The project has worked out much better than expected. You tend to think you’re already best practice, but the training revealed a lot of bad habits. We’ve seen such substantial outcomes. 1
- Participant in NSW Energy Efficiency Training Program
Resource materials and funding are available to support companies, industry associations and the training sector to provide training, or to develop new training content.
Existing training resources
A range of training resources are available for trainers and educators interested in teaching energy efficiency, either on-the-job or in the formal education system. The EEX website is a good starting point.
The Energy Management section includes a range of information resources from Australia and overseas outlining best practice energy management approaches.
The Industry Sectors and Technologies sections provide a range of technical resources related to energy efficiency opportunities.
The website also contains a range of interesting case studies on what companies are doing.
Government energy efficiency programs
Government energy efficiency programs are a good source of guidance material for how to undertake energy efficiency.
The Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities program has developed a range of guidance material including an energy efficiency assessment handbook, a suite of industry case studies and related material on topics such as estimating and measuring energy savings, undertaking an energy mass balance and conducting representative assessments.
Guidance materials from other government energy efficiency programs are referred to in the Energy Management section of the EEX website.
Higher education teaching materials
Through the Skills for the Carbon Challenge initiative, the Australian Government has funded the development of the Learning and Teaching Sustainability website, which highlights a range of resources for educators on sustainability topics, including energy efficiency. In addition, the website aims to contribute to the formation of a community of practice in energy efficiency and sustainability education.
The website was sponsored by the the Australian Government’s Office of Teaching and Learning and is managed by the University of Technology Sydney and the Institute of Sustainable Futures.
Energy efficiency education materials suitable for higher education have been developed by a number of Australian and international institutions. A sample list of resources which could support the development of energy efficiency training materials was identified through recent research.
Vocational education and training (VET) resources and teaching materials
Resources and teaching materials to support the identification and development of VET courses, and the training of VET practitioners in energy efficiency can be found in several places.
Training.gov.au provides information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations (RTOs) for experienced training sector users.
The National Centre for Sustainability has developed the Education for Sustainability website to support the integration of sustainability skills and practice into VET teaching and learning resources.
NSW State Training Services and the TAFE NSW Sustainability Hub provide learning resources for developing knowledge and skills in sustainability and energy efficiency. These are primarily aimed at building VET professionals’ capacity to deliver energy efficiency training.
As mentioned under higher education above, through the Skills for the Carbon Challenge initiative, the Australian Government has funded the development of the Learning and Teaching Sustainability website, which highlights a range of resources for educators on sustainability topics, including energy efficiency. In addition, the website aims to contribute to the formation of a community of practice in energy efficiency and sustainability education.
The US National Training & Education Resources website
The U.S. Dept. of Energy has turned some of its technology-specific training into free on-line training courses which can be found on the National Training and Educational Resource website. A search of the site will identify training material for industrial systems such as pumps, fans. process heating, steam, mechanical insulation etc.
The NTER website offers open source, low cost, multi-media, interactive, self-paced training modules and education resources for learners and educators. While the site is still in a beta (draft) stage, it accessible to anyone, although it requires users to create a user name and password. More information on NTER can be found on the About NTER webpage.
Support programs for training and skills development
Programs are available to support the development of new training content, as well as to subsidise the upskilling of employees in energy efficiency and sustainability skills.
Australian Government Skills Connect
Australian Government Skills Connect is designed to provide businesses with access to Australian Government assistance, resources and funding to optimise their workforce and drive productivity through investment in training, up-skilling or re-skilling staff, and can help employers find appropriate skills programs and support services.
Energy Efficiency Training Program
The NSW Government is supporting a series of projects to improve energy efficiency training in a range of professions and sectors through its Energy Efficiency Training Program. The program is delivered in partnership with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and the Department of Education and Communities NSW (DEC) to support:
- industry partnership projects that develop and deliver energy efficiency training
- higher education projects that develop and deliver energy efficiency courses and resources for the university sector
- subsidies for registered training organisations to deliver accredited training in energy efficiency skills
- professional development courses to update the energy efficiency knowledge of educators and trainers in the VET sector
- case studies.
Whilst funding may no longer be available under some of these elements, they have developed resources that are freely available.
The Clean Energy and Other Skills Package
The Clean Energy and Other Skills Package administered by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) will invest up to $32 million over 4 years to enable tradespeople and professionals in key industries to develop the skills needed to deliver clean energy services, products and advice to Australian communities and businesses.
The National Workforce Development Fund
The National Workforce Development Fund administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) will provide $558 million over four years to support industry training and workforce development in areas of current and future skills need. Under the Fund, enterprises can identify their current and future business and workforce development needs, and apply for funding to support the training of existing workers and new workers in the area of need. The Fund is part of the Australian Government’s Building Australia’s Future Workforce package.
The Green Skills Agreement
The Green Skills Agreement endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2009 seeks to build the capacity of the VET sector to deliver the skills for sustainability that will enable individuals, businesses and communities to adjust to, and prosper in, a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
The Agreement is a statement of the commitment of the Australian and state/territory governments to work collaboratively with employer and employee representatives, the VET sector and community organisations to ensure that training in, and the delivery of, skills for sustainability is an integral part of all vocational education and training and is relevant to the needs of industry.
Under the Agreement, Australia’s 11 Industry Skills Councils have reviewed and revised training packages to incorporate skills for sustainability content, competencies and qualifications, including in the area of energy efficiency. A skills for sustainability professional development program for VET practitioners will be delivered in 2012 and 2013 to ensure RTOs possess the capability and capacity to deliver skills for sustainability training.
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