The latest regional community-driven projects to receive funding in round two of the Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants program were announced in January.
Funded projects include accommodation, food processing businesses, and distillery and function venue in the Great Southern; a microbrewery and restaurant, fisher memorial and art installation, tourist shuttle bus, and night laser show at Geraldton’s Wind on Water Festival in the Mid-West; two brewery projects, branding and marketing, and trails infrastructure in the South West; and food processing businesses, and the Leonora Golden Gift 2020 event in Goldfields-Esperance.

Grants for businesses in the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Peel were announced late 2019.

​McGowan Government Media statements: 

• RED grants drive manufacturing, tourism in Great Southern; 
• RED Grant job boost for Mid-West; 
• Regional grants back South-West tourism; 
• RED grants shape future growth in Goldfields-Esperance 

Cruise Geraldton’s Meet & Greet Volunteers were presented the Active Citizenship Award at Geraldton’s Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year Awards.
This volunteer group has been running for 15 years, since the first cruise ship arrived in Geraldton in 2005.
​According to Mid-West Port Authority CEO Rochelle MacDonald; “The Cruise Geraldton Meet & Greet volunteers play an integral role in the passenger experience, which in turn determines a cruise ships rating of the destination. If we don’t get it right, these ships won’t return to Geraldton, and with the economic benefit that is derived from cruise.”
From an article in Cruise Weekly’s 20 January 2020 issue. 

The Department of Training and Workforce Development has released a new Guide to Western Australian school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.  The Guide was developed collaboratively with stakeholders and provides detailed information on SBATs. It was developed to help provide support to schools, registered training organisations, employers, students, parents and other stakeholders operating in Western Australia’s apprenticeship and traineeship system.
 
The Guide provides information on the important aspects involved in an SBAT arrangement including:

• an SBAT quick guide which highlights the key steps involved in an SBAT from starting out through to completion;
• real life examples to make it easier to understand how SBATs actually work in practice;
• information on the different roles and responsibilities of each of the stakeholders, including the importance of effective communication and collaboration; and
• website links for easy access to fact sheets, forms and other relevant information.  

 
View and download the Guide

The Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club Dive and Snorkel Trail has opened in the Marmion Marine Park, offshore in Perth’s north.
The 400-metre interactive trail incorporates 20 underwater plinths with illustrations by Kellee Merritt that feature a range of sea creatures likely to be encountered in the marine park.
Accompanying the trail is a mural painted on the outside of the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club (MAAC) by local artist Brenton See, featuring land-based information and safety signage. The MAAC Dive and Snorkel Trail is a collaboration between the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club.
McGowan Government media statement

PwC Skills for Australia will be visiting Perth from 4-5th February 2020, and Bunbury on 6th February, for stakeholder consultations relating to a review of the Technical Live Production, and Visual Arts, Craft and Design suite of qualifications from the CUA Creative Arts and Culture Training Package. Broad attendance at these rare consultations is encouraged, in support of good representation of Western Australian sector needs in the development of these qualifications.

Complete a brief survey and register to attend here:
Visual Arts, Craft and Design
Technical Live Production

The Print and Visual Communication Association has announced that entries into the 2020 Printing Industry Creativity Awards are now open.
 
The Printing Awards set the benchmark for excellence in print in Australia, with the achievement of a Gold Medal a confirmation of achievement to the highest national, and international standards, and the ultimate accolade the industry can bestow.
 
A new panel of international judges will award the best the industry has to offer.  Categories have been revised for 2020. 
 
Key dates for prospective entrants in Western Australian are:

• 30th May - Perth, Western Australia PICA
• 31st July - National Print Awards (Sydney)

PVCA members receive their first entry free.  To enter the awards, go to  at www.printingawards.com.au or see www.pvca.org.au.
 

Expressions of interest for the third round of the Aboriginal Ranger Program are now open.
Under the program, new and existing Aboriginal organisations can employ and train rangers to carry out land and sea management and tourism activities across a range of tenures in remote and regional WA. Funded projects in rounds 1 and 2 have involved cultural awareness and immersion experiences for visitors, guided welcome to country tours, management of visitors or tourists and tourism assets, and education programs and mentoring.
Expressions of interest can be submitted to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and are open until March 27, 2020. Expression of interest application form and Program guidelines are available here.
​McGowan Government Media statement

NCVER is calling for presentations for the 29th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference 'No Frills'  being hosted by NCVER and North Metropolitan TAFE  in Perth on 8-10 July 2020.

'No Frills' is a well-known annual national conference where researchers, practitioners, providers and industry representatives come together and share knowledge, ideas, insights and solutions around Australia's VET sector.

The theme for the 2020 conference is Workforce ready: challenges and opportunities for VET.  Almost all workers will need to upskill or retrain throughout their working lives. What challenges and opportunities does this present for VET, and what plans should we be making for the future?

Submissions close on 17 February 2020.

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The December AISC communique reports on matters covered at the 29th meeting of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee and the Industry Reference Group Chairs Day held on 3 and 4 December respectively, including:

• the COAG Skills Council;
  
• VET Reform;
  
• Training Package Development Program Evaluation;
  
• the IRC Working Group; and
  
• Training Packages

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Regional Western Australia has come out on top in the latest round of the State Government's Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF), with 16 country-based groups securing funding to develop local sport projects.
 
Five Perth-based sport and recreation projects have also received funding - taking the total amount allocated this round to $697,000.
 
In the South West, funds have been provided for the construction of standalone women's change rooms at the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club and to install new track lighting at the Collie Speedway.
 
There was also funding for projects as far south as Albany and north to Broome. In the city, the Cockburn BMX track and South Perth Junior Cricket Club, among others, received grants.
 
The CSRFF provides sport and recreation clubs and local governments with funding support to help develop grassroots sport projects - providing communities around the State with places to play sport and recreate.
 
Read more about the CSRFF