Creating jobs and linking with community – a long term plan

On Thursday 1 December, the The Hon Peter Hall MLC, Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession handed the keys to a new sustainable house at Selandra Rise in Clyde North to a third year apprentice and cut the ribbon launching MEGT’s Greenhouse project.

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.

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.

In 2010, MEGT partnered with Stocklands and Porter Davis Homes to pilot a model that would generate employment opportunities for apprentices and trainees. This model needed to be able to be scaled up or down to suit different geographic regions.

Six houses were purchased in Clyde North, Victoria on the Selandra Rise Estate. Learning from the problems of infrastructure and services disconnection faced by some other satellite estates, Stocklands planned the Selandra Rise project with community needs in mind. This was exactly the mindset that was synergistic with MEGT’s plans to create sustainable job opportunities for young people in regions right around Australia.

Fifteen apprentices and trainees have been employed by MEGT and placed with KPMG, Middendorp Electrics, Stocklands and Porter Davis Homes; with more trainees still to be employed for the real estate and financial services businesses connected to the Estate. It is the wide range of skills that makes this project scalable.

Estate building projects cycle tradespeople from house to house. That means only a handful of tradespeople are needed in building a large number of houses. It is when you combine all the industries involved in an estate, that employment for locals becomes sustainable after the houses have been built. While initial apprenticeships and traineeships come from the architects through to analysts, finance organisations and real estate agents, landscapers and the traditional building and construction companies; there are even more opportunities when the Estate is populated by retailers, libraries, sports facilities and schools. The sale of the houses in December 2011 will not therefore be the end of the employment opportunities for the community.

MEGT also assisted one of its apprentices, Michael Belli, in purchasing his first home from the estate.

In December, the project partners will sit down together and talk about the way forward. What were the learnings? What could we do better? Where should we take the model next? It’s important to Australian communities and to the Building and Construction industry that these types of schemes don’t stop with one estate and one region. It’s partnerships that will make them happen.

MEGT would like to acknowledge funding assistance from SkillsVic towards the success of this project.

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.

Winner – 2011 MEGT Group Training Employer of the Year

Prue Leighton, Field Officer MEGT Group Training and Kym Hall, Melbourne Zoo

Recognised as a high quality learning environment, Melbourne Zoo, part of Zoos Victoria, tries to provide as many opportunities it can for entry level horticulture apprentices to learn about the wide variety of plants and plantings that only they can provide.

This would not be possible without the assistance of MEGT Group Training, who rotates the lucky apprentices to other host employers after their year with Melbourne Zoo. It means they receive continuity of employment so they can complete their apprenticeship.

Kym Hall, Melbourne Zoo’s Nursery Manager, accepted the Award at the MEGT Graduation on Tuesday 15th November. “Zoos Victoria has a long relationship with MEGT and is pleased with the service it receives from Prue Leighton and the high standard of their apprentices,” said Mr Hall.

The experience with Melbourne Zoo presents some unique challenges. 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.

This is an experience of a lifetime. The apprentices are trained by professionals with world class knowledge and ideas for gardens and habitats. The apprentices get to work on exciting projects, for example, Mark Dobbie, their most recent apprentice and one who has been kept on for an additional year, was involved from start to finish in the new habitat for the new baboon display.

“I was involved in the earthworks, landscaping, irrigation systems and plantings,’ 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.’ Although the baboons’ enthusiasm for some of the trees has been excessive – to the extent they have ring-barked them, it is a life lesson in problem solving Mark will take with him in the future.

EMILY HODGE WINS THE BAW BAW SHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS – YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD

Emily Hodge, a school-based trainee from Warragul Regional College, is employed by MEGT Group Training and works on location at Sally J Real Estate in Warragul.

MEGT Group Training is proud to have supported Emily throughout her school-based traineeship. Emily will commence a full time traineeship completing Certificate IV in
Real Estate at the end of the year.

As a Group Training Organisation, MEGT is proud to work with Gippsland businesses in developing their workforce by placing and supporting local people through the traineeship program, whether it be school-based, full-time or part-time.

MEGT Group Training would also like to acknowledge the support of Mike Jungwirth – Workplace Learning Co-ordinator with the Baw Baw LLEN in coordinating the Young Achiever’s Award.

MEGT Group Training – Special offer

*Terms and Conditions of
‘First 4 Weeks Salary Free Offer’ are:

• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ is available only where requested by the host employer at the time of the
initial enquiry or contact with MEGT
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ is available to all host employers, whether existing or new
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount is based on the base rate of pay paid to the apprentice or trainee
and does not include any overtime, penalties, loadings, industry allowances, special allowances,
site allowances, travel and/or fares allowances or any other allowances
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ will apply to new (first year) apprentices and trainees commencing with
the host employer between 10 October 2010 and 13 December 2010 (inclusive)
• the eligible host employer must continuously host the apprentice or trainee for an uninterrupted
period of 3 months.
• the host employer must make payment of all invoices to MEGT within their trading terms as stipulated by
the host employer agreement during the above period of 3 months
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount is paid by MEGT to the host employer by way of credit to the host
employers account with MEGT upon the expiration of 3 months from the commencement of the hosting
of the apprentice or trainee
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ is only applicable to new apprentices and trainees hosted by the host
employer and does not apply to any current apprentices or trainees hosted by the host employer or any
later year apprentices or already commenced trainees
• the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount is not available to any government sponsored
employment programs.
•  the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount is not redeemable for cash by the host employer
•  the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount is not transferable or exchangeable by the host employer
•  any liability for GST in relation to the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ amount provided to the host
employer is the sole responsibility of the host employer
•  the ‘first 4 weeks salary free offer’ is available for full time, part time or school based
apprentices and trainees.

MEGT (Australia) | Australian Apprenticeships

More than one way to start a career!

Ashleigh White, now aged 16, found the traineeships pathway suited her yearning for independence.

Chris Greentree, one of the Wagga Wagga Consultants for MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre has been helping Ashleigh on her journey towards achieving her Certificate II Retail qualification with Camera House in Baylis Street.
 
After helping Camera House and Ashleigh with the Training Contract and processes to start the traineeship, I’ve been monitoring how Ashleigh has been going, explains Ms Greentree. The traineeship has meant Ashleigh is able to earn an income at the same time she is learning the retail trade on the job.
 
‘She’s done Year 10 through Riverina Institute of TAFE and the progression to workplace learning suits her free spirit’ according to Ms Greentree.
 
Australian Apprenticeships are an Australian government initiative.

If Daniel can do it – so can you!

2010 NSW Indigenous Trainee of the Year Award winner

Daniel is profoundly deaf and knows too well the challenges he faces in life. With great determination, he has used his Certificate III Business Administration traineeship as the way to launch himself into a career.

At first, however, Daniel explains that when he was looking for a job it was very hard to find because no matter how well suited he may have been for the work involved, he had trouble applying if he had to use a telephone. It was the Aboriginal employment agency, Yarn’n, in Redfern, that helped him find his job with the Sydney South West Area Health Service.

At the beginning, explains Penny Brady, the Executive Officer for the NSW Health Registered Training Organisation employing Daniel, although there was a good support system in place for Indigenous trainees, there was quite an investment in time finding out how Daniel could progress in his traineeship and how other staff could work in well with him.

Daniel is pretty down to earth and explains that it can be hard for other people to learn how to work with him and to face him when they speak so he can read their lips and their facial expressions. He laughs when he recounts how colleagues get confused if they are yelling his name loudly, but behind him as he continues to walk away! He isn’t self conscious; he is just honest with them and explains he needs to see their face. ‘They are good people in this area and they make me feel welcome and appreciated.’

To his credit, according to Ms Brady, Daniel picks things up very quickly. He works in the recruitment section of the business and is responsible for the first short listing of candidates – matching applications to skills criteria. He also organised the Department Christmas party last year. Anyone in event management is bound to be impressed, knowing the amount of detail involved and need for clear communication.

Martin Ratcliff, the Area Manager for the local MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre works with thousands of businesses across the region and says that Sydney South West Area Health Service has a very good program for trainees, including their dedicated program of traineeships for Aboriginal Australians and people with a disability. From the time they start their Training Contract, Martin conducts regular monitoring checks until they qualify. He sees their progression and how they handle the challenges life throws at them.

So there were quite a number of very proud people at the Training Awards last week, cheering Daniel on!

Daniel spends so much time encouraging both Aboriginal communities and people at the Deaf Club (they are very quiet people he quips!) to be patient and keep going with their traineeship, it’s good to see his positive attitude, his work with community and his determination recognised.

His advice:  “Being involved in a traineeship is very worthwhile.  When you finish the traineeship with Sydney South West Area Health Service, if you’ve done well, there’s a great career in the health sector ahead of you.”

Australian Apprenticeships are an Australian government initiative.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships

There is more than one way to start a career!

Chris Greentree & Ashleigh at the Camera House in Baylis Street.

There’s more than one way to gain a full education and a qualification for your future.  Ashleigh White, now aged 16, found the traineeships pathway suited her yearning for independence.

Chris Greentree, one of the Wagga Wagga Consultants for MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre has been helping Ashleigh on her journey towards achieving her Certificate II Retail qualification with Camera House in Baylis Street.

After helping Camera House and Ashleigh with the Training Contract and processes to start the traineeship, I’ve been monitoring how Ashleigh has been going, explains Ms Greentree. The traineeship has meant Ashleigh is able to earn an income at the same time she is learning the retail trade on the job.

‘She’s done Year 10 through Riverina Institute of TAFE and the progression to workplace learning suits her free spirit’ according to Ms Greentree.

Australian Apprenticeships are an Australian government initiative.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships

What is it like to be an apprentice printer?

Meet Aaron Carroll.  He is an apprentice printer working for Mystique Pty Ltd in Rowville, Victoria.  Take a few minutes to listen to what he has to say about his life as an apprentice printer.

Gone green already

Mystique printing, Rowville, VIC - 100% carbon neutral

It’s easy to talk about being environment friendly, and most businesses would probably want to be. But when faced with economic reality, particularly over the past twelve months, it needs a strong will for a business to completely reengineer itself so that it can claim to be 100% carbon neutral.

Mystique printing company in Rowville has gone right through every process of manufacture – using soy based inks, improving waste management, purchasing carbon credits from the Minding the Carbon Store project and carefully selecting the papers it uses.

‘The big difference with our company is that the owners didn’t stop there,’ explains Mat Eldred, Systems Manager for Mystique.

‘They believe the key to moving the business forward includes the quality of work. And that means the whole organisation, from printers and managers to the administrative support team.’

Everyone is involved with skills improvement training. This is where the financial support provided by the state and federal governments through the Australian Apprenticeships scheme has made it affordable.

Organising the financial support means filling out applications, signing Training Contracts and processing paperwork; all organised by Steve Holmes from the Wantirna MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre.

The staff are doing Certificate III and managers are doing Certificate IV in Competitive Manufacturing over the next two years, but they don’t even have to leave work. It’s all done as workplace training.

Mat Eldred,Systems Manager for Mystique printing; Steve Holmes from Wantirna MEGT Australian Apprenticeships Centre; Aaron Caroll, Apprentice.

‘We’ve been around for 20 years,’ explains Eldred, ‘but the business is continually moving forward and this is our way to look to the future.’

Australian Apprenticeships are an Australian Government initiative.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships

A $3,350 Kickstart Bonus to all Australian employers

The weekend is here and whilst most of you may be thinking about Wimbledon or the World Cup, some of you may be interested to know that until November 2010 MEGT Group Training will pass on the $3,350 Kickstart Bonus to all Australian employers – of any sized business – if they employ an apprentice aged 19 years or under, in a skills needs occupation.

We believe that all eligible host employers, regardless of size, should benefit from this government initiative. That’s worth having a drink over tonight!

So if you are an employer wanting to know more, contact MEGT now on 1300 365 022.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships