Grassroots sport and recreation clubs throughout Western Australia now have access to a comprehensive online resource offering instant access to resources, support and guidance to help volunteers run their local teams. The Every Club Hub, launched by Sport and Recreation and Volunteering Minister Mick Murray today, is a one-stop shop for the State's 5,500 community sporting clubs and their volunteers.
Featuring everything from guides to running club finances, writing grant funding applications, and running a social media account, the Every Club Hub provides guidance on the many tasks club volunteers need to manage. It was developed following State-wide consultation with 760 clubs and 92 local governments, with strong representation from the regions. Read more.

​FutureNow will close for Christmas at noon on Friday 21 December 2018 and re-open on Monday 7 January 2019. ​We would like to thanks our Board and stakeholders for their invaluable contribution to our work and we look forward to working with our industries again in the new year.

Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) has received $700,000 towards equipment and safety devices to support the nippers program, thanks to the State Government and Lotterywest. SLSWA has 8,000 Western Australian children aged five to 12 in their nippers program, held at 31 of their clubs around the State - with enrolments growing from year to year.
The new equipment and safety devices will contribute to a development program that sees nippers taken all the way from learning water awareness and surf safety to becoming a qualified surf lifesaver. This will add to the already extensive pool of surf lifesavers who provide an invaluable service to the community in patrolling our beaches and keeping Western Australians safe in the surf. Read more here.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) has appointed Mark Coughlan as Chief Executive Officer. Mark Coughlan is a company director, pianist, music critic, teacher and concert promoter. He established the Government House Ballroom concert series in 2006 and held the position of Head of the School of Music at the University of Western Australia from 1995-2003.
WASO Chairman Richard Goyder said, ‘We are delighted that Mark has accepted the role of CEO. He has made a significant contribution to the music community of Western Australia over many years and provided valuable guidance to WASO over the last decade as a member of our board. Following an extensive search, we are confident that Mark is best placed to continue to build WASO’s international reputation for artistic excellence and community engagement.’
He will commence his role as Chief Executive Officer in January 2019, succeeding Craig Whitehead, who departs the company after ten years.
Read more.

Following consultation with stakeholders the Department of Training and Workforce Development has updated its Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy. The policy provides information for stakeholders involved in regulated apprenticeships and traineeships in Western Australia.
The policy has been simplified and incorporates existing policy positions from a number of related policies. The consolidated policy now includes the School Based Apprenticeship Policy, Travel and Accommodation Allowance Policy, Trade Skills Recognition Policy and the Trade Certificate Policy.
The policy has weblinks to enable easy access to program information and fact sheets for employers, apprentices, registered training organisations and other providers operating in the apprenticeship system.
The revised policy is now in effect and is available from the Department's website at www.dtwd.wa.gov.au.

Blockchain technology, mass customisation, the demand for ethical practice and traceability are just some of the drivers rapidly changing how supply chains operate right around the world. As a direct consequence, the skills needed by individual workers are also evolving and whilst many are specific to a particular industry or process, many are recognised as being transferable between industries or common to several elements of a supply chain.
The Cross Sector Supply Chain Skills Project has been commissioned by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC). Its goal is to develop a series of Skill Sets and Units of Competency for those supply chain skills common to a range of industry sectors, and in doing so support the mobility of skilled labour and agility of the Australian workforce. It will enable the many individuals working along different parts of the supply chain to be skilled to the same world class standards and as a consequence, increase industry’s efficiency and productivity. The draft units can be viewed here. More information on the project can be found here.

Online corporate bookmakers will now pay tax on their operations in Western Australia, after legislation passed through the Legislative Council today. Once the abolition of existing taxes and additional funding to the racing and sports industries is taken into account, the tax is estimated to raise additional revenue of about $94 million over the forward estimates.
This Point of Consumption tax reform package also brings Western Australia in line with other States in Australia, and places the local TAB in a stronger competitive position. The tax will apply to operators' net wagering revenue on bets placed by Western Australians, at a rate of 15 per cent. An exemption threshold of $150,000 per year will ensure that small bookmakers are excluded from the tax. The reforms will also include the most generous industry package of all States and Territories. Read more.

Skills Service Organisation PwC’s Skills for Australia has released a draft case for endorsement for an updated TAE Training and Education Training Package Release 3.0. The case for endorsement contains two units that have been removed from a cross sector project and included in this proposed TAE update.
Skills for Australia submitted an environmental scan in January 2018 that outlined an assessment of the current state of participation of people with disability in education, training and employment. The findings from this report have provided the evidence base for the training product development work outlined in this case for endorsement.
The materials that have been released for comment and feedback include:

• Combined Change Mapping Table for an outline of major changes to the two units since earlier versions were submitted
• Draft Case for Endorsement
• Training products (2 new cross sector units of competency)
• Draft Companion Volume Implementation Guide 3.0

The units may be applicable to all industry sectors so broad input is being sought. Those interested in reviewing the materials can contact FutureNow.