Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)

Congratulations on your Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Standards Development award, Richard Horton! ⬇ #AiGroup #StandardsAndRegulation #StandardsDevelopment James Thomson Louise McGrath

For Robert Tran The Vinh Than, the path to an #ElectricalApprenticeship has been challenging — but worth it. Like many children of migrant families, Robert, whose parents hail from Vietnam, faced cultural pressure to pursue a university degree, traditionally seen as the only way to achieve a high-paying and satisfying career.    After school, he dutifully followed his parents’ wishes, enrolled in optometry and dedicated three years to his studies. Yet, he wasn’t fulfilled.   While Robert respected his family's aspirations for him, he sensed his true passion lay elsewhere. After much reflection, he made the courageous decision to leave university. “My parents were very upset,” Robert recalls. “They were worried I had no direction and would waste my potential as I finished Year 12 with a really high ATAR.” Robert’s decision led him to the Ai Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre, and now he’s in his second year of an electrical apprenticeship, hosted to Ai Group member Vector Technologies in Adelaide. He's thriving, and his parents are thrilled. Robert’s experience highlights how #apprenticeships and #traineeships are perceived as less-desirable learning paths than university in some communities.    By sharing stories such as this, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) aims to inspire more people to explore the possibilities that trades offer. Read more about Robert's journey and discover his awesome outlook on life here: ➡ https://lnkd.in/gWFsz87j #AiGroup #AiGroupATC Craig Hilton Harry McCabe Peter Nolan Wendy Larter

Today's GDP data reveals the government is providing life support to the Australian economy. Real GDP grew at 0.8% p.a. on an annualised basis in the September quarter, below forecasts and market expectations. Several industries – including mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, accommodation and food – reported contracting output on an annualised basis. This was compensated by higher growth in non-market sectors – education, healthcare and public administration – which are all heavily driven by government spending. The economy is increasingly dependent on government spending. Public sector final demand accounted for 28.0% of GDP in the last quarter – the highest level since the data began in 1985. The labour market has also become dependent on government support. While labour use in the economy grew by 1.7% over the last year, it was a flat 0.1% in the market sector, with government-connected sectors doing all the lifting. Unfortunately, this has perpetuated Australia's longstanding productivity problems. Labour productivity decreased 0.7% in the year to September, and remains 1.6% lower than it was before the pandemic. As Innes Willox remarked: "The data shows much of the private sector faces recession-like conditions. It is only a flood of government spending in recent months that is masking the true picture in the broader economy" "An economy increasingly dependent on government spending in lower-productivity industries is simply not sustainable," "While government spending is keeping our head above water, it is concerning that the private sector is performing so weakly". "To ensure momentum, it is essential that policy supports an increase in growth, investment and employment in the private sector," Mr Willox said. Read the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) statement on economic performance here: https://lnkd.in/g8yzgYd9 #economy #industry #GDP #growth #australia

Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) was delighted to join ARDEX Australia Pty Ltd in celebrating the opening of their new Oceania HQ in Sydney today. Ai Group Head of Member Relations and Head of NSW Helen Waldron and Member Engagement Manager Kaveri Chinnappa were invited on a tour of the impressive facility following a smoking ceremony and the ribbon cutting. Ai Group member ARDEX Australia is a family-owned business that specialises in the development and manufacturing of high-performance building materials. The new $140million, targeted 6-green-star facility features a world-class 35m-high powder manufacturing tower to vertically mix raw materials efficiently. Another new liquids manufacturing plant is an industry-first for its orientation and size and includes a 20m silo tower for storage and transfer of raw materials to the multi-level mixing plant. ARDEX Regional Managing Director - Oceania Fabian Morgan said the new HQ brought new possibilities and partnerships like those required for offsite-built modular social housing. The launch comes as the NSW Government commences the first sites for a trial of modular social housing. Congratulations to the ARDEX team, including Chris Skiladellis, Shalini Mudaliar, Ingo Weidmann and Alan Hill, who all played a key role in getting the new facility ready.   It's always a delight to celebrate the success of our members. 👏   #AiGroup #MemberEngagement #HereForBusiness Monique Fenech

As the festive season approaches, a familiar phrase starts to echo through workplaces: “Let’s circle back after the holidays.” While this sentiment is often well-intentioned, aiming to defer tasks until the new year can inadvertently stall momentum and #productivity. Understanding the impact of this mindset and implementing strategies to keep the wheels turning can help maintain a steady workflow, even as the holiday spirit takes over. Here, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) #HRExpert Georgina Pacor shares 10 practical tips to maintain productivity: ➡ https://lnkd.in/gfX9Y-S2 #AiGroup #leadership #LeadershipDeveopment

Your impact in the North is tremendous, Dean Deighton. Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) members and the wider business community are fortunate to have your passion and advocacy. 👏⬇ #AiGroup #MemberEngagement #HereForBusiness #NorthernTerritory #NT

Thanks, James Thomson, for highlighting the important work carried out by Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)'s Standards and Regulation team. ⬇ The largely unnoticed yet essential and extensive work of our S&R team and members who represent us on a variety of boards benefits every aspect of our lives. ➡ https://lnkd.in/gxXCC2zn #AiGroup #StandardsAndRegulation Louise McGrath

Australia’s education and training systems need deep and collaborative reform to develop the skills and capabilities required to drive #productivity, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Chief Executive Innes Willox said today. "Developing workers' capability is fundamental to Australia's productivity and will enable the nation to thrive," Mr Willox said. "On the eve of the third quarter economic growth figures, we must not forget that labour productivity in the Australian economy has declined 2 per cent since the start of the pandemic." Improvements to digital technologies, infrastructure investment, productivity in the care and education sectors and the opportunities from a net zero transition are just some of the benefits of capability development-driven productivity improvement, a paper released today by the Ai Group Centre for Education and Training says. Access the report and read our full statement here: ➡ https://lnkd.in/epjwzxPi #AiGroup #AiGroupCET Dr Caroline Smith Paolo Damante Emily Stekly