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Paid Parental Leave - what's new from July 2011
If you are eligible for the Paid Parental Leave scheme, make sure that you talk with your employer about your leave intentions, so that you have a smooth transition from work to receiving the Government’s Parental Leave Pay.
Resources outperform weak economy
By finance reporters Alicia Barry and Michael Janda
The domestic economy is struggling despite the mining boom, according to the closely watched NAB monthly business survey.
Funding for start-ups & innovative ideas
Funding for nine companies has been provided by Commercialisation Australia. The government-funded program distributed $3.7 million in the latest funding round.
Australian Employers Added More Workers Than Forecast
Australian payrolls rose more than economists forecast in March, capping the best quarter since 2010, led by financial and manufacturing states Victoria and New South Wales. The local currency reached a one-week high.
Worker shortage and oversupply continues
A survey has found skills shortages in engineering, IT and corporate management have been increasing, while mid-level office workers are facing a tougher labour market.
Industry News, Engineering
Social on the table for 100,000 engineers
Engineers Australia is currently thinking about how it can use social media to make the information it manages more accessible for its 100,000 members.
A National Framework for Coal Seam Gas
At the moment, expansion of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry is one of the most controversial topics affecting engineering construction in Australia.
On one hand, the importance of CSG cannot be understated. Already, coal seam gas accounts for 32% of Aus
New Australian program to help immigrant engineers find jobs
According to Australian-based private educational chain Navitas Workforce Solutions, only one in two overseas-trained engineers can get work in their field. In order to address this issue they have teamed up with Engineers Australia to create a new progra
Industry News, Government
Federal Budget to Focus on Jobs
Julia Gillard says moving more people off welfare and into work will be at the heart of her first federal budget as prime minister.
Contractor compliance nightmare will hurt the Government
Shorten and his boss Wayne Swan should hang their heads over their decision to introduce a bureaucratic nightmare into building (and later IT) contracting by making every contracting business report every payment to the government:Robert Gottleibsen
What employees need to do for 1 July wage changes
Fair Work Australia has recently released its annual wage review decision.
Employees affected by the 2011 annual wage review should check they are paid their new rate from the first pay period on or after 1 July.
Australian Government to fast track 457 visas
Government urged to ditch surplus to protect jobs
Economists are urging the Federal Government to boost funding for education and training and abandon plans for a budget surplus as the strong Australian dollar sees jobs slashed around the country.
Small businesses to get boost from federal budget
The Labor government is seeking to reposition itself as a friend of entrepreneurs by introducing new measures in the upcoming federal budget intended to help small businesses, according to a report by The Australian Financial Review.
Industry News, Manufacturing
Ban on live cattle trade to Indonesia to last up to six months
LIVE cattle exports to Indonesia will be halted immediately for up to six months after Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig caved in to pressure from the Labor caucus, animal rights activists and crossbench MPs.
10-YEAR-OLDS RECRUITED AS FUTURE MANUFACTURING WORKERS
The Victorian Vernier Society is recruiting future engineers and manufacturers from the age of 10, through a competition called Techno Challenge for which Year 5 and 6 students deconstruct the fundamentals of a working object.
New agreement helps repay GFC sacrifice
Workers who took a 40% wage cut at Holden during the GFC are set to vote on an improved collective agreement this month.
Industry News, Mining and Resources
Skilled worker influx insufficient: WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy
The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy says sending an additional 16,000 skilled migrants to Australia's regional areas would be a welcome boost but it would not be enough.
Miners ready with fighting fund for workplace war
THE mining industry has opened a new front in its battles with the government, setting up a fighting fund to finance court challenges against rulings by Fair Work Australia: The Australian
Carbon tax concerns over jobs, power supply
The Victorian Government says the carbon tax will cost jobs and threaten the state's electricity supplies.
Maintenance firm fined over workplace accident
A mining maintenance company in the Goldfields has been fined $90,000 after a 15-year-old apprentice was badly injured by the descending tray of a dump truck.
Mine Site Induction
It is important to recognise that beyond the formal induction requirement lies a much greater question for the induction programme than industry’s mandate, writes Derek Hunter
Industry groups stress importance of fly-in, fly-out employment
PERTH (miningweekly.com) - Industry bodies have come out in support of improved conditions for fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) workers, as a federal inquiry into the impact of the work practice was moved to Perth.
Wind energy finally taking off again in Australia
The Australia wind energy industry looks set to end its near three-year hiatus, as Origin Energy signed its largest ever power purchase agreement
Industry News, Miscellaneous
Making social media legally safe for all
Social media is the new frontier of bad behaviour. Whether it is misrepresenting the capacities of an organisation (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Allergy Pathway [2011])
Industry News, Retail, Hospitality and Consumer
Australia shuts up shop: Geelong Advertiser
SMALL shops are still badly wounded from the global finacial crisis, with exclusive analysis for news.com.au showing that more than 30,000 of the most vulnerable small businesses disappeared between the 2007 and 2010 elections.
Slash workers' pay to save stores, says retail boss
Shop workers' penalty rates should be cut so the retailers can compete in an increasingly tough market, the industry says.
Calls to give backpackers longer visas for tourism work
The Federal Government is being urged to allow backpackers on working holiday visas to extend their stay by a year if they spend three months working in tourism in regional Australia.
Tourism Australia renews assault on giant annual leave stockpile
With a new year underway, Tourism Australia is urging employers around the country to identify, plan for and address challenges associated with stockpiled annual leave in 2012, helping more Australians reap the benefits of taking a well-earned holiday.
Industry News, Services
Big rises awarded to social and community sector workers in equal pay
ABOUT 150,000 social and community sector workers have won pay rises ranging from 19 to 41 per cent after a historic equal pay decision today. But Fair Work Australia has extended the phase-in period for the pay rises by two years to eight years, followin
Working well with different cultures
Working well with different cultures is now emerging as a critical success factor for globalisation of services. In this context, it is often presumed we are referring to working well with different national cultures. However, in reality, it is a blend of
New rules ban gender in job titles under a proposal by Standards Austr
A FIREMAN would become a firefighter while secretaries would become office managers under a new national jobs standard aimed at stamping out gender bias in Australia.
Australia Adjusts to Its New Energy Role
Australia—for years an outlier in the international trade of oil and natural gas centered on the Middle East—is catching up fast. More than $175 billion in new projects are in construction, which could lead Australia to overtake Qatar as the world's bigge
Human Resource Management
Learn From The Best In The Business At HR Practices Day
This conference series is designed to focus on the HR issues that affect us every day - the practical side of HR and people management. Full and half-day conferences around major Australian cities in March and April in 2011.
Budget 2011: What it means for HR - industry reaction
HR Leader speaks to industry leaders to get their reaction to the 2011 Federal Budget and find out what it means for HR
Perth companies face court over alleged sham contracting
The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched a prosecution against two companies alleging they engaged in sham contracting activity affecting workers at a South Perth accommodation facility.
Positively humming: creating a productive workplace
A positive workplace creates much more than a 'feel good' factor, it leads to happier and more engaged employees and higher productivity. And a good business leader can learn how to set the tone.
How to resolve staff conflict
While staff conflict can sometimes generate debate and change, it can also pose a real problem for business owners. It’s important to manage staff conflict before it gets out of hand and has adverse effect on the business.
Social networking - or social and not working?
For many employers, their first instinct is to ban the use of social media at work. No more Facebook. No more Twitter. And, seemingly, no more engagement, as younger employees become disgruntled at the prohibition of a tool that’s all-pervasive in their p
120 days to win over staff, or else
Managers have 120 days in which to get their new hires to love them, otherwise those recruits may be out the door at the first opportunity or could sink into an unproductive funk.
Top 10 people and HR priorities for 2012
Employers are urged to plan ahead now for human resources success in 2012 – and to beat the traditional wave of ‘New Year, New Career’ employee resolutions.
Mandatory period for notice on resignation?
Employers are sometimes confronted by employees who resign and provide little or minimal notice when the employer wishes the employee to work out a reasonable period of notice to enable the employer to find a replacement employee. Is there a legal prescri
Flexible work language must change
Changing the language organisations use to describe flexible work will help remove some of the stigma that it is only for mothers, and allow it to become "mainstream", Diversity Council Australia says.
Recruitment, Selection and Employment
Top Employment Issues For 2011
This year is set to be a busy one for HR professionals, with salary pressure and overseas recruitment set to be high on to-do lists.
Boutique vs. generalist - Part 1
While being a generalist recruiter has its benefits, most consultants should ultimately aim to become specialists, says Winners Executive Recruitment director John McCaskill.
FINANCE SECTOR WITH MOST POSITIVE HIRING SENTIMENT
By Milana Pokrajac, 14 June 2011
Employers in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors have indicated they will extend their consistent hiring into the next quarter, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
457 visa threshold indexed to maintain wage growth
The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by 3.9 per cent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings.
457 visa threshold indexed to maintain wage growth
The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by 3.9 per cent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings.
Western Australia to recruit 150,000 people over the next five years
Western Australia (WA) should be the destination of choice for skilled migrants, said its training and workforce development minister, Peter Collier. He visited the UK last month to promote the advantages of living and working in Western Australia.
Interview with Minister Kate Ellis regarding disability employment
A new study shows that the misconception still exists in the workplace that disabled people are less productive and will cost more. The study has been released by the Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis.
Trends That Will Change The Face of Australian Recruitment Sector
Over the last few years, Uncertainty is the keyword everyone’s talking about the world over. The economic trends are now every speculator’s favourite – while some foretell benign trends that predict partial or complete recovery, some others haul up the bu
Australia Pacific Island Seasonal Workers Scheme Expanded
ust recently, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that it has expanded its Pacific Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme (PSWPS).
Surprise jump in jobs
Australia's unemployment rate fell from a 10-month high to 5.2 per cent in September, as employers hired more staff than expected.
A new realm of discrimination
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. Social media sites are now regularly used as employee recruitment and screening tools by companies. Now, with uni graduations around the corner, the internet is abuzz with job opportunities for soon-to-be graduates scrambling
The ideal time to switch jobs is...
Jobs will be up for grabs across all industries in the next three months, as restless staff move on and employers look to hit the ground running in the new year.
The ideal time to switch jobs is...
Jobs will be up for grabs across all industries in the next three months, as restless staff move on and employers look to hit the ground running in the new year.
Security a concern for casual workers
HALF of all casual workers - more than 1 million Australians - want to move into full-time positions and away from ''insecure jobs'', according to new research by the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Employers engaging contractors must be diligent
The findings of our recent investigation into sham contracting and the misclassification of workers illustrates a need for employers to exercise greater diligence when engaging contractors to ensure they do not breach workplace relations laws.
QLD to trial Employee Screening
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NZ Prime Minister John Key announced on Sunday an agreement to share criminal data on a six-month trial to be conducted in Queensland. The arrangement was triggered after a a NZ fraudster moved to Australia and
Australian job market offers ray of light
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Defying the doomsayers, Australia's job market perked up in the early months of 2012, easing fears that unemployment will rise through the year and presenting the central bank with a strong case to keep interest rates steady for no
New 457 changes fast-track pathway to residency
Australia’s government has announced it will cut red tape for the 457 visa, fast-tracking the pathway to residency for skilled migrants under the employer-sponsored visa program, and making it easier for employers to fill critical skills shortages.
Jobs bonus scheme to help over 50s
TREASURER Wayne Swan says a plan to offer employers $1000 to hire people over the age of 50 is designed to stop older Australians being locked out of the workforce
Training and Development
Learning and Development - More Employee Driven
Learning and development (L&D) practices are being driven more by individual employees rather than by a business’ overall strategy according to the 2011 National Learning and Development Index.
Work is a game, didn’t you know?
Playing games at work would have once been cause for a warning, but there’s a new theory that turns those old notions upside down – and it’s quickly gaining speed in Australia.
Health, Safety and Environment
Safety Is Top Concern
Occupational health, safety (OHS) professionals have cited safety as the number issue facing Australian organisations as they head into 2011.
Huge solar power project approved for southern Queensland
The Federal Government has announced funds to build the largest solar project in the Southern Hemisphere.
Final approval has been given for the Kogan Creek Solar Boost project in southern Queensland, what's believed to be the world's largest solar integr
United we stand: are we harmonising the right OHS law?
2011 was a year of reforms that didn’t go smoothly and the Federal government’s attempt to harmonise occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation across the country was no exception. The intention of the legislation was to make it easier for employers
Sleeping giant: worker fatigue 'epidemic' - Markus Mannheim
Australian workers, especially parents, are suffering from an ''unrecognised epidemic'' of tiredness, a new study suggests.
The paper also urges governments to cap the working week, including overtime, at 38 hours, to help avoid accidents caused by sleep
Safety: Are We Obsessed with Mechanical Support?
Toomey believes there are a number of factors which either diminish or expand workers’ awareness of their environment and ability to recognise potential hazards.
Australia Predicts A$24.7 Billion Carbon Revenue
Australia expects to raise A$24.7 billion ($24.8 billion) in four years from the carbon tax coming into effect July 1, as the government seeks to reduce emissions and spur investment in cleaner energy
Industrial Relations
Qantas row opens way for review of industrial relations bargaining
THE damaging Qantas dispute has prompted the Gillard government to undertake a review of the nation's workplace bargaining rules and the powers of Fair Work Australia. Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans told The Australian he had decided that the go
Organisational Development and Transition
Cultural change sweeps through NAB
National Australia Bank's group executive (personal banking) is driving a big cultural change in the organisation as she tries to turn branches into "stores" and develop a real connection with customers that will outlast the latest marketing gimmick.
When staff cuts don't measure up
The recent turmoil in Australian and global stock markets should be a wake-up call to thousands of Australian companies who do not understand what is about to happen to their enterprise.
Leadership and Management
Wake up call for Directors
Australian directors have been put on notice that they need to ask tough questions in the boardroom and not blithely rubber-stamp items as crucial as financial statements after the corporate regulator scored a comprehensive legal win against Centro direct
Three new Answers to the Question: What is Leadership?
There is a marked change in our perception of leadership qualities and the essentials of what is leadership or what makes for good leaders.
Key competencies of future leaders identified
So often a little foresight can go a long way – and now new research has been released which identifies the six key trends that will affect organisations in the coming two decades. Hay Group’s Leadership 2030 report examined global trends and their percei
Career Coaching and Career Development
Most in-demand jobs in Australia
Are you at a crossroads in your career? Are you looking for a new job or wanting to start tertiary education, but not too sure what you actually want to do yet?
If so, the recent results of Manpower Australia’s latest Talent Shortage Survey will be of pa
How to Prepare for an Interview
Jobseekers preparing for the interview should be congratulated. You have already been selected above your peers in a very competitive market and are down to the select few. Now it’s time to nail the interview and get that job!
To be competitive at interv
Back to Work? 10 Tips for Relaunching Your Career
So, you’ve been on a career break. How long has it been… three years, five years, more?
Whether you took time off to care for your children or to travel the world, relaunching your career is a major undertaking, especially these days. Just sending out
Graduates shun legal profession
ALMOST two-thirds of Australia's law graduates are not working as lawyers four months after they have completed their degrees, according to a study.
Industry News, Construction
Construction Slumps For Nine Straight Months
by finance reporter Rebecca Hyam. Australia's building sector contracted again in February, but there was a slight easing in the pace of decline.
Clean Energy Jobs In Regional Australia
Snapshot Victoria.
Supply fears as mining boom lifts construction
THE engineering and construction industry is set to grow to $82.5 billion next year - double its size six years ago - amid concerns of falling productivity in the industry: Florence Chong from The Australian
The future of project management
According to many industry indicators, Australian construction is essentially a flat market at the moment, with effectively 0% growth across the industry as a whole. With the exception of mining and mining-related industries, the majority of our commercia
Construction Index Rises as Engineering Hits Stride
Conditions in the construction sector are looking better as engineering work associated with the resources sector continues to strengthen, a new report has found.
Builders Welcome Skills Package
Building and industry groups have welcomed a new skills package aimed at improving training standards and boosting the knowledge and skill base of the Australian workforce.
Mirvac begins search as its CFO resigns
LEADING property company Mirvac Group will begin an external search for a group chief financial officer to replace Justin Mitchell, who resigned yesterday.
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latest headlines
Worker shortage and oversupply continues
A survey has found skills shortages in engineering, IT and corporate management have been increasing, while mid-level office workers are facing a tougher labour market.
When staff cuts don't measure up
The recent turmoil in Australian and global stock markets should be a wake-up call to thousands of Australian companies who do not understand what is about to happen to their enterprise.