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Winner: The Brick Man (Victoria - Melbourne Region)“You must listen to your
employees. They are the ones doing the work for your business. Tell
them it is hard work. But there are rewards if you are prepared to
work hard. The great benefit in bricklaying is you see something at
the end of the day. You’ve actually built something. There is a
great sense of achievement in this.”
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Winner: Chumba Concept Salon (Victoria - Gippsland Region)“There is an advantage
for businesses in targeting a regional area. After a lot of market
research we recognised the big opportunities in regional Australia.
We encourage other Australian businesses to explore the
opportunities in country areas. Mr Carl Keeley,
Partner,
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Winner: Powercor Australia Ltd (Victoria - Victorian Central Highlands Region)“We believe it is
extremely important to be a leading employer of Australian
Apprentices not only for the success of the business but also to
give young Victorians the opportunity to obtain nationally
recognised qualifications and a meaningful career. Powercor
Australia believes it is important to plan for long- term success.
This allows people to live, work and study in regional Victoria.
Training is a necessary expense.
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Winner: Fairbrother Pty Ltd (Tasmania Region)“The big thing about
having Australian Apprentices is that we are preparing in advance
for skills shortages. Having 62 talented people in training means
less recruitment will be needed in the future. It is on-tap talent
we have developed. Productivity is enhanced by developing the
apprentices into good quality tradespeople. Our culture and methods
are ingrained. Employing others is an unknown quantity. We know that
our apprentices will all end up first class tradesmen.”
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Winner: B & R Enclosures Pty Ltd (Adelaide Region)“B & R’s experience with
the traditional trades and traineeships over the history of the
company – and particularly the last thirteen years – has continually
lifted the skill base of this factory from predominantly low skilled
to highly skilled. This is through a combination of internal and
external training and the high quality projects that our employees
have the opportunity to work on. And we have a competitive advantage
in having a highly skilled work force that can take on the cream of
the work available in the market place.”
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Winner: Auspine Limited - Tarpeena Site (South Australian Country Region)“Establishment of the
Tarpeena Apprenticeship Group is not a company-wide initiative –
it’s something we recognised and built for our development of the
company, and management fully agree. Winning the Minister’s Award is
great recognition for our on-site apprenticeship group. It will be a
good thing for making us an employer of choice. We’re just a
business in a little country town - we didn’t even realise it was
such a big deal when we entered the Awards. It’s great for our
business and great for kids looking for apprenticeships.”
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Winner: Western Geotechnics Pty Ltd (Perth Region)“We look for people who
are prepared to undertake a traineeship. This encourages them to
join us – the opportunity we give them to get a national
accreditation. In our sector there is no central body to go to for
training.
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Winner: Department of Environment & Conservation (Southern Western Australia Region)“The Department aims to
achieve 10-15% Aboriginal employment by 2016 –Overall we now have
approximately 80 – more than just from the MATES program. The
catalyst for cultural change in the Department is incorporating
Aboriginal cultural advice and traditional land management practices
into the Department. A MATES Australian Apprenticeship presents a
great career opportunity for Aboriginal people who have that
connection to the country and want to be involved in managing that
land. |
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Winner: Primepower Engineering Pty Ltd (Central & South Eastern Western Australia Region)“The company only
started eight years ago. There is quite a senior workforce,
discounting the apprentices. Their commitment to be the best
tradespeople possible is incredible. This is the stand-out thing
about Primepower to me. |
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Winner: Broome Central Motors Pty Ltd (Northern Western Australia Region)“We’ve had seven
Australian Apprentices over the period of the business. We have a
strong belief in apprenticeship and traineeship schemes. Living in
Broome, indigenous employment is really important to us. Mostly our
apprentices have been indigenous. One has been female, and one
mature aged. What we give our apprentices we get back ten-fold with
respect and their 100% input – business-wise and in friendship. They
are not just employees. When one leaves it hurts. You can’t expect
to keep them forever. It is bittersweet – you send them off into the
world knowing you’ve helped to get them to that point.” |
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Winner: Frontier Services (Northern Territory Region)“This program was
evaluated by Rosemary Jeffery for 15 months, and three mentors have
been engaged since the beginning of this year. We encourage trainees
to look this as the first of a lot of little steps with constant
encouragement to do another certificate. We tell them it makes a
difference in their own life. We will support our trainees as far as
they want to go.”
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Winner: Rio Tinto Aluminium Weipa (North Queensland Region)“It is very isolated
here, people don’t realise it but we are the same distance from Port
Moresby as we are from Cairns. It is commonsense to employ the
children of our employees. This helps to normalise the town, so the
kids know they have job opportunities and don’t have to leave to
find work. |
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Winner: Mackay City Council (Central Queensland Region)“Our Australian
Apprentices are all trying to build their own future. And Council
gives them a great commitment. A big change occurred about twelve
months ago when we developed information sessions for Managers and
Supervisors. We are teaching them to mentor and coach by giving them
information on what apprenticeships and training are all about.
Relationships at all levels are now much more productive and are
constantly improving. It is a partnership for Managers and
Supervisors, which in turn teaches everyone respect and
understanding and support of their individual roles.”
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Winner: J Smith & Sons Pty Ltd (South Queensland Region)“Without Australian
Apprentices we would not have had company growth which has led to
overseas export of product. It has allowed us to remain productive
and competitive in the market. Apprentices are rotated around so
they have greater knowledge of the company and various facets of the
industry. This can lead to specialisation if they want to. They
develop skills and become leaders within the company.”
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Winner: CMC Training at Work (Brisbane Region)“Some businesses are
reluctant to take on an Australian Apprentice. Our project means
they can take on one of ours as a host employer. We can provide
qualified trained people to the industry. The indigenous mentors are
there to help the trainees find their way through the whole thing.
They can call on the mentors at any time. Quite often the trainees
are caught between environments and cultures.
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Winner: Brady Australia (Sydney Region)“The organisation is
very people focused. And the Australian Apprentices know that. Role
modelling for the culture comes from the top. Brady has a set of
guiding values. Most companies have them but don’t even read them.
The Managing Director, Stephen Millar, behaves according to the
guiding values, so does the leadership team and everyone else. If
you’ve got that at the top it filters down. It is leading by
example.
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Winner: Orange Credit Union Limited (Western NSW Region)“Having Australian
Apprenticeships has made a difference to the culture. Previously,
induction to the company was a lot less strenuous and a lot less
informative. The change brought in with the traineeships introduces
the people and the work. This new method of induction is something
we absolutely use even for new staff who are not trainees. It
certainly works. Hopefully more standardised member service is
resulting with the increased knowledge and confidence staff have
with the Orange Credit Union’s products.” |
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Winner: Thomas & Coffey Limited (Illawarra & South East NSW Region)“It is a good time to be
starting a trade. There is a lot of opportunity, with generally good
career prospects. There is scope to work from an apprenticeship up
and get right to the top in a managerial position. |
 View video clip (30 sec) |
Winner: Sage Restaurant (Australian Capital Territory Region)“Sometimes they leave
after all that training, and that is a good thing. You’ve given them
the tools and skills; they leave the nest and fly. That’s how I see
it. I don’t want them to feel as though they are still my
apprentice. Putting four years into an apprentice is my gift back
into the industry by way of the satisfaction of putting someone of
high calibre out there. We always keep in touch with our former
apprentices.”
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