UPDATED: 17 AUGUST 2010: The number of people starting trade apprenticeships is similar to those recorded prior to June 2008, when the impact of the global financial crisis affected the number of apprentice and trainee commencements.

Released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and trainees - Early trend estimates, June quarter 2010, provides data at the national level for trade and non-trade commencements for apprenticeships and traineeships.

Don't just labour - get qualified. Take the next step - use your existing skills to get your qualification. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process makes it easy. We can help you and our advice is free!

The Master Builders Association will be hosting the first Master Builders Green Living Conference. This two day event has high profile speakers which will inspire and challenge your thinking.

They will cover key issues, Including:

Thanks to everyone who contact us about the all female plumbing group. The women have been selected and have started their training. Watch this space as we will shortly be putting up a profile of each student on why they chose plumbing and what they hope for in their career.

On 30 April 2010, the Premier with Ministers Pike, Jennings, and Allan, launched the Jobs for the Future Economy (Victoria's Action Plan for Green Jobs) .

Jobs for the Future Economy (the Plan) is the Victorian Government’s $175 million action plan to create, support and sustain thousands of jobs now and into the future through new investment, new projects, new skills and new industries.

The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors have commenced a campaign to implement madatory compulsory professional development for Building Surveyors and Inspectors in Victoria. A letter has been drafted to AIBS members and a submission has been forwarded to the Minister for Planning, Justin Madden.

The main Budget announcements commencing on 12 May 2010 include:

NMIT Bricklaying student Adrian Callipari, 23, has been involved in the Brick Masterclass 2010. The Think Brick program provides a live in training program for Australia's outstanding bricklayers.

The Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) and the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) have released a "Guideto Project Initiation for Project Sponsors, Clients and Owners". The guide was prepared by a joint working group of both organisations.

Changes to the Victorian vocational education and training system encourage staff up-skilling  For Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd, a company that has created its own Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to meet its skills training needs, taking the Victorian Skills Pledge made good sense.

BICCIAB are the Industry Advisory Body for the Building and Construction and Civil Construction industry in Victoria. Our role is to provide advice on Vocational Educational and Training issues and to promote the industry utilising information that is accurate, reliable and reflects the needs of Victorian stakeholders.

BICCIAB provides authoritative, independent information on training needs, and promotes skills development and take-up of training by businesses in our industries.

On 3 December 2009 the National Quality Council (NQC) endorsed key changes to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Essential Standards for Registration. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met on 7 December and endorsed the NQC’s amendments.

These important changes strengthen the AQTF and ensure regulators have the tools they need to protect the interests of all students undertaking Vocational Education and Training in Australia.

The Victorian building industry employed an estimated 172,200 people over 2009-10. This is up 5 per cent on 2008-09. The June quarter reported 187,700 people employed, the highest on record. To find out about this fact plus lots more read the Building Commission's August edition of pulse today.

Each year an Industry Skill Needs Report (ISNR) for the building and construction industry is submitted to Skills Victoria. The report outlines where the industry believes the government should be investing in training by identifying new and emerging skills needs. For the 2010 year, Access Economics produced the Industry Skill Needs Report.

BICCIAB held its annual industry forum at Rydges Melbourne on the 12th of November 2009. It was a great success with our speakers all providing very relevant and interesting perspectives on the future of apprenticeships. There were over 100 attendees who are now all very keen to continue the debate started at question time!