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Those with experience in the wood machining industry are encouraged to participate in a short survey to gather insights into how current qualifications and being used and how they might better meet learner and employer needs. Source: Timberbiz Nationally endorsed training in wood machining is currently available through the furnishing qualification MSF30322 Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology with a specialisation in wood machining and the forest and wood products qualification FWP31121 Certificate III in Wood Machining. Some stakeholders have expressed concerns about the title of the furnishing qualification, as it might be confused for a qualification in cabinet making. Feedback has also been received about the reduction of available wood machining specific units in recent years and whether future graduates would be competent in wood machining specific skills. Skills Insight is undertaking a research project and will produce a report outlining the complexities of the issue. Your input into the survey will play an important role in this research and the report. For more information, the project page here Begin the survey here  

AKD has announced a partnership with TIACS (This is a Conversation Starter) during their annual Safe StartUp events held across the nation, as part of the AKD 2024 ‘Healthy Body + Healthy Mind = Healthy Me’ campaign. Source: Timberbiz AKD is honoured to be a member of the TIACS Alliance, a collective of businesses who share a common vision to support blue-collar communities by funding easily accessible mental health counselling. AKD acknowledge that there are factors both in and outside of work which can have an impact on yours or your loved one’s mental health. With a workforce of 1100 people, there is someone that will have something they are dealing with personally, whether that is financial stress, relationship issues, or health issues. “There can be challenges with being able to access mental health support at times due to the cost associated with it, the time, or inability to get into a counsellor when you need it most, navigating the system with referrals etc,” Toni Kirkup, AKD’s National Health & Safety Manager, said. “We are really pleased to be able to assist in providing our entire AKD team and their families with access to support by removing some of these barriers. Along with access for our customers, suppliers and the wider community. “It’s a real vicious cycle. If you’re having health issues, that can have a big impact on your mental health, and if you’re having mental health issues, that can have a big impact on your physical health. Both impact your livelihood.” It’s easy to embrace your own physical health these days, and it’s time that we start prioritising our mental health too. Ed Ross and Dan Allen, Co-founders of TradeMutt and TIACS, share the sentiment that maintaining mental health is integral to overall well-being. TradeMutt, renowned for its funky work shirts designed to start conversations about mental health, making the invisible impossible to ignore. What they soon came to learn is that starting the conversation sometimes means that you need to continue that conversation with a professional. TIACS was born out of this realisation, with the aim to help remove the physical and financial barriers associated with counselling, by offering a straightforward text and call service connecting individuals directly to professional counsellors to provide support to those that need to be able to better handle the challenges life throws at all of us. Since its inception in 2020, TIACS has supported over 18,000 clients through 18,500+ hours of conversation. “TIACS is funded by the industry for the industry. There’s no way that we can do the critical work for the industry without that support,” Ed and Dan said. “We are stoked to welcome AKD to the TIACS Alliance Partnership. The funding that AKD provides not only allows us to ensure we can support every teammate at AKD but also the wider blue-collar community right around Australia when they need that support the most.” As part of this launch, AKD handed out TradeMutt funky lunch bags to every employee. The lunch bags feature a QR Code for direct access to the TIACS contact options, creating a visible daily reminder of the resources available to those seeking support. Together, AKD and the TIACS Alliance aim to make a meaningful impact. Join AKD as they try to break down the barriers surrounding mental health and foster a community where well-being is prioritised, one conversation at a time. If you see tough times ahead or have been going through a life challenge and don’t know what to say or who to contact reach out and say hi a TIACS counsellor. Call or text TIACS on 0488 846 988 Monday-Friday 8am-10pm AEST to speak with a counsellor. In case of immediate danger or harm, please call 000.

Private Forests Tasmania has appointed a new chair and two directors to the board. The new chair is Jim Wilson who replaces Mr Evan Rolley. Source: Timberbiz Bob Rutherford has been appointed as a new Director for three years, coming onto the Board with extensive expertise in forestry and related natural resources sciences while Alice Herbon has been reappointed as a member representing non-industrial private forest growers for a further term of one year. Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said that after a widespread search, Jim Wilson has been appointed as the new Chair of PFT. “Jim Wilson has extensive leadership experience in the private forest sector and will step strongly into this leadership role having previously been a Director on the PFT Board,” Mr Ellis said. “Alongside this appointment, I am also delighted to announce that Bob Rutherford has been appointed as a new Director for three years, coming onto the Board with extensive expertise in forestry and related natural resources sciences. “Additionally, Alice Herbon has been reappointed as a member representing non-industrial private forest growers for a further term of one year.” More than 70% of Tasmania’s wood harvest by volume now comes from the private estate. Our sustainably managed private native and plantation forests provide the wood needed to build our houses and fibre for a plastic-free future. “Private Forests Tasmania is supported by the Rockliff Liberal Government to actively promote the private forests sector and help shape its sustainable growth,” said Mr Ellis. “This includes the provision of $600,000 through our Climate Change Action Plan to support landowners in increasing commercial tree plantings on their properties, sequestering carbon while providing future wood and fibre for our community. “I congratulate Mr Wilson, Mr Rutherford and Ms Herbon on their appointments and wish outgoing Chair, Mr Evan Rolley, all the best for his future endeavours and thank him for his service as Chair of PFT for more than five years,” he said. PFT’s chief executive officer Dr Elizabeth Pietrzykowski congratulated Mr Rolley on his term as PFT Chair. “We extend our gratitude to Evan for an impactful five-year tenure,” she said. “Evan’s commitment to the private forest industry has left an indelible mark on our organisation and his leadership has placed an important focus on innovative whole-farm planning as well as continuing to meet the demands of the emerging wood markets. “I look forward to working closely with PFT’s new Chair, Jim Wilson, and welcome Bob to the organisation as our new director.”