Bruce Contracting and Consulting

12/06/2026

A great way to reduce machine and person interaction.

14/05/2026

One positive that we can all take away from this week’s Federal Budget was the commitment toward free public access to mandatory Australian Standards.

For a long time, industries like construction, WHS, engineering and compliance have been expected to work to Standards that are regularly referenced in legislation and Codes of Practice, while the documents themselves sat behind expensive paywalls.

From what has been announced so far, the plan is to introduce a free online “read-only” access model for Standards that are effectively mandatory through legislation or regulation. Its not the perfect result, but a step in the right direction.

That means businesses, workers, apprentices and contractors should be able to actually access the documents they’re expected to comply with, without needing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars first.

There’s still detail to come around exactly how the system will work, but overall, we see this as a practical and positive reform that has the potential to:
✔ improve accessibility to best practice
✔ reduce barriers to compliance
✔ support small business
✔ and ultimately contribute to safer workplaces

A good step in the right direction 👏

01/03/2026

Unfortunately some people will take every opportunity, and this scenario from Ricky Gervais is another example of just that.

That’s why having a clear process to properly investigate complaints matters. We need to look at the facts, give everyone a fair go, and then ask, is there something here we can genuinely learn from?

If your complaints process feels a bit ad hoc or hasn’t been reviewed in a while, Bruce Contracting & Consulting can help you tighten it up so it’s fair, practical and defensible.

If your feeling blue today, support is available:
• Lifeline – 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
• If someone is in immediate danger, call 000

We had an official complaint from a lovely gentleman about this billboard. He claimed he’d seen it in a station and was absolutely disgusted and demanded it be taken down. We explained it was never up. Sometimes the complaints will be false.

09/02/2026

Lithium-ion battery fires & “Class L”.

This viedo is one of many on Youtube providing some useful learning🔥

I watched this video recently and thought it was a really clear, practical explanation of why lithium-ion battery fires behave differently to traditional fires, and why the new ISO “Class L” classification has emerged internationally, however should be understood for what it is, not what it's being promoted as.

🚫There is no Class L Fire Extinguishers.

It does a great job of unpacking:
❗️Why lithium-ion battery fires don’t fit neatly into existing fire classes
❗️concepts like thermal runaway, cascading failure and re-ignition
❗️why extinguisher “solutions” are often oversold or misunderstood

👉 Well worth a watch from a learning and awareness perspective.

That said, it’s important to note the Australian context, with an Australian lens 🇦🇺.

In Australia and New Zealand, fire classes are defined under AS/NZS 1850:2009, which currently recognises Classes A, B, C, D, E and F.

At this stage, Class L is not adopted under Australian Standards, and therefore does not change extinguisher selection, compliance requirements or operational response in Australia.

So while Class L is a useful international concept for understanding risk, particularly as battery technology continues to evolve, our local compliance, training and equipment decisions still need to be grounded in Australian Standards.

The real value here isn’t the new letter, it’s the conversation:
👉understanding battery energy density and failure behaviour
👉recognising the limits of extinguishers
👉planning for isolation, cooling, re-ignition risk and scene management

Good learning, good discussion.

Know of another great video that explains it, would love to see it - share the link in the comments.

🔗 Video:

Training & Consulting: https://www.stachedtraining.comLithium-ion battery fires now have their own fire classification — Class L. But what does that actually...

05/01/2026

Great to have locked in another year of White Card training delivery with the Riverina Community College.

🌟 Rise and Shine, Class of 2025! 🌟
Your break is over — now it's your time to launch forward.
Step into your future with confidence, purpose, and the skills that open doors.

✅ Get certified: RSA, RCG, First Aid, White Card, Barista
✅ Build your toolkit: Work Skills Week
✅ Get job-ready: Start strong, stand out, and seize every opportunity.

This is your moment.
Get up. Get skilled. Get going.
The next chapter starts now.

05/01/2026

Most cyber incidents don’t start with Hollywood hackers… they start with a dodgy link, a weak password, or one missed update.

TAFE NSW + IAT Digital are offering a free 3-hour Introduction to Cyber Security course (normally $140). Perfect for small businesses and anyone who wants the essentials without the fluff.

Covers:
• common threats and scams
• vulnerabilities and risks
• practical ways to stay cyber safe

Enrolment link in the comments.

Can't be bothered doing the training, then I suggest you call Nick Grentell Web & I.T. to ensure you have your Cyber Security needs covered.

12/11/2025

Great oppurtunities exist for students to enter the workforce at Junee Shire Council.

𝑺𝑪𝑯𝑶𝑶𝑳 𝑩𝑨𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑬𝑬𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷𝑺

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘

Junee Shire Council school-based traineeships provide students with the opportunity to work at Council while they are still at school, to equip them with skills and experience necessary to help them complete their education and enter the workforce. We are seeking school-based trainees currently studying in year 10 (commencing year 11 in 2026)

Successful applicants will commence in February 2026. While completing year 11 and year 12 studies, trainees will;

• Work at least one day a week at Council.
• Receive an income while learning new skills.
• Achieve a Certificate qualification.
• Be supported by Council staff.
• Potentially be considered for career opportunities at the end of their traineeship.

𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐋

In 2026, we have traineeships available in the following areas of Council:

• Business Administration
• Customer Service
• Civil Construction
• Surveying and Spatial Information Services
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Library

These traineeships present an excellent opportunity for students to pursue a career in local government.

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒
To be successful in these positions, you must:

Be able to commit and have the ability to participate and complete a certificate qualification.

• Be able to commit and have the ability to participate and complete a certificate qualification.
• Currently be a high school student commencing Year 11 in 2026.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to in the use of Microsoft Office, email and internet.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘?
Interested applicants can find more information and application details at:

https://www.junee.nsw.gov.au/council/career-opportunities/