Annual Report 2006 - TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute

Our Business - Growth and DiversificationPartnerships and commercial venturesNorthern Sydney Institute has been successful in forgingpartnerships with industry as part of its strategy to growthe business and enhance professional developmentopportunities for its staff. In 2006 NSI sought to developnew, and enhance existing, inter-organisational relationshipsand partnerships.Northern Sydney Institute and Expect-A-Star EducationServices, entered into a partnership to deliver intensiveprograms in Children’s Services to address a skills shortage inthe industry. The Certificate III and Diploma-level programsare designed to fast track the training of those withexperience in the childcare industry, mature-age workerswith previous relevant work experience or anyone wanting toupdate their existing qualifications to nationally recognisedTAFE NSW qualifications. The partnership gives participantsaccess to industry-based recruitment consultants, optionsfor casual work, and a job placement service when theyhave completed their course. Graduates of the Diplomalevelcourse are also able to gain credits to enter relevantdegree-level programs at Charles Sturt, Macquarie, NewEngland or Western Sydney universities. The first graduatescompleted courses at the end of 2006, and two new groupsare set to start courses in early 2007.The Institute has signed deeds of delivery with a numberof hairdressing chains including Cordony Hairdressing,Cassidy’s and the Art of Hair, allowing them to delivertraining in their salons. Assessment and certification will becarried out by NSI.Northern Sydney Institute commenced a major three-yearcontract with Scientific Management Associates (SMA) todeliver training in Fabrication, Welding, Composite BoatBuilding, Fitting, Machining and Hydraulics to the RoyalAustralian Navy, with the option of a two-year extension.For the first time NSI delivered the Aboriginal CulturalAwareness Program to a group of Department ofEnvironment and Conservation staff. Training was conductedat numerous local aboriginal heritage sites.In 2006 the Institute continued to build on its relationshipwith the Wrigley Company Pty Ltd delivering a repeatof the successful customised Certificate IV in FrontlineManagement delivered onsite to a range of personnel,including production staff.The Institute also delivered the Certificate IV in Training andAssessment to over 50 employees of the CommonwealthBank and 60 employees of QANTAS Airways and WarringahCouncil, using a combination of recognition of prior learningon and offsite training, and some online learning.Northern Sydney Institute commenced delivery of theCertificate IV in Aged Care to staff from a number of localaged-care organisations, using funding accessed throughthe Better Skills for Better Care Program. Aged-care workersobtained or upgraded their qualifications, which helped toensure that the workforce is able to meet the needs of ourageing population in the coming years. Staff from NewHorizons Aged-Care Facility, SMJJH Camelot Pty Ltd, SirMoses Montefiore Jewish Home and Calvary RetirementCommunity Ryde Ltd received training as part of thisarrangement.NSI forged a strong relationship with Hornsby Shire Council,which benefited both organisations and the broadercommunity. In addition to a WELL (Workplace EnglishLanguage and Literacy) program for 70 staff, the Institutedelivered Environmental Work Practices training for 50staff, which was designed to raise the awareness of outdoorworkers about the environmental impact of their work.Northern Beaches College delivered Elements of ShipboardSafety for the Commonwealth Department of Environmentand Heritage in Canberra with more courses proposed for2007.Specialist horticulture and environmental training wasundertaken by Ryde College, delivering AboriculturalAwareness training to employees of the NSW Land andEnvironment Court and enterprises such as CountryEnergy.Building on a strong existing relationship with SydneyTurf Club, Ryde College delivered customised corporateculturetraining to 560 staff through one-day workshops,focusing on achieving change management within theorganisation. Additional training was delivered in effectivestaff management to 60 full-time and casual employees.The Institute delivered Japanese culture and languagetraining onsite to employees of Canon Information SystemsAustralia to enhance their cross-cultural communicationskills and understanding.Technical training in fibre optics, safety inspection andtesting, and restricted electrical licence/work, were deliveredto enterprises including AARNET, Dematic, Douwe EgbertsCoffee Systems, JOEL, NECA Group training and ServiceStream.NSI provided CISCO CCNA training to two groups of TCNChannel Nine employees.Annual Report 2006 15