END OF YEAR PRESIDENTS REPORT ATC NSW DIVISION 2010
Dear Members,
As the President of the Australian Tile Council NSW Division, I present this report for the year 2010 for your consideration.
The year 2010 has continued to be difficult for the Economies and the welfare of individuals and Business throughout Australia. Irrespective of a down turn in the ATC membership, the Management committee continued to work diligently to achieve positive outcomes for the ATC NSW.
SOME ATC NSW INITATIVES 2010
An Australian Tile Council Industry Survey including a questionnaire funded by the Australian Tile Council (ATC) and the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) was sent to 200 Businesses, industry participants, manufacturers, Tilers, Teachers, consultants and others people throughout Australian Tiling industry.
The purpose of the Survey was to obtain a broad range of relevant data from the Australian Tiling Industry, that can be used objectively and specifically by the ATC and DEEWR to raise the competency level of Tile fixers and others that are working within the Australian Tiling Industry.
The results of that Survey are available on the ATC website.
Additionally with funding from the Department of Education Employment and workplace relations(DEEWR) an opportunity was provided to further develop the ATC's National Webb site, particularly for the access of information on incentives, funding and benefits that are available to potential Employers and Apprentices with additional information on the UFPT and other up-skilling and re-skilling projects.
ACCELERATED APPRENTICESHIP TILER TRAINING
A positive aspect was that funding was obtained by the CFMEU from the Federal Government to establish a co-ordinated approach to the training of Apprentices. The key members being the Federal Government, CFMEU, Comet Training, the NSW ATC Division, the wider Tiling Industry and TAFE NSW.
As of the 17th of December 2010, 15 tiling students graduated from an Accelerated Tiler Training course through the Comet training Centre with a full time job in tiling. This accelerated tiler training course has been developed to enable Students to undertake further training within TAFE NSW.
Significant support was provided by two National Members and Sponsor of the ATC,
DTA Australia providing 30 Tilers tool kits, 15 for the conducting of the course and 15 to be presented to each graduating student.
PAREXDAVCO also a National Member of the ATC, once again contributed significantly with the adhesives, grouts and technical assistance to enable the course to be conducted.
The ATC NSW also contributed funding towards tools along with developing the initial concept and training program to conduct the training course.
This is an excellent result, the CFMEU, the ATC, the wider Australian Tiling Industry and TAFE again working together to achieve training and employment for our Nations youth.
If only that format could also accelerate on a National basis.
INDUSTRY ALERTS MANUAL HANDLING & TREMOLITE
Manual handling accounts for a large proportion of injuries in the construction industry. The ATC NSW distributed an Industry Alert to all its Members with the purpose to inform the tiling industry on key manual handling matters.
It is important that everyone is familiar with their company’s OHS policies and procedures to eliminate and control all hazards arising from work practices. The Australian Tile Council NSW provided a comprehensive list of recommendations for consideration to reduce the risk of injuries as a result of manual handling(list is available via ATC NSW website)
Discussions with Work Cover NSW and the Australian Tile Council ATC NSW in regards to possible Asbestos particles, (now reported as Tremolite) being released into the air when cutting a certain specific Stack Stone. (Not all types of Stack Stone)
Work cover released an alert on their web site; the alert was described as Decorative wall tiles.
The ATC NSW has now had Work Cover to change that statement to read NATURAL STONE TILES, not decorative Wall Tiles.
Tremolite is a listed "asbestos" throughout other Nations and is a naturally occurring form of the material which is effectively "banned" from use, The ATC NSW continue to strongly advise all Members not to use this material and check with your suppliers that all materials sold are in fact free of Tremolite and the ATC NSW further advise that you do not handle/sell this natural stone material.
TAFE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
The ATC and its members have been supportive for many years with the World Skills Australia concept. A significant part of the WSA agenda is promoting and encouraging excellence within the many trades across Australia.
The ATC has now put forward additional, annual initiatives to further encourage tiling students to strive for excellence in the development of tiling skills within the TAFE Tiling sections of NSW.
Those new initiatives are:
- “TAFE Tiling Teachers Award”, awarded to students for excellence in either Stage one, two or three.
- A nomination from a Stage three Student to be put forward and considered for, the ATC NSW Perpetual, *“Bill Davies Excellence in Tiling Award”.
- Additionally all Graduating Wall and Floor tiling Students from each Tiling section each year, will receive free membership to the Australian Tile Council for one year.
The ATC will provide a voucher to the value of $500.00 to the successful student, for the “Tiling Teachers Award”, and a further $ 500.00 voucher and trophy for the “Bill Davies Excellence in tiling Award” (Some conditions do apply)
- The $500.00 vouchers must be spent at an ATC NSW member tile outlet.
- The “TAFE Tiling Teachers Award” is selected by TAFE Teachers and the “Bill Davies Excellence in Tiling Award”, is selected by a panel of three representatives, two from the ATC NSW and one from TAFE Tiling NSW.)
We are pleased to advise that this initiative has now commenced.
*Mr. Bill Davies played a significant role in establishing Wall and Floor tiling into the State of NSW. Over 50 years ago, Bill Davies was made a permanent Tiling Teacher with the then Sydney Technical College, much of what is taught today in TAFE was formulated by Bill Davies.
His passion for the Tiling Industry was exceptional and I am sure, that those that were taught by him or knew him well would know of that passion and commitment and certainly would agree with his significant contribution to our TAFE of today and the Australian Tiling Industry as a whole.
CONCLUSION AND COMMENTS
As President of the ATC, for 3 years my observation for the future of the Australian tiling industry is its present inability to attract, train and retain competent people from all ages and gender.
The ATC as a voluntary body can do little in improving the Tiling Industries needs, such as raising the skills levels across the industry to assist in achieving better long term tangible outcomes. Industry more than ever, in these times of uncertainty, needs a cohesive numerically strong base.
Therefore as I perceive it, the challenge is to attract a greater participation of the wall and floor tiling industry in conjunction with other mind like members of the Building and Construction Industries and put into place an ATC broad based industry body funded and resourced, that can effectively address matters of importance bring about processes and programs that will encourage and ensure growth within the tiling industry.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the NSW ATC Management Committee members and the Executive Committee, Vice President Rob Walker and Sandra Walker, Carl Strautins and Edward Lowe, Particularly Rob and Carl for their expertise in dealing with the Tremolite and Manual Handling issues. their support, expertise and experience was exceptional and greatly appreciated.
May I extend to all the Australian Tile Council National Members/Sponsors;
ARDEX, BASF, CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS, DTA, MAPEI, PAREXDAVCO, ROMAX
A sincere thank you, for your continued support and we look forward to continuing that relationship.
Barry Bulmer
President
Australian Tile Council (NSW Division)