Students dig in for innovative horticulture training

David Hagan (left) and Torres Strait Islander/Aboriginal/Papua New Guinea woman Katie Mcivor (right), MEGT Industry Employment Consultant Josh Grives, SQIT Project Co-ordinator Susan Becchio and MEGT National Manager Indigenous Programs Debra Nooyen

MEGT’s Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network is working with Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT) on a major project to assist Indigenous Australians into the workforce through an Australian Apprenticeship.

SQIT has burst out of the traditional mode of training with the innovative Certificate II in Horticulture starting next week.
Twenty-three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are on the cusp of starting the first-ever, 12-month traineeship in horticulture that will see them experience training, employment and mentoring.

Darling Downs Indigenous Green Jobs Project has attracted employers keen to take trainees from across the region including a number of schools, Toowoomba Regional Council, Toowoomba City Golf Club, business houses and SQIT.

Work starts on 5 July as the group begin their 12-month traineeship with their new host employers, undergoing induction and meeting their new workmates.

Over the course of the year, they will learn skills such as paving, building courtyards, weeds and chemicals, planting and plant propagation, pruning and turf establishment, maintenance and renovation.

SQIT project co-ordinator Susan Becchio said there were 60 expressions of interest received to partake in the course and a screening process selected the final 23 participants. Participants then undertook an introduction week of pre-vocational training as well as a cultural awareness workshop.

“Garry Gawne has been employed as the full-time mentor for the project and is on-call to help with study techniques, challenges on-the-job and basically a support for any questions or problems,” she said.

“As a team, Garry and I have sourced each of the trainees and worked hard to ensure each trainee is suited to their host employer – we see this as a key to retention and success.

“The Group Training Organisation which employs each of the trainees has been announced as MEGT, a national company with a division dedicated to Indigenous training, so a lot of work has gone into ensuring the success of each participant.”

MEGT Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network’s National Manager of Indigenous Programs, Debra Nooyen, said the company was excited about this initiative.

“This is the first time we have worked with Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE and are really happy with the framework in place to deliver this project,” she said.

“The students will not only be trained in horticulture, but also be given business and study skills that will encourage them to continue learning or go further along their career path.
“MEGT is skilled in Indigenous training, with very successful retention and risk management strategies tailored to seeing our students graduate and succeed in their career pathway.”

SQIT director Paul Murphy said this project was very significant for the institute which he hoped could be replicated with other courses.

“We recognise there are different learning techniques and cultural awareness for Indigenous students. Our Indigenous Primary Health Care program proves we excel in delivering training for Indigenous students,” Mr Murphy said.

“This is the next step for us, working hand-in-hand to deliver training and mentoring that results in success for the students and the employers.”

The program is funded by the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and administered by Queensland’s Department of Education and Training.

MEGT (Australia) | Australian Apprenticeships