Business bulletin: 10 June 2021

A new training centre for aged care will be built at Charles Darwin University Casuarina campus strengthening the Territory’s workforce skills across the sector.

The Northern Territory Government has invested $1.7 million towards construction of the training centre.

The new centre is part of a response to the demand for workers in the aged care sector in the Northern Territory, which is being driven by an aging workforce. Territorians aged 65 plus are expected to increase 242% by 2041, while Aboriginal Territorians make up 39% of aged care clients.

The new centre will primarily deliver vocation education and training qualifications to ensure that Territorians have a compassionate and well-trained aged care workforce. Ultimately, the centre will be able to expand for supporting higher education programs and research at the university.

It will provide a learning environment for 24 students with room for four aged care beds and equipment that will mimic an aged care facility to aid student learning.

The centre will also feature a pan room, kitchen and general-purpose teaching area as well as showers designed for people with disabilities. The surrounding area will be fully landscaped following the completion of the works.

Charles Darwin University Vice Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman AO said “This centre will aid the training of future aged care workers and allied health professionals to service the needs of the Northern Territory community.”

“We know that support, training and development are essential for the future workforce to ensure safe, high quality aged care is delivered for Territorians,”

“The centre will provide training to help our students be better equipped as they enter the workforce, so that they can provide better support to staff and the residents they work with in aged care settings.”

The training centre, which will be built by Scope Building NT, will create up to 70 jobs during the construction phase.

The Territory’s new molecular laboratory has garnered international attention with one of our closest neighbours touring the facility.

The Consul General of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste visit to Berrimah Farm also included an overview of the work that will be undertaken in the new molecular diagnostic laboratories.

The $8 million lab is the only one of its kind in Northern Australia and has a biosecurity containment level three capacity. It will be used in the fight against animal and plant pests and diseases and enable scientist to carry out more advanced research to improve production outcomes for key industries.

African swine fever (ASF) a contagious disease of pigs has been confirmed in Timor-Leste. The spread of ASF has been linked to domestic and feral pigs consuming swill. It can also be transmitted by exposure to contaminated items such as equipment, vehicles, clothing and footwear.

While ASF doesn’t affect human health an outbreak would devastate the pork industry and impact Australian agriculture.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade's Deputy CEO, Luke Bowen said “African swine fever has had a major impact on the pig population in Timor-Leste, it is critical that we continue to work together and help keep Australia free of the disease.”

“This new facility enables us to undertake highly specialist research that will benefit our agricultural industries through improved biosecurity responsiveness and preparedness.

“With the establishment of new molecular lab the Territory is well positioned to help Timor-Leste build capacity towards better biosecurity awareness and operations, strengthen relations and prevent major biosecurity threats in our region.”

Territory hospitality workers can keep their skills up-to-date while also meeting responsible service of alcohol (RSA) training requirements with a new and free online course.

The NTrefreshRSA course was developed in partnership with the Northern Territory Government and Hospitality NT. It is the first of its kind with the inclusion of Territory specific questions on the Banned Drinker Register and minimum floor price.

The new course will give workers who have received their qualifications elsewhere, or a long time ago, the opportunity to undertake this free Territory-specific course.

It takes around 20 minutes to complete. Individuals will then receive a statement of completion certificate to provide to their employer for inclusion in a venue’s RSA registry.

The Territory’s tourism and hospitality industry employs up to 14,000 full-time equivalent workers and has traditionally relied on seasonal workers, international students and working holiday makers to meet some of their workforce needs.

Under the Northern Territory Liquor Act 2019, it is a requirement that all licensees ensure staff serving or supervising the serving of alcohol in the Territory complete a refresher course every three years.

The Northern Territory Government and Hospitality NT will continue to work together to update the course as required.

For further information and to complete the refresher course, go to the NTrefreshRSA website.

The Hospitality and Tourism Careers Fair is making its way through the Territory with over 220 jobseekers attending events in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.

The careers fair is part of the Territory Governments $2 million Critical Worker Support Package, to support the tourism and hospitality sector. It is also designed to boost skills and job opportunities

The careers fairs provide jobseekers with an opportunity to meet one on one with potential employer’s stakeholder and registered training organisations. Several jobseekers were hired on the spot at the Alice Springs and Darwin events.

Jobseekers can view a range of hospitality and tourism job vacancies on the Territory Jobs Board.

Hospitality and Tourism businesses are encouraged to post their vacancies for free on the Territory Jobs Board.

Free and low cost training courses are also available at a number of locations and on the Northern Territory Government website.

More courses can also be found through the Job Trainer Program on the Northern Territory Government website.

The careers fair travels to Tennant Creek next month, register below to attend:

Friday 9 July
12pm to 1.30pm

Tennant Creek Showgrounds
Perry Drive

Register online

Mineral exploration in the Territory has been given a major boost with 18 projects from 15 companies receiving support under the latest round of Geophysics and Drilling Collaboration grants.

The program aims to increase resource exploration in under explored areas of the Territory.

A record number of applications were received in 2021, with the Territory Government awarding $1.7 million in grants.

The projects funded under the Geophysics and Drilling Collaboration program includes five greenfields drilling programs, five brownfields drilling programs and eight geophysical surveys.

The grants program is part of the Resourcing the Territory initiative which is designed to fund mineral exploration, drive more mining development and create more jobs across the Territory.

The Territory Government will increase its annual funding to Resourcing the Territory initiative to increase exploration activity and help bring forward more resource development in the Territory, which is also a key recommendation in the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission final report.

The projects that have been awarded funding are targeting a wide range of commodities including gold, copper, tungsten, nickel, natural gas and helium.

The successful applicants are:

• Inca Minerals Ltd
• Knox Resources Ltd
• Central Petroleum Ltd
• Barkly Operations Pty Ltd
• Strategic Energy Resources Ltd
• King River Resources Ltd
• IGO Ltd
• Newcrest Mining Ltd
• iCopper Pty Ltd
• Core Lithium Ltd
• Prodigy Gold NL
• Redbank Operations PL
• Bacchus Resources Pty Ltd
• Molyhil Mining Pty Ltd
• Vista Gold Australia Pty Ltd.