The ARA Retail Institute is offering free training to industry newcomers and canvassing host employers to provide on-the-job training under the Federal Government’s Productivity Places scheme in a bid to attract more people to the retail industry. The Federal Government’s Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded the ARA’s Retail Employment Pathways program in response to industry pleas for more skilled workers. Under the initiative, DEEWR’s... ...Read more »

Victorian Premier John Brumby today unveiled a $316 million overhaul of the training sector which, it is hoped, will help deal with the skills shortage. Under the biggest investment in Victoria’s history to the state’s training sector, 172,000 extra Government-supported training places will be created and, in a landmark deal with the Commonwealth, university-style loans will be made available to students studying diploma and advanced diploma qualifications. Premier John Brumby claimed... ...Read more »

The Australian Government will implement a pilot program to trial the National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF’s) Workforce from Abroad Employment Scheme – yesterday approving a new Pacific Island seasonal workers visa in key horticultural regions. The announcement has been warmly welcomed by NFF Vice-President Charles Burke, who co-launched the program with Agriculture Minister Tony Burke at the Marrickville Fruit and Vegetable Markets in Sydney today. “The Government and... ...Read more »

A new community kitchen, which assists in boosting the number of skilled hospitality workers while also helping disadvantaged members of the community, was opened today by Victorian Premier John Brumby.The kitchen – an initiative of Youth Projects Incorporated, a not-for-profit body funded by Victorian, Commonwealth and local government grants – will provide training opportunities in hospitality and health promotion while also providing food for disadvantaged people in the local community. Mr... ...Read more »

Constellation Brands, Inc., a leading international beverage alcohol producer and marketer, has announced that Constellation Wines Australia (formerly Hardy Wine Company) will sell certain assets and implement changes to its wine portfolio and production footprint. The changes are being made to “simplify the business and provide better focus on premium brands and operational efficiencies aimed at increasing long- term profitable growth and improved returns”. Constellation plan to sell... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited announced yesterday that they will consolidate their Victorian SPC Ardmona operations. The announcement follows a comprehensive review of its SPC Ardmona operations in the Goulburn Valley, which was initiated “in light of the continued impact of the drought and the need to better manage the Australian fruit intake”. The review determined that there is excess capacity in the Shepparton and Mooroopna plants in the Goulburn Valley and, consequently, the deciduous... ...Read more »

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, yesterday released new data showing a 27 per cent increase in the temporary skilled migration (subclass 457 visa) program for 2007-08. Senator Evans said the rise in the subclass 457 visa grants highlighted the importance of the program in delivering skilled labour to employers across a wide range of professions and industries. The largest increase was, not surprisingly, seen in Western Australia where the mining boom has left many... ...Read more »

Small Business Minister Margaret Quirk said today that she was relieved that the Rudd Government had recognised the State’s migration needs by committing to develop a migration plan for Western Australia. West Australia’s mining related boom has left many businesses struggling to find suitable staff and the situation has been particularly noticeable in the foodservice industry. “A range of migration options tailored for WA is long overdue and we welcome working with the Federal... ...Read more »

Australia’s skills crisis is becoming more evident by the day with fast-food giants McDonald’s and KFC forced to use the ‘457′ skilled visa program to recruit staff in Queensland.The ’457′ visa, which is currently under review by the Rudd Government, is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor skilled overseas recruits to work in Australia and allows for a stay of between three months and four years. McDonald’s Queensland regional manager Andrew... ...Read more »

Peak retail industry body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), has indicated their support of the flexibility clause of the modern award, after the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) announced retail as a priority industry on Friday.ARA Executive Director Richard Evans welcomed the AIRC’s acknowledgement that there is a need for flexible individual agreements between employers and employees in the retail sector. “The flexibility clause covering arrangements regarding... ...Read more »