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.

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

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.

Even On a Rainy Day We Have Something Good To Say

It’s was raining for some of the day here in Melbourne, and it got us thinking that we should all dance in the rain. Go on, leave your desk and go experience the pleasure of dancing in the rain. Bring a friend, or bring your boss and dance!

Ok, we were thinking metaphorically. However, if you really do want to dance in the rain, we won’t stop you!

On an unrelated related note, MEGT are receiving new employment and training opportunities for employers and apprentices all over Australia EVERY DAY!

Contact MEGT and stay tuned to this blog and our twitter page for regular updates on opportunities for employers, apprentices and job seekers.

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships

MEGT (Australia) presents Magentaline: Rockin for my future!

Finding your career can be a rockin experience. Check out this video featuring music from Australian band Magentaline.

Of course, the video was produced to show you how MEGT can help you to get an apprenticeship or traineeships in your chosen profession, or the training to get you there. However, you can just watch it to hear the powerpop beats of Magentaline.

If you really like the music, you can download the FREE MP3 here!

MEGT Australia | Australian Apprenticeships