Central TAFE CSWE practice task books have arrived.

As mentioned in last posting, I will be away in Adelaide from tomorrow (Tuesday15th). Will be back on Monday 21 May.

Thanks to Nina for this article in the Australian: It is long but very relevant

Refugees' job hunt time halvedCath Hart14may07REFUGEES will have to start looking for work six weeks after arriving in Australia or face the temporary loss of weekly welfare benefits - halving their existing job search exemption.
Workplace Participation Minister Sharman Stone said yesterday the crackdown, which would also apply to migrants in the humanitarian program, would put them on the same penalty footing as existing Australians.
Under the changes, likely to start in September, refugee and humanitarian entrants still learning English would only be exempt from looking for a job after six weeks if they were completing 20 hours of English tuition a week, Dr Stone said.
Currently, humanitarian entrants can extend their 13-week job search exemption if they are doing only a few hours of part-time English tuition a week.
"Learning English and entry to the workforce are major steps in helping new arrivals build a future for themselves and their families," she said.
Dr Stone said the move was "not punitive" but designed to tackle welfare dependency and boost support for those who wanted to look for work while learning English.
Currently, humanitarian entrants are paid unemployment benefits but do not have to start looking for jobs or meeting other Job Network requirements for their first 13 weeks in Australia.
Refugee and humanitarian entrants receive 510 hours of government-funded tuition on the Adult Migrant English program.
Dr Stone said welfare dependency had emerged among some who endlessly "rolled over" their tuition.
Some had been in the country for up to five years before they started to look for work and would benefit from more on-the-job English training, she said.
Government-commissioned research shows 61per cent of refugees remain on welfare payments 18 months after they arrived, while 55 per cent were on welfare two years after arriving.
Under the changes, refugees and humanitarian entrants who failed to meet the Job Network participation requirements after six weeks without an adequate reason would face the same penalties as other welfare recipients.
From June last year, welfare recipients who fail to meet "participation requirements" three times incur an eight-week non-payment period.
A spokeswoman for Dr Stone said that people who lost their welfare payments were "case-managed" so that they were not left destitute.
The Government announced in last Tuesday's budget that Australia would maintain the number of refugee and humanitarian entrants it accepted at 13,000 places in 2007-08.
Opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke said Labor supported the crackdown.
"Labor has been calling for Australia's English language program to be more vocational," he said.
"We want to see a seamless transition for new arrivals from the airport to the workplace.
"Policy should aim for people being self-sufficient and earning their own pay packets as soon as possible.
"This announcement seems to work towards that end and we look forward to making sure the detail delivers on this principle."
Australia has accepted more than 650,000 refugees and people in humanitarian need since the end of World War II

Evacuation Procedures. I hope to find out later today when the practice will take place. A copy of the following will be placed in your pigeon hole.

Our Assembly Area is No 1 - Lawn Area Loxwood Road South, (Through Gate 3 – outside I Block )

When the evacuation siren is sounded or you are advised that an emergency exists requiring evacuation, take the following action:

Providing it is safe and time permits, students are to be requested to remove their bags from the area being evacuated and carry them to their appropriate assembly area. Lecturers need to take the Class Rolls with them to account for students. All machinery is to be turned off together with heaters and gas.

Ensure students are directed to the nominated assembly area.

Advise students that no-one should move or shift vehicles unless authorised by Senior Staff, the Fire Brigade or Police Officer.

Proceed to assembly area with students remaining in class groupings so that the Lecturer can account for all students against those marked present on the roll.

Once the roll has been checked report to Block Warden (Andrew or Simon) that either all students accounted for or if any are missing. If a student is missing the lecturer is to report this to the Floor Warden in the Assembly Area who will report it to the Chief Warden making sure that the name and last location of the missing student is available.

Exit lists are being distributed today. Susan and Maureen are currently concentrating on arrival talks but will be starting exit preparation sessions when OA talks are underway.

Union meeting Tuesday 22nd May. 10.30 - 11.00 in Room J001.Ramona has offered to come out, as last year, and give us a talk and update on the new certified agreement, new changes in IR legislation, and any other specific queries.