Steel Builders are the largest supplier of structural steel, lintels and bricklayers hardware to the domestic housing market servicing Greater Sydney & beyond.

From a smaller owner builder, right through to a major construction partner, Steel Builders offers a complete package; from an initial estimate with CAD and 3D drafted shop drawings, through to painting/galvanising and final delivery to site state-wide and even into the ACT!

At Steel Builders there are no short-term customers, through great customer service and quality workmanship they are always “Creating Smarter Solutions.” Their proprietary systems and SMART range of products offer opportunities to save thousands on your build costs, and speed up construction times.

They continue to find innovative ways of working, and in 2023 are commencing the exploration of additional robotic solutions across their operation.

Get in touch with one of their friendly staff today, who will assist you in making your project a success:

Phone: 02 9623 7363

Contact: https://www.steelbuilders.com.au/pages/contact

Want to know more about Steel Builders products and services? Visit their website.

Holdmark, in partnership with Western Sydney University (WSU), is pleased to launch the inaugural Urban Transformation Summer School, an innovative new course aimed at educating and empowering the next generation of urban designers and transformers.

Designed by the Chair of WSU’s School of Architecture Paul Sanders, this year’s course will focus on the influence of Powerhouse Parramatta’s design on the local area’s urban environment.

Students will hear from world-leading architects and the designers of Powerhouse Parramatta, Nicolas Moreau & Hiroko Kusunoki (Moreau Kusunoki) and Steve Toia (Genton) as well as Abbie Galvin (NSW Government Architect) and leading urban planner Kelly van der Zanden (City of Parramatta). Students will also work on real-world design, engineering and architecture challenges alongside industry professionals, giving them the chance to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.

Founder and Chief Executive of Holdmark Sarkis Nassif said the company is thrilled to be partnering with Western Sydney University on this unique program to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to make a real impact in the world of urban design and transformation.

“As our cities continue to grow and evolve, it is more important than ever to have a new generation of professionals who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation,” said Mr Nassif.

“I am confident that the students who participate in this program will emerge with a deeper understanding of the complexities and opportunities of urban design, and a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to creating liveable and sustainable cities.”

“Western Sydney University is proud to partner with Powerhouse Parramatta and Holdmark to deliver this innovative summer school program, which will simultaneously develop students’ design thinking capability and advance practical solutions for issues directly identified by the local Western Sydney community,” said Professor Barney Glover AO Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University.

“Fostering sustainable design excellence is of paramount importance for Powerhouse. It is our great privilege to play a role in supporting and enabling designers across their careers, as they reimagine urban development and cultural infrastructures for future generations,” said Lisa Havilah, Powerhouse Chief Executive.

The summer school initiative follows a $10 million commitment to Powerhouse Parramatta by Holdmark Property Group, which supports the establishment of the Holdmark Gallery and a new biennial exhibition focusing on innovation in design, engineering, and architecture. The commitment has also seen Holdmark become the principal partner of Sydney Design Week.

For more information on the summer school course, visit: WSU website

On Tuesday 14 February, NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy joined high school students from Western Sydney who are part of Powerhouse: Future Space to launch their next mission - a student-designed experiment which will be conducted on the International Space Station in 2024.

As part of the Lang Walker Family Academy In-Schools Program, Powerhouse: Future Space in collaboration with Magnitude.io and the NSW Department of Education is in its second year of a three-year program. It has been providing students from Western Sydney and regional areas with ground-breaking technology, advanced educational opportunities, and exposure to international scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

The 2022 mission ‘Carbon Farmer’ used scientific inquiry to teach students about importance of the carbon cycle on Earth and in space. This year, students will use NASA-inspired design thinking techniques to plan their own space and Earth-based experiment between February and August and pitch their ideas to a panel of experts during the 2023 Sydney Science Festival. The winning design will be selected for ground trials and active experiments on the International Space Station in early 2024.

The esteemed guest for the launch event, Melroy was one of only two female commanders of NASA space shuttle missions. She went on three space shuttle assembly missions in 2000, 2002 and 2007 to help build the International Space Station. She is also a pioneer for the Australian Space Agency, having spent a significant amount of time in Australia, inspiring the future of space undertaking. Powerhouse connected 150 students from Hurlstone Agricultural High School, East Hills Girls Technology High School, Arthur Phillip High School, Jamison High School, Seven Hills High School and Casula High School with the distinguished leader to hear her inspiring recollections from an outstanding STEM career. Melroy also offered advice to students on their experiment proposals for the mission, followed by Q&A.

‘We are thrilled to be a participating school in the Powerhouse: Future Space program and supporting the launch of the 2023 mission. It has been a rewarding journey to see Future Space students applying their learnings from the world-class immersive STEM education program to prepare an actual space mission on the International Space Station,’ said Christine Castle, Principal of Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

‘The Lang Walker Family Academy is excited to have Pamela Melroy to launch the next mission for the Powerhouse: Future Space program. Inspiring students in Western Sydney and regional NSW by connecting them with industry experts and providing hands-on experiment opportunities is at the core of the program. It is exciting that this year students can apply their learnings to design their own experiment which will be conducted both on-ground and on the International Space Station,’ said Sophie Poisel, Head of Lang Walker Family Academy.

Ronald McDonald House Charities GWS are hosting a Twilight Golf & BBQ Afternoon on Tuesday, March 21st 2023 at one of Australia's premier courses; The Castle Hill Country Club.

Places are filling fast! Join them for a scenic and relaxing day out that helps sick kids and their families staying at Ronald McDonald House GWS!

Details below - Ticket includes 18 holes of golf, cart hire, 2 drink vouchers each plus a BBQ Dinner.

Date

Tuesday 21st March 2023

Time

12 pm Registration

1 pm Shotgun Start

5:00 pm BBQ Sunset Dinner

Location

Castle Hill Country Club

7 Spurway Drive, Norwest 2153

️Tickets

$180 per player or $700 for a team of 4

To secure your tickets or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dave Hagger via email: Dave.Hagger@rmhc.org.au

By Simone Rennocks  |  CEO  |  My Skills Australia  

Marketing is a crucial aspect of any business, and in today's digital age, staying ahead of the curve means utilizing all the tools at your disposal. Enter ChatGPT, the cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT has taken the marketing world by storm, and for good reason. In this blog, we'll explore why marketers are turning to ChatGPT and how it can help take your marketing efforts to the next level.

First, let's look at what ChatGPT is and how it works. In simple terms, ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model that can generate human-like text. It has been trained on a massive dataset of diverse text from the internet, allowing it to understand and respond to a wide range of questions and prompts. This means that it can converse with customers, answer queries, and provide information in a way that feels natural and human.

Now, how can this technology help with marketing? The answer is simple: by providing personalized and timely interactions with customers. ChatGPT can be integrated into websites, messaging platforms, and even virtual assistants to provide quick and seamless customer support. This not only helps to improve the customer experience but also provides valuable data and insights into customer behavior.

For example, imagine you run an e-commerce store and a customer reaches out to you via your website's chatbot. The chatbot, powered by ChatGPT, can ask the customer a series of questions to understand their needs and preferences. Based on this information, the chatbot can make personalized product recommendations, provide relevant information about shipping and returns, and even offer special promotions. This kind of interaction not only helps to convert a potential customer into a sale but also builds brand loyalty, as the customer feels seen and valued.

Another way ChatGPT can help with marketing is by creating high-quality content. With its ability to understand and generate text, ChatGPT can be used to write blog posts, articles, and even social media posts. This saves marketers time and effort and ensures that the content is on-brand and consistent in tone and style. ChatGPT can also analyze and interpret data to provide insights into market trends and customer behavior, allowing marketers to make informed decisions about their content and marketing strategies.

But perhaps one of the most exciting uses of ChatGPT for marketing is its potential for personalization. With its ability to understand and respond to natural language, ChatGPT can be used to create personalized marketing campaigns. For example, a marketer could use ChatGPT to analyze customer data and generate personalized emails or social media posts that are tailored to each customer's interests and preferences. This level of personalization can result in higher engagement rates and increased conversions, as customers feel that the brand is speaking directly to them.

Finally, ChatGPT can help with marketing by automating repetitive tasks and freeing up time for more creative and strategic work. For example, ChatGPT can be used to respond to frequently asked questions, freeing up customer support teams to focus on more complex issues. It can also be used to monitor social media and provide insights into customer sentiment, allowing marketers to respond quickly to any negative comments or concerns.

In conclusion, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize the way marketers approach their work. From personalized interactions to high-quality content creation, ChatGPT offers a range of benefits that can help take your marketing efforts to the next level. If you're not already using this cutting-edge technology, now is the time to start exploring its potential for your business. Trust us, you won't regret it!

My Skills Australia is now teaching ChatGPT as part of their Leadership and Management, Marketing and Info Tech Certificate IV courses. Join the AI revolution today and have your team master the emerging technology. 

Click here to find out more.

Commencement

Important changes relating to paid family and domestic violence leave took effect from 1 February 2023 for non-small business employers and will commence on 1 August 2023 for small business employers.

A small business employer is one that has less than 15 employees taking into account the number of employees of associated entities (with most casuals counted).

A non-small business employer is one that has 15 or more employees taking into account the number of employees of associated entities (with most casuals counted).

What Are The Changes?

The changes mean that all employees (including casual and part-time employees) will be entitled to 10 days’ of paid family and domestic violence leave each year, albeit it does not accumulate from year to year and, if not used, is not paid out on cessation of employment.

Are There Any Other Requirements?

Strict record keeping, eligibility and evidentiary requirements apply when taking such leave including:

• the employee must demonstrate that they need to do something to deal with family and domestic violence and that it would be impractical to do so outside of their hours of work (including attending medical or legal appointments)
• an employer can request reasonable proof from an employee about the necessity for taking family and domestic violence leave
• whilst the leave is to be recorded as ordinary hours of work on the employee’s payslip (or another type of leave if the employee requests), the employer must maintain appropriate internal records regarding leave balances and leave taken 

Penalties

Employers and individuals may be subject to penalties for non-compliance with the new changes.

Recommended Actions

We recommend employers:

• update employment agreements and company policies to cater for this new form of leave
• train management staff in how to deal with leave requests (noting their sensitive nature)
• ensure their leave procedures meet the record keeping and evidentiary requirements

Questions/Assistance

If you have any questions in respect of the above or would like any other employment related assistance, please contact our Matthews Folbigg Workplace Solutions employment law team.

Stewart Gough  |  Principal T: (02) 9806 7483 M: 0458 586 444 E: stewartg@matthewsfolbigg.com.au	Peter Doughman  |  Senior Associate T: (02) 9806 7412 M: 0404 020 409 E: pdoughman@matthewsfolbigg.com.au

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided to readers for their general information and on a complimentary basis. It contains a brief summary only and should not be relied upon or used as a definitive or complete statement of the relevant law.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

Calling all seafood lovers, grab your friends and family to indulge in PARKROYAL Parramatta's Summer Seafood Buffet! You’ll receive a complimentary bottle of wine for bookings of 4 adults.

Available from 6pm to 9pm, every second Saturday from 11 February to 25 March 2023.

Enjoy fresh seafood options like our Alaskan Crab Leg and Singaporean Chilli Crab, cold dishes, hot dishes and salads and complete your dining experience with a range of desserts.

Bookings essential, contact +61 2 9685 0377 or dining.prsyp@parkroyalhotels.com.

Take advantage of PARKROYAL Parramatta's Feb Frenzy offer and receive a complimentary $200 AV Voucher!

Meeting rate: From $79 per person

Inclusions:

• Room Hire (09:00-17:00)
• Welcome tea and coffee with complimentary fruit bowl
• Morning tea (freshly brewed coffee, tea selection, orange juice, two gourmet food items
• Selection of gourmet lunch platters served in Table 30 Restaurant (subject to availability) OR selection of working lunch buffet, served in your pre function area
• Afternoon tea (freshly brewed coffee, tea selection, orange juice, two gourmet food items)
• Facilitator toolkit featuring stationary essentials
• Notepads, pencils, mints and iced water
• Standard Audio-visual equipment – 1 x flipchart, 1 x whiteboard & 1 x drop down canvas screen

To book, contact +61 2 9685 0309 or email events.prsyp@parkroyalhotels.com.

Terms and conditions:

• For new bookings only
• Minimum of 20 delegates
• Valid for new events booked in February
• Events must be held between
• February 2023 to April 2023.