Summer Safety
There is nothing more Australian than a summer barbecue, but before you put on the thongs and apron it’s important that we ensure gas appliances are safe to use.
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Keen outdoor cooks should regularly check the connection point at the gas bottle.
Soapy water can help identify a leak in the connection. If you find a leak or smell gas, immediately turn off the gas at the bottle and discontinue use. Fittings and hoses should be checked frequently for wear and tear, and replaced as needed.
Never use a gas bottle that is more than ten years old.
It could be potentially dangerous and consumers should check all gas barbecues and gas bottles to make sure they have safety compliance stickers.
These stickers are mandatory on all gas appliances and show the item has been approved for use, and meets all safety requirements.
If a gas bottle doesn’t have a sticker, it can’t legally be filled in NSW.
Plenty happened last week in the Dubbo electorate
Tourism Minister Adam Marshall visited Mudgee and Gulgong spending time at Mudgee TAFE, Sierra Escape and dropped to view the progress of works at Gulgong’s Holtermann Museum.
It was great to see hundreds of Christmas card completion entries flooded into my office and last Friday we welcomed the first day of summer.
Why students and parents need to look beyond university
The latest Graduate Outcomes Survey has made a compelling case for students and their parents to look to Vocational Education and Training (VET) if their ultimate aim is to get a job.
The short and medium term employment rates of university graduates had fallen significantly over the past 10 years.
The 2017 Graduate Outcomes Survey by the Social Research Centre shows only 67.5 per cent of 2014 university graduates found work within four months.
The survey also revealed completion rates for university courses are at their lowest levels, with a third of students who started their degree in 2010 dropping out.
Students are taking longer than ever to complete their degrees, with only two thirds of them finishing their bachelor degrees within six years.
Many university graduates are finding it difficult to find a job and are realising VET can provide a better option.
That’s why one in three university graduates are choosing to do a VET course after they’ve graduated.
We absolutely need and want a strong university sector in NSW, but as a passionate advocate for VET, I want students and parents to know university is not their only option for a rewarding and fulfilling career.
Figures on VET employment outcomes from a Skilling Australia report released in May showed 78 per cent of VET graduates and 82 per cent of VET apprentices and trainees are employed after training.
VET offers the opportunity to earn while you learn and all the signs are VET is increasingly a smart option when it comes to getting a job.
Assistant Minister for Skills, and the Minister responsible for TAFE Adam Marshall, who I spent time with at Mudgee TAFE last week said that the latest Survey demonstrates the significant opportunities provided by choosing the strong public VET provider TAFE NSW.
TAFE NSW is the largest provider of Vocational Education and Training in Australia.
They provide students across NSW with the practical skills they need to hit the ground running and meet the needs of industry and employers across the state.
