Winyama Digital Solutions and Goanna Education partner with AWS
Two Indigenous-owned and operated technology businesses, Winyama Digital Solutions and Goanna Education have partnered up with Amazon Web Services to improve the digital literacy of the First Nations’ workforce.
The collaboration claims to create economic opportunities for First Nations people by creating a future pipeline of Indigenous tech talent.
Winyama is an IT consultancy that upskills and reskills Indigenous, while Goanna Education is a registered training organisation that connects young Indigenous Australians and upskilled employees to work.
Andrew Morumburri Dowding, Winyama’s founder and Ngarluma man, said, “Our ultimate goal is to enhance Indigenous presence in the technology sector as well as empowering Indigenous communities by equipping them with industry-relevant digital skills, enabling us to secure the knowledge of our ancestors and responsibly manage their legacy in a sustainable, Indigenous manner that prepares us all for the future.”
Reloved Charter Hall building to house the new Victorian tribunal
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will move to its CBD headquarters to the Argus Centre, a postmodernist high-rise due to undergo adaptive refurbishment owned by Charter Hall Group.
Constructed between 1991 and 1993, the building was refurbished in 2012 and will undergo its second transformation into a A-grade commercial building in mid-2024 to reduce its carbon footprint.
The aim is for the completed building to claim a 6-star NABERS energy rating, 5-star green star performance rating and reduced carbon emissions of approximately 70 per cent. Base building energy will be 100 per cent procured from renewable sources.
Located at 300 La Trobe Street in the Melbourne CBD, VCAT will relocate from 55 King Street to the 14,000 square metres building, which will benefit from better access to public transport, directly across from Melbourne Central Station.
Charter Hall office chief executive Carmel Hourigan said, “With plans for two separate, secure entrances for the public and VCAT’s employees and members, as well as private end-of-trip facilities, touchless entry, ground floor concierge, electric vehicle charging, and our tenant customer experience app, we look forward to delivering a future-focused workplace that achieves the organisation’s goals over the next two decades.”
Women in Construction survey
The NSW government is looking for feedback in a Women in Construction survey to make the construction industry a better place to work for women and all sections of the community and the building and construction industry are invited to share their views on barriers women face in entering, working, and staying in the construction industry.
Currently women occupy just 13 per cent of all roles in the industry, and two per cent in trades.
The government hopes to increase participation of women in trade and non-traditional roles to improve the gender balance in the industry and address critical supply and skills shortages in construction activity and housing supply in NSW.
Employers of small businesses employing 20 or fewer people are also encouraged to respond to see what can be done to increase participation across all roles.
NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said the survey was the largest of its kind in the state.
“It will be key in outlining how we can address the construction skills shortage, which is impacting the ability to build new housing and infrastructure.
“I encourage the community and industry to take part in this important survey. Whether you work in construction or not, your voice matters. Making the construction industry open to everyone can help bring more people into jobs and deliver the demand for construction activity and housing supply in NSW.”
The survey is open until September 26 and the findings are expected to be available in the coming months. Have your say here.