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Business Lessons from the Skies – 13 Standout Startups from Shark Tank USA Season 15
On a recent flight from Australia to New York, I tuned into Shark Tank USA Season 15 and caught a wave of inspiring business pitches and commercials that showcase entrepreneurial grit, creativity, and commercial opportunity. Whether you’re scaling your own business, thinking about launching, or advising startups, here’s a look at the businesses featured, what […]
Easy read 8 point email – blogs, events & lunch invite; Regional Business Innovation Growth Hack; USA trip to Virginia Beach, Maryland, California for the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals Annual Conference; Whyalla’s Workforce
Hi there Catching up with a former client and friend recently they said, “I get your email and would like to read it all, but sometimes it is really long.” Taking that feedback on board, here’s a quick format with just 8 lines to see how this lands and please let me know what you think – […]
Erin Thompson MP, Member for Davenport, Parliamentary Speech – Wendy Perry Mentioned in Honour of International Women’s Day
Fifty-Fifth Parliament SOUTH AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) House of Assembly Wednesday, 5th March 2025 Motions International Women’s Day I move: That this house— (a) notes that 8 March 2025 is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme is March Forward; (b) acknowledges that while significant strides have been made, there is still much work ahead […]
Australia and the USA: Common Workforce Gaps and Issues plus the Unemployment Rate – What Should We Be Aiming For?
G’day and I hope you’re all doing well! Today, I want to have an open conversation about workforce issues that are increasingly relevant to both Australia and the U.S. It’s fascinating to see how the challenges we face align across oceans, and how we can learn from one another to tackle these issues head-on. The […]
Professional Development Webinars February – April 2025
Hosted by Wendy Perry – Strategic Workforce Planning & Transformation Leader | Workforce BluePrint MD | Founder, Switch Start Scale | VET & TVET Innovator | Board Member | Investor in Future Initiatives | Facilitator, Sea to Valley Startups Please meet, Wendy Perry who is the Managing Director of Workforce BluePrint, Facilitator for Sea to […]
What Can You Learn About Competency-Based Education and the VET System in Australia?
Competency-Based Education (CBE) is a fundamental approach in Vocational Education and Training (VET), aligning skill development with industry needs and workforce demands. The Australian VET system offers valuable insights into how CBE can be effectively implemented, scaled, and innovated. Take a look at key practices, frameworks, and resources from Australia, blending insights from discussions with […]
Leading by Example: Global Models of Vocational Excellence in VET and TVET Centres
Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is undergoing transformative change. Recent government announcements underscore the importance of TAFE Centres of Excellence (TCoEs), alongside many providers, as key drivers in building a skilled and future-ready workforce. These centres aim to embody collaborative partnerships between industry, education, and government, producing graduates with the high-quality skills demanded […]
How Can Community Colleges and Centres, VET and TVET Providers Diversity Income Streams and Gain Investment?
Many of you have said that you may need to consider diversifying your income streams, especially where you might be heavily reliance on some sort of Government funding. It is not sustainable if that is the case, and there is a framework that you can work through with your team to identify creative ways to […]
Exploring Opportunities for Small Businesses and Startups in Bhutan: A Personal Insight
Having travelled to Bhutan since 2013, around 10-12 times and spending a week here for BIF in October 2024, it’s clear to me that this unique country holds exciting potential for small businesses and startups. And I say great job to Druksell and CSI Market for working with 600+ businesses, providing an online platform for […]
From an Australian Skills Taxonomy to a Skills Ontology
The relationship between Australian VET qualifications and the jobs they are aligned to is not tight enough in many industry sectors and job roles. If you don’t work firsthand across a spectrum of competencies, qualifications and Training Packages then this direct evidence might not be obvious to you. Did you know that when building a […]
How to Rebuild Employment Services and Future Plan for Australia’s System
Recently I was asked by State Government colleagues what I thought about the Australian Government response to the House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services reports. Providing evidence for the House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services in 2023, hearing others contribute, and submitting formal responses, it was clear that whilst there are […]
Addressing Long-Term Unemployment in South Australia: Insights and Recommendations to the South Australian Productivity Commission
For 22 years, our private company has been dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by disengaged and long-term unemployed individuals across 32 different countries. Responding to the complex questions surrounding this issue with a Submission to Inquiry into Positioning All South Australians to Share in the Benefits of Economic Growth requires empathy, strategic foresight, and […]
South Australian State Budget: All About Families and Kids but What is Missing?
The South Australian State Budget for 2024-25, announced on June 6, 2024, introduces a range of initiatives and investments poised to significantly impact workforce development, education and training, and business opportunities across various sectors. Key highlights include: Skills Shortage Solutions – Initiatives to address skills shortages, including dedicated streams supporting the attraction, retention, and upskilling […]
AI and Strategic Foresight Applied to the Australian VET System and Qualification Reform
AI can mean Appreciative Inquiry as well as Artificial Intelligence, and visiting the USA earlier this year, it has become very clear about the things that are working well in Australia’s VET system, where applying this Appreciative Inquiry methodology asks how we amplify these strengths. So, what are some of the components of VET in […]
Essential Role of Deskless Workers and How to Enhance Their Experience
Deskless workers, who comprise up to 80% of the global workforce, are fundamental to numerous industries such as healthcare, construction, retail, & services. These employees typically do not have a fixed office or desk and often engage in field or frontline work (Simpplr) (eXo Platform). Despite their significant numbers, deskless workers have historically received less […]
The next version of the CES mustn’t be designed by bureaucrats in a bubble aka what do clients really need?
In the rapidly evolving world of work, the needs of job seekers and those venturing into self-employment are becoming increasingly complex. As we look toward the next iteration of Workforce Australia with the Commonwealth Employment Services (CES), it’s crucial to consider an innovative approach that addresses not just the technical aspects of employment but also […]
An Australian National Skills Passport: Misguided Investment
The proposition for an Australian National Skills Passport appears to be a step backwards, rather than forwards, for workforce development. This concept is not novel; it has resurfaced periodically over the past two decades in Australia but has never gained traction. The reasons for this are numerous and grounded in both practical and strategic considerations. […]
VET Please!
Dear VET Sector Stakeholders, Governments, Powers that be in Australia, and TVET friends globally This is the year to please not just do better but to do amazing things. And this is evidenced by an overwhelming amount of feedback coming from many different voices over recent times including the Rebuilding Employment Services, Final report on […]
Future of Employment Services in Australia – Responding to the Rebuilding Employment Services Report
Firstly, a thank you to the Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services members, and those that sent in submissions, as this is a mammoth piece of work, with much thought and feedback that has been considered for the final report. This blog, ‘Future of Employment Services in Australia – Responding to the Rebuilding Employment […]
Speaking Topics for 2024
Download: Wendy Perry One pager v0.3 With over 27 years of speaking and presenting experience, pick and choose the topics and experiences that you are interested in, to build a remarkable conference program and get the bonus of multi-functional speaker that is also a great MC. Speaking on topics across: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Designing Entrepreneurial […]
Entrepreneurial Mindset and the Power of Personal Branding
“On behalf of the Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur Network (MBEN) Conference 2023 organising team, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional contribution as a Speaker at the Conference which took place on 10th October. Your insights and expertise greatly enriched the conference, making it a memorable and valuable experience for all delegates. […]
It’s been a long time brewing – spilling the tea on jobs, skills & VET in Australia + AI chatbot results
Good morning The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP is in Adelaide this morning at AIEC 2023 and this content has been a long time brewing about jobs, skills & VET in Australia. Building upon the need for: A vision for the Australian Workforce (can you believe that most other countries, particularly developing countries, have had documented visions […]
SXSW Sydney October 2023 – Here We Come!
Raise your hand if you are going to SXSW Sydney? There is much anticipation and interest with SXSW going outside of Austin, Texas, USA for the first time, and headed down under to Sydney, Australia. Having been to the mind-blowing SXSW in Austin, Texas, USA since 2015, there are a few things that I do […]