Dec
2011
MEGT Institute visit Sydney Children’s Hospital
- Keira from MEGT Marketing, Jenny from the Children’s Hospital and Carmel from MEGT Children’s Services
MEGT Institute staff members Carmel and Keira visited Sydney’s Children’s Hospital on Tuesday to give gifts to the children for Christmas. Every Christmas is an extremely hard time for families in hospital and often they don’t have the money to provide gifts for their children. MEGT Institute initiated asking staff members to donate to this worthy cause by purchasing a gift for a child at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
- Keira from MEGT Marketing, Jenny from the Children’s Hospital and Carmel from MEGT Children’s Services
MEGT Institute’s initiative was very well received by staff members with a full load of toys being delivered to the Hospital. Carmel and Keira met with Jenny the Community Services Manager for the Sydney Children’s Hospital who graciously accepted our gifts for all the sick children. It was an eye opening experience and a project MEGT Institute hopes to continue in the future. If you’d like to give a gift to the children it is not too late, contact the hospital directly to organise a time to drop off your gifts. Every toy counts and a little gift can make a world of difference to the children and their families!
No commentsDec
2011
MEGT Institute Sydney Campus Christmas Party
On Wednesday 7th December MEGT Institute Sydney campus held its annual student Christmas party. With the hospitality room turned into a Christmas wonderland students, staff and trainers all came together to celebrate the end of the student year. There were prizes, M&M guessing competition, food and a particularly intense game of musical chairs which had its fair share of trips and falls!
This event also marked the day of introductions by our Student Council for 2012, welcome to Caterina, Katarina, Gaby, Takashi and Steph! We look forward to seeing great things from you all and continuing events for MEGT students.
A big thank you to all the staff for helping out on the day and setting up this event; Mimi for her wonderful cous-cous, Angela and Carmel for their photography and decorating skills and to Irish and Kristy for making this annual event continue with such success. The students and staff all had such a great time and some well deserved fun.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to all our students from the staff at MEGT Institute Sydney campus. We look forward to seeing our continuing students in the new year and a big congratulations to all our graduating
students we wish you all the success in the future.
As pictures often speak louder than words here are some photographs from the day.
Nov
2011
MEGT childcare students network with industry
On Thursday 24th November, two representatives from Hays Education visited our Melbourne Campus Certificate III in Children’s Services students to provide some information about employment opportunities in Childcare Centres.
They provided some valuable information to the students, including:
- Types of jobs
- Rates of pay
- Benefits of working with a recruitment agency
- The employee’s role
- Hays expectations
- Appropriate presentation
- Taking the next step into employment
The students were very enthusiastic about the opportunity. We would like to give a big thank you to Samantha Meeks, our Children’s Services Co-Ordinator, for organising this event.
Our graduates get jobs
Additionally, two of our current Certificate III in Children’s Services students have just received paid part-time job offers from the Childcare centres where they were completing their work placement. It is fantastic to see our delivery model providing students with employment opportunities
Nov
2011
Diploma of Children Services students visit the Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW)
Diploma of Children Services Students
Diploma of Children Services students visited the Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW) to gain more information on the current changes to early childhood. They were given an update on the National Quality Framework & the Early Years Learning Framework. MEGT is a member of Community Child Care Co-operative (NSW) which is one of our peak early childhood organisations.
Well done!
Nov
2011
Martina and Wassana MEGT Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services Graduates
Martina Zitna
Wassana Udomsuk
This week we have had an exciting week in Children’s Services at MEGT Institute with two special visitors!
We would like to congratulate Wassana Udomsuk for completing her Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services. Wassana has been with MEGT Institute for 2 years completing her Certificate III, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services and completed her last class with trainer Barbara on Tuesday. Wassana plans to take a Business course in order to fulfil her future goal of running her own childcare centre.
“When I started at MEGT I didn’t know anything about working with children and I have learnt a lot in class especially under the guidance of my teachers. Working with children is hard work but very rewarding and I have been so lucky to have such great support from all the staff at MEGT. My teachers helped me so much and I always had fun in class whilst learning.”
In their last class together Barbara and Wassana met with Cameron a fitness trainer as part of the Advanced Diploma Course where a focus area of study works with the idea that healthy mind plus a healthy body equals a healthy workplace.
Wassana, Cameron and Barbara
MEGT Institute trainer Barbara states that “within Children’s services it is vital to be fit and healthy to ensure childcare workers are able to interact effectively with the children, to maintain a high level of immunity and to strengthen your core and back through regular exercise. People working in childcare care are susceptible to injury especially back injuries so it is important to teach students that the wellbeing of themselves plays an important role in their professional career.” Cameron, Barbara and Wassana took to Hyde park to take part in some physical activity.
We were also thrilled to have Martina Zitna visit us who graduated successfully last September with Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services. Martina is currently living in Manly and working full time in a childcare centre. Martina wants to continue working with children throughout her professional career and has been able to get a head start after studying at MEGT Institute.
“I enjoy being around children and love seeing the impact I have on their lives. I find it so rewarding and learnt a lot through the theory and methods of learning, all the classes were very hands on I still use everything I learnt at work now. I was so lucky to have such a great trainer like Barbara, she always managed to make classes interesting and I actually enjoyed coming to class. She went way beyond her duties and we built a friendship together over my course. I liked that at MEGT taught me things that I can apply in the real world it was the best way to learn!”
At MEGT Institute we love hearing from past students and are heavily involved in continuing our “MEGT Graduate for Life” Program. Congratulations Wassana and Martina we wish you all the best in your future endeavours!
Oct
2011
Habitat for Humanity ** Fundraising event hosted @ MEGT Institute
On Wednesday 26/10/11 the MEGT Institute Sydney Campus was proud to host the fundraiser event “Habitat for Humanity”.
The event was organised as “high tea” style and aimed to raise funds for people worldwide devastated by natural disasters and in need of shelter.
What a great cause to get our students and staff members involved in!
Big “Thank You” to Mimi Symons and her delicious pancakes, Carmel Williams and her lovely cup cakes, Marike Janavicius and her light & healthy date slices, Aero Cai and her infamous cheese cake, Bill Hetherington and his cute biscuits, Jessie Liu and her colourful macaroons, Irish Liong and her delightful “3 flavours” cake and all other staff and students who kindly devoted their time to this cause.
Special mention to Kristy McNair for her enthusiasm in planning, organising and promoting the Habitat for Humanity Fundraising Tea within MEGT Institute.
Thank you for your participation and donation!
Oct
2011
Fun experiences at Work Placement! Hear from the Diploma of Hospitality students
Hospitality students @ the Bayview Boulevard Sydney
Housekeeping work experience by Natalia Tostes
“I think, when we started our housekeeping work placement we were a bit shy and afraid but after a few days we were all having fun!
It was good to experience the Hotel “from the inside” and its operation on the day to day routine.
Housekeeping is really hard work! We definitely learned to appreciate the hard work that all housekeepers perform and we will take this appreciation with us in our future careers.”
Natalia and Nina @ BBS work placement
Developing skills by Yelvi
“Hi MEGT! Thank you for the housekeeping work placement, it was great! We had fun and we learnt a lot about the back of house operations, not only in the Housekeeping Department but also in the Front Office.
We developed many skills such as “team work”, when we cleaned the rooms we worked in pairs.
The Bayview Boulevard Sydney provided us and our assessor complimentary lunch, which was a plus! Our assessor, Sashi Chander was very patient yet thorough when guiding us through our journeys as housekeepers.
One of many good things about this experience?
- Now I know how to make my own bed with perfection! Thank you MEGT! (laughs)”
Yelvi @ BBS work placement
Valuable and broad industry experience by Chiori Kato
“Despite the physical hard work, my work placement at the BBS was a valuable experience and I definitely think that all Hospitality students should be trained in the back of house of a hotel.
Working as a housekeeper gave me more knowledge about other departments as well such as Front Office, Food & Beverage, Maintenance and Reservations.
The experience gained from this placement will be useful to further my studies and my career.”
Team work by Nao Toyonishi
“This was my first experience in a hotel, as housekeeper. It showed me that we can complete our tasks by working well in a team as we were divided into groups.
I now appreciate even more working in this sector specially considering that normally the housekeepers work alone!
This experience has most certainly changed my view of housekeeping….it was really great!
Nao and Chiori @ BBS work placement
Learning skills that are relevant to the industry by Phakavadee Fongtivong
“I am happy with the industry work placement outcome. I feel that I am able to demonstrate competency in this sector. Our learning experience was very detailed and relevant. I now observe and assess how a hotel bed should be made (hotel corner) and how the bathroom amenities should be displayed.”
Phakavadee @ BBS work placement
Changing perceptions by Yusko Zolim
“I always thought that housekeeping was an easy job until I was able to experience myself. My work placement with the Bayview Boulevard Sydney showed me how important and methodical housekeeping is. I learned how to make the bed properly and how to clean the room according to the hotel standards and on time!
I learned how to work in teams and developed my communication skills. I really enjoyed my time as a housekeeper. It was hard work but we had lots of fun!
Yusko @ BBS work placement
We from MEGT Institute would like to thank the Bayview Boulevard Sydney Housekeeping Team with special thank you to Executive Housekeeper, Suzan Grace – for training and looking after our students.
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- Yusko @ BBS work placement
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- Yelvi @ BBS work placement
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- Phakavadee @ BBS work placement
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- Natalia and Nina @ BBS work placement
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- Nao and Chiori @ BBS work placement
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- Maria @ BBS work placement
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- Luis Vasquez @ BBS work placement
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- Hospitality students @ the Bayview Boulevard Sydney
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- Hospitality students @ BBS work placement
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- Hospitality students @ BBS work placement
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- Hospitality students @ BBS work placement
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- Chatchai @ BBS work placement
Oct
2011
He’s an award winner and the zoo wants to keep him there
From left Kerri Mewett from Kangan Institute, Mark Dobbie - the apprentice and Prue Leighton from MEGT
Recognised as a high quality learning environment, Melbourne Zoo, part of Zoos Victoria, normally provides opportunities for a select number of entry level horticulture apprentices to learn about the wide variety of plants and plantings that only they can provide.
But they are determined not to let one particular horticulture apprentice get away.
Mark Dobbie is employed by MEGT (Australia) for the duration of his apprenticeship and is being trained by Kangan Institute, where he won the Outstanding Achievement Award for 2nd Year Apprentice (Horticulture).
This award winning second year apprentice is so good; he should soon complete what is normally a three year qualification in Parks and Gardens. This is possible due to Kangan Institute Horticulture Department’s flexible training and assessment policy and the government’s competency based completion program.
Mark knew about apprenticeships even when he was at school. His grandpa started his career as an apprentice flight mechanic and worked on the old TAA Airlines. There was no way Mark was going to sit behind another school desk after he finished secondary school. He knew that he could get straight into work and do on-the-job training with an apprenticeship – and he knew he wanted to work outdoors.
What he loves the most is seeing something he started from the ground up (in every sense of the word) and that takes shape over three to six months.
“I was involved in the earthworks, landscaping, irrigation systems and plantings for the brand new baboon display,’ explains Mark.
‘It’s really great to overhear the public compliment it. And it’s wonderful to see how primates that had been on concrete, now have soil underfoot and plants around them.’ This has had its challenges though. The baboons’ enthusiasm for some of the trees has been excessive – to the extent they have ring-barked them.
And there are other unique challenges Mark is facing with Melbourne Zoo. Plants can be trampled by the enthusiastic public; or annihilated by hungry possums. When you work in an animal enclosure, most of the animals need to be segregated – even a tortoise can give a nip. Irrigations systems have to be set up on the outside of an enclosure because primates are pretty good at disassembling it – hey just like Leggo! And there are the challenges of trying to replicate the environments of other countries and regions, but with plants that will tolerate a Melbourne climate.
Mark has some fundamental advice for other young people. He says that being employed through MEGT Group Training provides him with job security. ‘The Group Training experience is a good one, knowing that if you’re in a business that doesn’t have enough work, we can be moved to a different host employer. And if you’re working with a small company, you’ve got the security of a bigger company like MEGT behind you.’ When Prue Leighton makes her regular site visits she checks he is safe in the workplace, that he is being released for training at Kangan Institute and that he is doing work that genuinely contributes to his skills competencies. Like Mark, Prue says this is the best job in the world.
