Innovative building project lands apprentice a house

Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall will this morning hand the keys to a new sustainable house at Selandra Rise in Clyde North to a third year apprentice who helped build it.

The house is one of six affordable homes built under a year-long partnership between MEGT, a not-for-profit organisation and one of Australia’s largest employers of apprentices, Stockland and Porter Davis Homes.

“What could be more fitting to mark the completion of this fantastic affordable housing project than to be handing the keys to one of the people involved in its construction,” Mr Hall said.

“I congratulate Michael Belli on the purchase of his new home. Michael should feel especially proud to have had a hand in this project and the opportunity to demonstrate the future in affordable sustainable home construction.”

Mr Hall praised the involvement of MEGT, Stockland and Porter Davis Homes, saying the project had resulted in employment for 15 trainees and apprentices in roles as varied as finance, real estate, building and construction.

The project also sets a benchmark for affordable environmental advances in housing construction for the future.

“The Victorian Coalition Government through Skills Victoria provided $100,000 in innovation funding to MEGT to build sustainable and affordable housing and to stimulate ongoing employment within the building and construction industry,” Mr Hall said.

“Each of the houses has been built according to environmental best practice through the use of solar hot water, recycled water for gardens, and the fit-out of smart wiring.

“The Victorian Government continues to support the development of new skills through the Victorian Training Guarantee and it has been a phenomenally successful driver for promoting skills development in Victoria.

“Under the guarantee the Victorian Government has provided subsidised training to record numbers of Victorians to help them acquire the skills they need to secure employment or to improve their current skills base,” Mr Hall said.

HE’S A RICH MAN

If you are a parent, an employer or even a young person; you quickly become accustomed to the challenges presented by the professional world. Most young people these days find it difficult to stay and grow within the one company.

Most employers find it hard to get the right talent. And most parents find it difficult to mentor their kids. John Hopkins has done it all. Rolled into one, as an employer, an employee and a mentor – his leadership, commitment to community and passion for his profession stand as a testament to others.
 
John’s charisma has charmed many employers over the years to giving MEGT’s apprentices and trainees a go in life. His success has seen what he calls a ‘recycling process’; where apprentices or trainees whom were once employed by MEGT, have themselves become business owners, and now are utilising MEGT for their own employment of apprentices and trainees.
 
‘You need to make an effort to really know your host employers’, John emphasises. ‘If the employer is meticulous, then the candidate should be a “nerdier” kid who pays attention to detail, this way we create the right match from the start’.
 
John says it is more than just the ‘special people that make up [the team at] MEGT’, that has fuelled his love for the job over the years. It is that moment ‘when you ring the young person to offer them that job, and you hear the sound of joy in their voice as they accept.’ Further than that, he says ‘because it brings joy to the whole family in the knowledge that their child has been given an opportunity in life.’
 
His career has never been about money, John says. He would have gone back to the tools if that had been the case. However, there is no doubt that John is a rich man.
 
From the MEGT family, clients, apprentices and trainees:
“Thank you John for the support, life lessons, attention to detail, and for simply caring for the future generation of Australia’s workforce. We wish you well.”

Interview with John Hopkins

 
Interview – Maria Jardon 8 April 2011

MEGT (Australia) | Australian Apprenticeships

Apprentices outshine competitors

Brendan Wroe and Emerson Castaneda, winners of Apprentice wiring challenge, with their host employer Sydney Water.

This is the stuff that dreams are made off, well, maybe for some!  The 2010 Electricity Supply Industry Field Days do promise to be a unique platform for industry professionals an apprentices alike, to share knowledge, develop ideas and promote safe work practices.

This year the event ran over Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of May – brought to us by Energy Australia and the NSW Industry Safety Steering Committee – show casing a range of demonstrations, seminars, exhibitors’ and more. However, most importantly The Field day challenges, that are run to test trade skills learnt and developed by a selected group of fourth year apprentices across the electrical industry.

MEGT Group Training apprentices, Brendan Wroe and Emerson Castaneda were the proud third place winners of the Apprentice wiring challenge, with their host employer Sydney Water.

“It was difficult at first competing against the top two apprentices of the biggest energy authorities but Brendan and I both helped each other and reminded ourselves of our own abilities.
Team work was a big part of the competition, we would rely on each other for calculation, installation wiring and had 100% confidence the final product was done to the best of our abilities”, Emerson said.

MEGT Group Training employs apprentices and trainees and places them with host employers, like Sydney Water, under an agreement to enable the apprentice/trainee to attain the on job skills associated with their vocation. During this time, MEGTs Industry Employment Consultants carry out regular mentoring visits including counselling and personal support, to make sure they get the most out of their employment.

Congratulations to our young apprentices for their involvement that outshined an array of esteemed apprentices from the likes of Integral Energy, Rail Corp and Energy Australia.

MEGT – makes apprenticeships, traineeships and training happen.

Australian Apprenticeships are an Australian Government Incentive.

MEGT (Australia) | Australian Apprenticeships

Extraordinary retail opportunities for people with a disability

A year ago Cosmos Inc. approached MEGT to develop training programs tailored to the learning needs of people with intellectual disabilities.  MEGT Institute secured funding from Skills Tasmania to tailor training delivery and resources for Certificate II in Retail.  The pilot, ‘Skills Potential Project,’ commenced in November 2009 with 5 students.

‘Traditional classroom-based/text book teaching for retail qualifications doesn’t suit everyone,’ explains Nicole Gayewski, State Manager of MEGT Institute in Tasmania. ‘What is required for people with an intellectual disability is a ‘hands on’, interactive, supported approach to education.’

The program, developed in partnership with Cosmos Inc, delivers the Certificate II in Retail qualification in an interactive format, utilising short classroom-based sessions focussed on interactive, repetitive learning.  This learning is reinforced through regular work placements to provide the opportunity to practice the learnt skills.  As part of this partnership Cosmos delivered Disability Awareness training to MEGT staff.

‘We believe this format will provide students with the greatest opportunity to achieve the qualification and progress to employment and/or further education.  But for those who may not achieve employment immediately following the completion of the certificate, the increase in confidence will provide many more options than are currently available.’

The “Skills Potential Project” will be completed in October 2010 and to date all students have attended work placements and undergone on the job assessment.

Feedback from the students has been enthusiastic, eliciting comments such as “I am really loving this course”; “Excellent day”;  “It will be sad when it is finished”.   Amy Boud said “I like all of the workshops and I am still learning heaps”.  Martin Leeson commented “Top day.  Not long now (until work placement).  My life has changed so much doing this course”.

‘The students are highly motivated and on track to achieve their Certificate II in Retail qualification and are already planning their graduation party!’

MEGT (Australia) Ltd supports an inclusive workplace where employee difference, such as gender, age, culture, disability and lifestyle choice are valued.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships

The Not So Secret Life of a Plumber and his Apprentice

We wanted to introduce you to Glen Douglass, one of our apprentices, and Andrew Shelton, his boss.  They are both part of the MEGT Group Training Program.

Glen left high school and did a pre-apprenticeship in plumbing, which was a 3 month course at trade school. After finishing this course he had skills that enabled him to look for a job as an apprentice. He is now in his second year.

Andrew Shelton employs four plumbing apprentices who have been through MEGT, including Glen. He highly recommends the program. He’s saved hours of bookwork and administration costs because MEGT organises all the annual leave, sick leave, superannuation etc… for his employees.

The program includes a secure mentoring system for apprentices. This guidance ensures that apprentices always have a support network through their training. For example, if there are unsafe or unsatisfactory work practices on a site they can report to their expert field officer.

Both Glen and Andrew have enjoyed the journey so far.  However, don’t just take our word for it.  Click here to watch the video screened on SkillsOneTV that features Glen and Andrew’s story.