprenticeship.

For more information, please visit: www.skillsforthefuture.gov.au/about.htm

or call the Skills for the Future Info Line on 13 38 73

The Info Line (13 38 73) was developed to provide information on all the initiatives under the Skills for the Future campaign. The information line will handle all incoming calls, provide information and career related resources.

Members voted to change ACROD’s name to National Disability Services Limited (NDS) at the Annual General Meeting on 29 November 2006.

After considering views from members for and against the change, more than 75% voted in favour.

The AGM occurred at the end of Day One of the CEO Meeting. Members at the CEO Meeting heard a diverse and strong program of speakers on topics including workforce recruitment and retention, creative thinking, the unwritten ground rules that shape organisational culture, laws relating to sexual activity as they affect people with intellectual disability, music therapy, benchmarking, industrial relations, tax and disability policy directions. Presentations from the CEO Meeting can be viewed at: www.acrod.org.au/conferences/CEO2006/presentations.htm

Source: IDEAS Inc E-NEWS Issue 29, 21 Dec 2006