Branch update

ACT BRANCH

Scan here to visit the NECA ACT homepage

BRANCH UPDATE

Nataisha Martin

NECA ACT Member Manager

WeLCOMe TO AnOTHeR ISSue OF neCA neWS. AS We ReACH THe MIDDLe OF 2022, We ARe PLeASeD TO Be ReTuRnInG TO A DeGRee OF nORMALITY.

NECA Industry Nights

We’ve had an exciting start to the second quarter of this year. We kicked off our Industry nights in the ACT and Southern nSW regions including Albury, Orange, Dubbo, Griffith and Wagga in May and June. All nSW small businesses that attended, received a $1,000 SafeWork Small Business Rebate to spend on safety equipment for their business, and were informed about how electrical businesses can access nSW Government funded training programs. The feedback from those who attended has been very positive, with several contractors commenting that they left feeling more supported and guided by neCA than ever. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Industry night speakers: WorkSafe ACT and neCA’s WHS experts. I’d also like to acknowledge the ongoing commitment and support of our business partners MMeM, nHP, Legend, Clipsal Schneider, BRADY, neCA Training and Apprenticeships and neSS Super. Keep an eye out for more information on neCA Industry night dates, upcoming educational webinars and other exciting events for the latter half of 2022. We are in planning mode for an exciting new schedule that you won’t want to miss.

NECA member meeting

neCA recently held its first virtual membersonly meeting. It was great to meet neCA members and discuss industry-related issues that affect their businesses. I look forward to chatting with members over a cup of coffee in the next few months. In the meeting, attendees were introduced to their State Member Manager, with discussion revolving around the support and resources available for members. If you missed the meeting, you can watch the recording on our Technical Knowledge Base.

We received such great feedback after the session that this has inspired our team to continue hosting these quarterly meetings. Keep an eye on your inbox for your members-only invitation.

If you have any questions or would like us to discuss specific industry related topics, then we encourage you to connect with neCA Member Services.

The Commonwealth Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy extended until 30 June 2022

The Commonwealth Government has extended the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy program, and neCA strongly encourages members to consider taking advantage of this opportunity.

In registering for this rebate, you may be eligible for a subsidy of 50% off wages paid (up to $28,000 per new apprentice). After 12 months of this support, employers will be eligible to transition to the time-limited Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third years of an apprenticeship.

Rebates apply to apprentices employed through neCA Training and Apprenticeships. If you are thinking about hosting an apprentice, now is the time to get in touch.

neCA Training and Apprenticeships can assist you with the BAC subsidy. They have helped many neCA members with their

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Members have access to email and phone support through our Member Services team, ensuring that you and your business receive the right specialist advice when you need it. The neCA team can assist your business with:

Get in touch today with nataisha Martin –your neCA ACT Member Manager.

½ SafetyStar - a free document-based management health, safety, environment and quality (HSeQ) system, designed to assist electrical contractors to meet minimum compliance; ½ unlimited phone and email support with technical, workplace health and safety (WHS), human resources (HR) and industrial relations (IR) issues; ½ unlimited access to neCA’s Technical Knowledge Base (TKB) with the latest industry standards, WHS documents and HR and IR templates; ½ discounts, offers and deals on business essentials including fuel; ½ unlimited basic phone and email enquiries with our legal team; ½ workwear, corporate clothing and PPe targeted for the industry; ½ training and skills development; ½ free industry events and regular updates.

apprentice requirements since 1988. All neCA apprentices are trained in the full range of electrical skill sets by industry experts.

Scan the QR code to connect with neCA Training and Apprenticeships

Electrical worker fatality highlights safety risks when working in ceiling spaces

The death of an electrical worker in February 2022, calls for increased safety measures when working in ceiling spaces or any restricted space where there is electricity.

It is important that workers understand the risks, and if needed are trained in managing those risks, before entering ceiling spaces. For employers or business owners, it’s your duty to manage electrical risks as outlined in the Work Health and Safety legislation. You also have responsibilities under the electrical Safety Act 2002. neCA’s Technical Knowledge Base contains an information checklist to assist you when working in ceiling spaces, and our WHS Team can assist you with industry-specific safe work method statements (SWMS).

Have you had your NECA Safety Check?

With compliance always in full force in our industry, it’s important to always think safe, work safe and be safe. That’s why at neCA we offer all members a FRee AnnuAL SAFeTY CHeCK-uP to help businesses improve their standards of workplace health and safety compliance. neCA’s WHS Team will make recommendations on which safety system is suitable for your business size, and guide you throughout every step of the process.

What’s in your Black Book?

I’ve just received a copy of the electrical Black Book, and must say how impressed I am by its compact, practical design and informative content.

now endorsed by neCA, the electrical Black Book is a technical electrical resource book that integrates an abundance of electrical information into an easy-to-read and user-friendly format. With 212 pages of information, it includes electrical safety laws, electrical codes and standards, electrical conduit and conduit bending, electrical formulae and conversion factors, transformers and motors, electrical socket-outlets, switches and enclosures, LeD lighting, fibre optics and data cabling plus more.

The booklet is an invaluable tool for understanding our industry. See for yourself! Visit www.safetyspecialists.com.au

NECA Awards

nominations for the neCA Awards are now closed and judging is truly underway. Thank you to all members who nominated their projects for this year’s awards – we wish you the best of luck.

The 2022 neCA Award winners will be announced on Friday 19 August with a dinner held at the Hyatt Canberra. Ticket sales will open shortly, so keep an eye on your inbox for more details. I encourage all members to attend and support their industry colleagues.

Lastly, the neCA team is here to provide you and your business with resources and expert advice to help support your business growth. If you have questions regarding your neCA membership or require industry advice, please connect with neCA Member Services or myself.

We look forward to meeting you virtually at our next Member Meeting.

Business Insurance. Why you need to be part of an industry endorsed group!

I receive quite a few queries around business insurance, such as the difference in brokers and their insurance packages. When reviewing or looking for a new insurance policy, my tip for members is to consider factors such as: ½ reviewing your business description; ½ reviewing your turnover and employee numbers; ½ keeping track of your unspecified items; and ½ paying your worker’s compensation premium in monthly instalments, to name a few.

Looking for an insurance broker that enables you to keep your policies under one umbrella, and who understands your specific industry needs, can sometimes be daunting. To assist members in making better business decisions, neCAGuard was developed to specifically support members’ insurance needs. When your insurance is due for its next renewal, reach out to the neCAGuard team for a competitive comparison rate.

NECA’s weekly e-newsletter

Operating a business in the ongoing pandemic can be difficult, with official regulations and requirements constantly changing. neCA’s weekly e-newsletter provides valuable industry information and the latest updates in technical, industrial relations, legal, human resources, workplace health and safety and COVID-19 issues. They are a great way to keep yourself and your business abreast of any changes. If you are not receiving our weekly e-newsletter, scan the QR code and fill out your details.

neCA was pleased to host a recent webinar with nick Lhuede, Access Canberra’s executive Branch Manager, Construction, utilities and environment Protection. nick is also ACT’s Construction Occupations Registrar. Through the webinar nick shared an overview of the roles and functions within his branch, and their focus areas for the year ahead.

Since the ACT lockdown ended last year, the building and construction industry has made a good recovery. The ACT Government is also providing further support by reducing the cost of annual licence fee renewals for the 2021/22 financial year and waiving late fees.

This year the ACT Government and the Construction Occupations Registrar (the Registrar), are taking action to enhance the rigor and integrity of building regulations through construction licensing. The electrical Inspections Team will continue to maintain a 100% inspection rate for new electrical installations. Last year the team conducted 27,394 electrical inspections and over 29,000 inspections are forecast for this financial year – making it the busiest year on record for the team. encouragingly, they continue to see a high rate of compliance within the electrical industry, and continue to take a risk-based compliance approach where the risks of harm, unsafe practices or misconduct are the greatest. Their Occupational Discipline Scheme is an important way to protect the community and industry from licensees that consistently operate outside the rules (this number remains small).

With around 4,850 electrical licences active in the ACT, and over 800 new licences issued in the 2020/21 financial year, the Registrar continues to have a strong focus on ensuring new applicants are meeting the requirements and educational qualifications within the ACT.

Key to a thriving and successful industry is ongoing collaboration between industry and government to lift and give the community confidence in building quality, and create a level playing field.

We welcome your feedback and ongoing engagement on matters relating to building and construction in the ACT.

Access Canberra Electrical Inspections team

www.accesscanberra.ast.gov.au

NESS SUPER DELIVERS SUPER EDUCATION SESSIONS

neSS Super delivered super education “Lunch n Learn” sessions for neCA apprentices in neCA’s Fyshwick Centre of excellence from March 28 to March 31.

The purpose of the sessions was to help apprentices understand what steps they could take to further protect themselves as electricians in a high-risk occupation, as well as some easy ways to help boost their super over the long term. The key message was that the younger you start doing something about your super, the better off you will be. As apprentices, they are in an ideal position to take advantage of this. The five steps to make the most of your super: ½ regularly check your insurance – insurance cover to protect you and your family for unexpected events; ½ make an investment choice – how your money is invested is your choice. It is a good idea to seek advice on your options; ½ combine your super – avoid paying multiple fees and insurance premiums, by combining your super into your neSS

Super account. neSS Super can help find and combine any super you have; ½ boost your super – a small amount of extra contributions into your super can make a big difference when you retire; ½ First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme – the FHSS scheme allows you to save money for your first home inside your super fund. This will help first home buyers save faster with the concessional tax treatment of super.

From 1 July 2022, the total amount of eligible contributions that can be released to the FHSS Scheme will increase from $30,000 to $50,000. neSS Super is designed for employees within the electrotechnology industry. For more information or to speak to a neSS Super Representative, please contact 1300 361 099 or scan the QR code to submit an enquiry.

As an Australian Apprenticeships

Support Network (AASN) provider,

we connect employers, apprentices and trainees to the right tools, resources and support to build the skilled workforce of tomorrow.