NOMINATIONS are closing Friday September 16 for the 2016 Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) Excellence Awards.

Industry body CSQ is calling for final nominations from Queensland apprentices, schools, trainers, training organisations and employers deserving of recognition for their efforts in the state’s construction workforce.

The CSQ Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to publicly celebrate and thank Queenslanders involved in all facets of the building and construction industry.

CSQ CEO Brett Schimming urged Queensland to get behind their local construction stars and nominate them for a well-deserved accolade.

“This is the time to acknowledge members of our industry who go above and beyond in their role on a daily basis,” he said.

“It’s vital that we recognise training commitment and encourage the next generation of our workforce to strive for excellence.”  

The 2015 CSQ Construction Apprentice of the Year Lara Nobel said there were many reasons to nominate for the Awards. 

“Being a part of the CSQ Excellence Awards was a great experience. It was a huge thrill to have my name read out on the night,” she said.

“Winning the Award has helped me to build my own credibility in the industry and gain exposure for my business.”

This year the Awards have introduced the TAFE Queensland SkillsTech Award for Innovation in Construction Training which recognises employers who are utilising cutting edge training methods.

The simple online application process means applicants can submit details at any time of day to suit them with assistance available during business hours if needed.

The website also provides the opportunity to purchase tickets to the gala awards evening. Tickets for the CSQ Excellence Awards are now on sale for $175 per person or $1600 for a table of 10.

The awards night will be held on Friday November 25 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more information about the Awards contact CSQ on 1800 798 488 or visit http://www.csq.org.au/excellence-awards.

2016 Award Categories

Stars of 2016 – Outstanding Individual Achievement

• Hutchinson Builders Award for Construction Indigenous Person of the Year 
• National Association of Women in Construction Award for Construction Female of the Year
• Civil Contractors Federation Award for Construction Professional of the Year
• Master Electricians Association Award for Construction Trainee or Apprentice of the Year
• All Trades Queensland Award for Construction School Student of the Year
• Construction Trainer of the Year 

Excellence in Construction Training

• Construction School of the Year
• Registered Training Organisation of the Year
• Innovation in Construction Training

Employer Commitment to Training Excellence

• Watpac Employer Commitment to Training Excellence – General Construction (up to $20 million turnover)
• Major Training Group Award for Employer Commitment to Training - General Construction (over $20 million turnover)
• Employer Commitment to Training Excellence – Civil Construction (up to $20 million turnover)
• Evolution Training Award for Employer Commitment to Training Excellence – Civil Construction (over $20 million turnover)

Judges’ Outstanding Achievement Award

About Construction Skills Queensland

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) is an independent industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices and career seekers in the building and construction industry. Funded by an industry training levy, we work closely with students, schools, employers, apprentices, industry partners, training providers and individuals across Queensland to build capability at every level of business. As a recognised industry leader, our mission is to promote the building and construction industry as a career of first choice, encourage investment in skills and training and increase the number of skilled workers in the industry.

For further information about CSQ’s services visit www.csq.org.au or call 1800 798 488.

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THE banks’ treatment of small business customers will be forensically examined by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell, who will conduct hearings in the coming weeks to gather evidence regarding cases of alleged unconscionable conduct.

During an investigation into the nation’s banks, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services heard from various small businesses severely impacted by questionable banking practices. 

The Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack has asked the Ombudsman to look into these cases and determine whether subsequent government and industry reforms have done enough in addressing their problems and others like it.

“We have royal commission powers in situations like this and we plan to use them; we will conduct hearings and will use the powers set out in our legislation to require banks to appear and to provide us with the documentation that we need to thoroughly conduct this inquiry,” Ms Carnell said.

“There have been reforms made in this space, but what my office will do is make sure these changes go far enough to ensure small businesses are safeguarded against banking misconduct.

“I’ll be making recommendations to the government – and potentially to the banks as well – about possible changes, whether it be legislative, regulatory or even cultural, that may still need to be made to help prevent these sorts of situations happening in the future.

“We’re not in any way suggesting small businesses shouldn’t pay their debts; this is about addressing the imbalance of power between banks and small business owners, who in some cases have lost everything because their banks are basically riding roughshod over them.

“I’ve made the point in the past that small businesses who are at loggerheads with their banks over their finances, need a solution to their problem sooner rather than later; a royal commission may help mum-and-dad small businesses air their grievances, but it won’t save their business.

“Anything short of immediate action threatens the survival of small businesses who are struggling right now, and it’s my intention to ensure small businesses facing financial difficulties are given the help they need now, to allow them to survive and thrive.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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WHILE Britain faces the economic, diplomatic and political unknown, nations on the other side of the Channel are also pondering their future with some officials, including Germany’s Vice-Chancellor suggesting that the Brexit vote could bring about the collapse of the EU.

On Thursday, one of the EU’s most distinguished legal professionals, Professor Verica Trstenjak, will look at the meaning of Brexit from a European perspective during a ground-breaking University of Sydney Business School Seminar.

Professor Trstenjak is an interim judge (juge par intérim) of the EU’s civil service tribunal and a former Advocate General of the European Court of Justice.

She has provided legal opinions on the Common European Asylum System, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the transfer of asylum seekers from one Member State to another.

Professor Trstenjak’s work has been widely published and she is a member of editorial board of several legal journals including European Law Review (SSCI),  European Journal of Commercial Contract law, Ecolex, Italian Law Journal and others.

She is also a member of the International Academia of Comparative Law, Member of Academia Europaea and a Council Member of European law Institut.

 Seminar Details

Date:                           Thursday 1^st September 2016

Time:                          2.00PM

Venue:                        Case Study Lecture Theatre 2090

                                    University of Sydney Business School.

Cnr Codrington and Abercrombie Street, Darlington.

INTERNATIONAL experts will begin delivering a series of mental health and wellbeing workshops in Brisbane and regional areas from August 29, 2016).

The Queensland Mental Health Commission has partnered with Maudsley International to design and deliver the training which aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing awareness and knowledge through local community organisations.

The training follows the establishment of three regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs in Central Highlands, Northern and Western Queensland and Logan and Southern Moreton Islands earlier this year.

Hubs staff will join local community organisations to take part in training on the Wheel of Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment. A partnership between the Queensland Mental Health Commission and the Department of Education and Training will also see the training made available to their staff.

The Wheel of Wellbeing uses a positive psychology approach to teach simple techniques for promoting wellbeing, through a focus on the six areas of body, mind, spirit, people, place and planet. Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment is a systematic approach to understanding how the design of services and programs can be used to promote mental wellbeing across the community.

The two weeks of training begins in Brisbane today, followed by training in Townsville, Emerald and Logan next week (Monday 5 September 2016). To coincide with the training, the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Lesley van Schoubroeck will join international mental health and wellbeing expert Tony Coggins for a mental health and wellbeing forum in Emerald on Wednesday 7 September 2016.

Last week the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick and Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck launched the Queensland Rural and Remote Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2016-18 which details initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing in rural and remote communities.

About QMHC: The Queensland Mental Health Commission was established to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders by driving ongoing reform.

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