REGIONAL TECHNICIANS GROUP
Noticeboard
(Please press your Reload or Refresh button to make sure you see the latest notices)
Date 18 December 2003. Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology Weather Kit.
The kit is available for loan from Yule Brook College to primary and secondary schools and is pictured in the Loan Pool section of this website. The kit includes 2 aneroid barometers, 1 wet-dry bulb hygrometer, 4 anemometers, 2 whirling psychrometers, 4 magnetic compasses, 2 wind meters, 1 rain gauge, 4 UV meters, 4 spirit thermometers and instruction manual.
Detailed instructions on the use of each instrument and suggested class activities are available on the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology website: www.bom.gov.au/info/weatherkit/
Date 15 December 2003. CountryLab 2003.
This year's end of year seminar was held for science staff from country high school. Click here for more details.
Date 15 December 2003. Bubble recipes.
Day 2 of CountryLab 2003 began with a demonstration of bubble blowing by Andrew Suttar from Bubblemania.
Click here for some bubble recipes courtesy of Andrew.
Date 9 December 2003. Thousands of microelectronic parts, free to a good home.
Semiconductors, resistors, diodes, capacitors, connectors and many more things that I don't even know the name of ...............................
Come and visit the foyer of the lecture theatre at John Forrest Senior High to choose what you would like. You can phone for more info if you want to (although I am not an electronics expert and can only answer easy questions) on (08) 9473 4022.
Date 9 December 2003. Bunsen burner hose clips.
It appears that the part number we were given for the OTK clips which fit our bunsen burner tubing has been changed. The new number is OTK1113 (which is the 11mm to 13mm size.)
Date 9 December 2003. Country Lab2003 went off with a bang!
Or was it just the sound of Eric's head hitting the floor??? More on that story later :o}
Date 19 November 2003. WorkSafe guidelines for the management of MSDSs.
Guidelines for the management of Material Safety Data Sheets in the workplace, according to WorkSafe Australia requirements, are outlined in the WorkSafe website:
http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/hazshazd0017.htm
Date 19 November 2003. Information source for hazardous substances.
Specific safety information about a particular hazardous substance may be searched at the following National Occupational Health & Safety Commission web address:
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/Databases/HazardousSubstances/
Information from this website has been used as the benchmark for all of the revised chemical labels produced by the Regional Technicians Group. The national information source was chosen after the discovery of conflicting statements contained in MSDSs from different suppliers regarding the same pure chemical.
Date 19 November 2003. Assessment & monitoring of hazardous chemicals.
The results of the original assessment undertaken in 1998 may be viewed at the National Occupational Health & Safety Commission's "OHS PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS DATABASE" :
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/Databases/OHSSolutions/solutions_search.htm
Enter the words school laboratory in the search field, then press the search button and follow the links (i.e. click on: Reducing the cost of legislative compliance....etc.)
This report outlines the method by which the Department of Education & Training and the Regional Technicians Group have managed the legislative requirements as required by WorkSafe Australia in Western Australian high schools.
Date 19 November 2003. New loan pool item - Belmont region.
The hydrogen fuel cell demonstration models have now been added to the Belmont regional loan pool. Click here for details.
Date 28 October 2003. New loan pool item - Yule Brook region.
A "Weather kit" has been added to the Yule Brook loan pool. Click here for details.
Date 28 October 2003. Some good ideas from the Canning College technicians.
At a recent regional lab staff meeting held at Canning College, the
technicians demonstrated some of their ideas and innovations.
Follow the links for details:
Nail varnish bottles, single-use sterile eyewash applicators, plastic food trays with divisions, an efficient and cost effective waterbath, prolonging the useful life of 35mm slides, a simple 240volt light source, combining a video camera with a spectroscope.
Date 14 October 2003. New loan pool item - Governor Stirling region.
Hydrogen fuel cell demonstration models have been added to the Governor Stirling loan pool. Click here for details.
Date 2 September 2003. Country Lab2003
Click here for details of the end of year P.D. for country high school laboratory staff and district high school TICs.
Date 28 August 2003. Repairs and maintenance P.D.
A course will be held at Girrawheen Senior High School on 2nd & 9th September for
schools north of the river.
Click here for details.
Date 8 August 2003. Repairs and maintenance P.D.
A course will be held at Yule Brook College on 18th & 19th September for
schools south of the river.
Click here for details.
Date 8 August 2003. Liquid latex.
Click here for local suppliers in Perth.
Date 16 July 2003. Growing zoo fodder in schools.
Some breeding programmes for endangered animal species being undertaken at the South Perth Zoo are restricted by the amount of food available for those species e.g. fresh bamboo shoots for the Nepalese Red Panda. The zoo's daily requirement for fodder is large and although the zoo has its own fodder farm, the demand for some plant species at certain times of the year is higher than the farm's production.
Schools can help by growing some of these plants in school gardens. Click here for details.
Date 11 July 2003. Download the Google™ Toolbar to search any website.
The Google™ Toolbar may be downloaded and installed permanently in your web browser giving the option to search the whole of the web or only the current site. The link to the download site is located towards the bottom of the following page (in the "Google Tools" section)
http://www.google.com/options/
Date 11 July 2003. District High School visits.
As a follow-up to the chemical safety training courses conducted for District High School science staff, the Regional Technicians Group spent almost five weeks of Term 2 visiting District High Schools in the wheat-belt and south-west districts of the state. Assistance was given with the organisation of chemical stores, segregation of hazardous chemicals and disposal of unsafe chemicals.
This project will continue in some mid-west schools and more south-west schools during Term 3.
Date 11 July 2003. Labelling concentrated acids.
The word "CONCENTRATED" should be included on concentrated acid bottle labels i.e. 35% hydrochloric acid, 70% nitric acid and 98% sulfuric acid.
The labels contained in the new "Chemical Data" CD-ROM do not have the word "concentrated" included on them and should be modified before printing or, alternatively, the word "CONCENTRATED" printed separately and affixed to the bottle.
Date 11 July 2003. Beeswax.
Click here for local suppliers.
Date 11 July 2003. Laboratory trays - white ABS plastic.
The standard, white, ABS plastic, laboratory trays are still available through Supply West.
Click here for details.
Date 11 July 2003. RTG M.S.D.S. on CD-ROM.
Some of the M.S.D.S. on the CD-ROM issued to schools in June 2001 have now expired. When ordering new chemicals check that the MSDS is still current and, if not, request an updated copy from the supplier.
Current M.S.D.S. from the manufacturer APS Fine Chemicals (incorporating Ajax Chemicals) may be downloaded directly from their website.
Date 30 May 2003. Using Google™ to search the rtg website.
First go to the Google
website
and type your query in the box followed by a space and then type in site:www.rtg.wa.edu.au
Then press the Google Search button. For example, to search for
the text "concentrated acid":
Alternatively, download and install the Google™ Toolbar permanently on your web browser.
Date 7 May 2003. Growing carnivorous plants.
Click here for a summary of the paper "Growing weird and wonderful plants in the laboratory" presented by Mark T. Bachelor, Biology Technician, Melbourne Girls Grammar School, during LABCON2002 - the annual conference conducted by LTB-STAV (Laboratory Technicians Branch of the Science Teachers Association of Victoria.
Date 2 May 2003. Restoring plastic coated wire test tube racks.
Wire test tube racks and sink draining racks may be restored to almost new by re-coating with plastic.
Click here for local Plastic & Wire Coaters.
Date 2 May 2003. Telephone number correction.
The contact telephone number for Bob Wegman has been corrected in the "Regional Technician Contact Numbers" section of this website. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by the mistake.
Date 16 April 2003. Kitchen chemistry - some interesting and fun activities.
Eleanor Garrett conducted a series of interesting and fun experiments in the "Edible Science" unit during Lab2002.
Click here for details of Salt volcano, Sweet architecture, Taste & smell and Fruit & enzymes (including "the perfectly peeled orange.)
Date 4 April 2003. Chemical safety training course - York District High School .
The first chemical safety training course for District High School teachers
was held on 1st & 2nd April, 2003.
Click here for details.
Date 25 March 2003. Laboratory Manual typo error.
Page 54 in the chemistry section of the Science Laboratory Manual describes methods for preparing pH indicators.
For the range pH 2.8 - 4.6 the indicator used should read bromophenol blue not bromothymol blue as is printed in the manual.
Date 21 March 2003. District High School chemical safety training programme.
The itineraries for the first two courses are now available. Click here for details.
Date 21 March 2003. Water test meters - Governor Stirling loan pool.
The pH meter and dissolved oxygen meter from the Governor Stirling loan pool have been sent away for repair and will be unavailable for loan until further notice.
Date 7 March 2003. Laboratory Staff register.
Pamela Mercy, laboratory technician from Canning College, is currently updating a list of laboratory staff working in schools in Western Australia and the number of hours worked per week.
Date 18 February 2003. Chemical safety training - District High Schools.
The Department of Education has
requested that the Regional Technicians Group organise chemical safety training
for all District High Schools in the State. Training sessions will be conducted
for groups of schools in close proximity in different parts of the State.
The itinerary has not yet been finalised but details will be posted on this
website as soon as available.
Date 18 February 2003. Professional development training programme 2003.
An outline for this year's programme can be found in the P.D.
section of this website.
Further information will posted on this website
as details become available.
Date 29 January 2003. Additions to Market Place.
The following additions have been included in the Market Place section of this website:
Take-away food containers
(with straight sides available again)
Safety glasses
Microscope slides
Microscope service and repair
(All of the suppliers are located near Perth W.A.)
Date 22 January 2003. RTG Website re-location.
The RTG website has now been relocated to a new ISP. Hopefully, the problems experienced last year with information updates and email difficulties are now a thing of the past. (Apologies to those who lost email or were unable to get email through to us.)
Many thanks to the iinet team in Perth for a very smooth changeover.
Date 21 January 2003. RTG Website re-locating.
This website is moving to a new location and will be unavailable for a short period at the end of this month.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Date 12 December 2002. Lab2002.
Once again, North Lake Senior Campus hosted the annual Science Laboratory Staff Seminar Lab2002 which ran from Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th November. The Campus Principal and Regional Technician Bill Stolk welcomed 126 laboratory technicians from Western Australia's metropolitan and country government high schools, to a three-day professional development seminar organised by the Regional Technicians Group of Western Australia.
Lab2002 offered a range of one-day, hands-on units including laboratory related activities, interpersonal skills, workshop techniques, information technology activities, and excursions to the Perth Zoo and Kings Park. A number of new topics were introduced this year including "Exploring Robotics with Lego® Dacta®", "Edible Science", "Food and Your Health" and "Telescopes & Astronomy" which incorporated an evening viewing. Details and photographs of the new units will be posted on this website in the near future.
The North Lake Senior Campus venue was greatly appreciated and thanks go to the Principal and Staff for allowing the use of their facilities. Special thanks to Bill Stolk and the Regional Technicians Group for organising the seminar.
Date 12 December 2002. STAV LABCON2002.
The Regional Technicians Group was represented at this year's Science Teachers Association of Victoria annual conference for Laboratory Staff "LABCON2002" held at Monash University on December 5th & 6th.
Ruth Kempton, Bill Stolk and Eric Payne were among 430 delegates from all over Australia and New Zealand attending the conference which offered 51 different units and 4 different excursions. Each delegate attended 3 sessions per day which included talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Interaction with other laboratory staff, sharing ideas and comparing working conditions proved to be of great value. It is intended to set up a national network for laboratory staff, probably based in Victoria, to encourage communication between schools throughout Australia.
Details of the sessions attended by the RTG representatives will be posted on this website in the near future.
Date 8 October 2002. Diggers MSDSs
Material Safety Data Sheets for Diggers Australia products are now available on-line at the following web address:
(Methylated spirits and mineral turpentine are the main data sheets required by schools.)
Date 4 September 2002. MSDS on CD ROM.
Schools are reminded that to comply with WorkSafe Australia requirements, paper copies of Material Safety Data Sheets must be kept if uninterrupted access to an electronic copy is not available. If any laboratory staff does not have access to a computer with CD ROM please contact Eric Payne at Belmont City College - the RTG may be able to assist.
(All High Schools in W.A. should now have a copy of the RTG MSDS on CD ROM.)
Date 24 July, 2001. Science equipment repairs - new policy.
Please refer to the Repairs section of this website for updated information regarding repairs to science equipment.
Date 16 March 2001. Permit for obtaining absolute ethanol - reminder.
Schools wishing to purchase more than 5 litres of absolute ethanol in a calendar year are required to obtain a permit from the South Australian Taxation Department, telephone (08) 8208 1313 for an application form. The applicant must nominate a supplier and the quantity required from that supplier (more than 1 supplier may be nominated.) A permit is not required for amounts less than 5 litres per year.
Date 31 January 2003. Click on Archives to read 2002 Notices.
Date 25 January 2002. Click on Archives to read 2001 Notices.
Date 5 February 2001. Click on Archives to read 2000 Notices.
Date 29 February 2000. Click on Archives to read 1999 Notices.
Date 23 February 1999. Click on Archives to read 1998 Notices.
Date 27 January 1998. Click on Archives to read 1997 Notices.