HVTC News Summer 2013 - Hunter Valley Training Company

HVTC NEWS
Summer 2013-14
INSIDE STORIES
•HVTC apprentice with extra edge
wins award
•NSW Mining rewards service
to industry
•HVTC puckers up for Pink Lipstick Day
•New Skills Centre builds on
exciting future
•Trainees and apprentices
showcase WorldSkills
•HVTC shines at night of nights
•Indigenous apprentice lays
foundations for future
•Apprentice chef dishes up
delicious skills
HVTC LAB TRAINEE
TAKES OUT TOP STATE AWARD
Laboratory techniques trainee
Joshua Lodge swapped his
lab coat for a suit to be named
Trainee of the Year at this
year’s 2013 ACT & NSW Group
Training Association Awards.
At the gala event held at The Westin in
Sydney on October 25, the 20-year-old
HVTC (Hunter Valley Training Company)
trainee took out the top trainee award
out of seven other state finalists. This
is the third time in as many years that
a HVTC trainee has won this award,
with HVTC Shoalhaven trainee Brooke
Eveleigh taking out the title last year
and HVTC Hunter trainee Rebecca
Connell winning the award in 2011.
Joshua, from Warners Bay, is
completing his training through HVTC
Hunter and works as a laboratory
techniques trainee for Host Employer
Origin Energy, formerly Eraring Energy.
Recognised for his endless commitment
and dedication, Joshua completed
the theory side of his Certificate IV
Laboratory Techniques traineeship in
just 12 months and is now enrolled in
a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)
at university and currently completing
the Diploma in Chemistry. As well as
being an outstanding employee, Joshua
has also proven his leadership skills
by mentoring two younger chemical
trainees.
Joshua is no stranger to the award
spotlight. In August, he was selected
to attend the 2013 Today’s Skills;
Tomorrow’s Leaders program and
was also a finalist in the 2013 Hunter
Manufacturing Awards.
Fellow HVTC trainees Jamie-Lee Wild
(HVTC Hunter) and Kera Ritchie (HVTC
Mid Coast) were both recognised
for being the best in their respective
industries at the GTA awards. JamieLee was presented with Trainee of the
Year Financial, Insurance and Business
Services, and Kera Ritchie received
Trainee of the Year Community and
Human Services.
Two HVTC apprentices were also
celebrated for being the best in
their Apprentice of the Year industry
categories. Michael Renko (HVTC
Illawarra) received an award for
Apprentice of the Year Civil Construction
Design and Gary Goddard (HVTC
Western Sydney) was named
Apprentice of the Year Manufacturing,
Engineering and Mechanical.
HVTC CEO Sharon Smith congratulated
Joshua, HVTC industry category
winners and the finalists who were
recognised on the night.
“HVTC had eight finalists in this year’s
awards - more than any other group
training company, and we walked
away with Trainee of the Year and four
industry category awards. This result
is an absolute credit to our talented
trainees and apprentices, their host
employers and to our dedicated and
experienced staff,” Ms Smith said.
Group Training Association ACT &
NSW Executive Director Naomi Dinnen
said this year’s winners had developed
job skills and technical understanding,
and are supported by Group Training
Organisations like HVTC, who work
with them to build their confidence and
personal capabilities.
“Group Training is a crucial lever in
addressing skills gaps in NSW and ACT
and building capacity in our workforce to
take advantage of future opportunities.
The award winners, their Group Training
Organisations, host employers and
supporters in government are to be
congratulated for investing in the future
of NSW and ACT workforces,” she said.
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Awards, awards and more awards –
what an incredible result for HVTC!
When I take a step back and look
at what our high-calibre trainees,
apprentices and Host Employers have
achieved over the past few months, I am
filled with immense pride.
The unparalleled standard of our
trainees, apprentices and Host
Employers was all too apparent at this
year’s NSW & ACT Group Training
Association Awards, with HVTC
represented by eight outstanding
finalists – more than any other group
training organisation. HVTC laboratory
techniques trainee Joshua Lodge
took out the top Trainee of the Year
award and four of our finalists were
acknowledged for being the best
trainee or apprentice in their respective
industries.
The night before the GTA Awards,
Southern Operations Manager Chris
Schofield and I attended the NSW
Mining Suppliers Awards and were
thrilled to accept the Professional
Services Category Award on behalf
of HVTC. This prestigious award was
presented in recognition of HVTC’s
CEO’S MESSAGE
The past few months have been quite
a time of change for HVTC. We’ve
consolidated our regions under one
collective name – HVTC – and have
given our logo a mini makeover to
ensure our look reflects our brand
philosophy, skills change lives.
As with any period of change, there
have been difficult decisions made. The
current economic climate has made it
tough for many businesses, including
our Host Employers, who have had
to make changes to their business
structures to stay afloat.
Unfortunately, over the past few months
we have found ourselves in a similar
position. To ensure HVTC continues to
deliver the same quality service we are
committed to, we have implemented a
number of organisational changes to
improve our productivity and efficiency
of service delivery. HVTC is an
organisation with a strong history that
has operated through similar economic
challenges over the past 32 years. This
has been made possible through the
efforts of all our employees who have
remained dedicated to our purpose
of providing a better future for people
02 skills change lives
decades of dedication to servicing
the mining industry with focused and
tailored training. With my extensive
history in mining and in my current
role as Chairman of Centennial Coal,
this award was one I was especially
honoured to receive on your behalf, as
Chairman of HVTC.
The Board and I would like to
congratulate all of our award winners
and our equally fantastic finalists.
Awards are also a real credit to the
HVTC staff, our training partners
who provide the support and learning
platforms needed to encourage
trainees and apprentices to excel
in their individual fields and to our
Host Employers for the wonderful
experiences they provide. Winning
prestigious awards, year after year,
acknowledges the quality of HVTC’s
recruitment, training and ongoing
mentoring and clearly illustrates why
we remain Australia’s premier group
training company.
Throughout our busy award season,
HVTC also went through a challenging
phase with necessary organisational
restructuring to ensure we have a
sustainable business model to continue
to deliver the high standard of service
we are committed to. The Board and I
remain firmly focused on HVTC’s future
Bob Cameron AO, HVTC Chairman
and the next phase of our growth and
development. Part of these plans involve
our investment in a new $5M HVTC
Skills Centre at Rutherford, which is set
to open its doors in 2014. Under the
management of our new RTO Manager
Michael Murray, I have every confidence
that the new Skills Centre will launch
HVTC into a new and exciting era of
skills training.
On behalf of the Board and HVTC
staff I’d like to wish everyone a Merry
Christmas and a happy, safe and
prosperous New Year. I’d also like to
thank you all for your support this year,
and we look forward to working with you
all again in 2014.
Bob Cameron AO
through training and employment
opportunities.
We are looking forward to a positive
improvement in the economy, with
confidence returning to the market. In
the meantime, we are also calling on
the newly elected Government to make
skills training an increased national
priority by creating more incentives for
businesses and employers to take on
apprentices and trainees.
In 2014, we will see an increase in first
and second year apprentice wages
for all new apprentices due to the Fair
Work Commission’s ruling earlier this
year. This decision will hopefully attract
more young people to take up trade
training. The price and fee setting for
government-funded VET under Smart
and Skilled will also apply from July
2014 – which will ultimately make
some courses less expensive, but with
more popular courses attracting a fee
increase. Both of these decisions, while
mostly positive for young apprentices
and trainees, may impact on the
capacity of some businesses to take on
apprentices and trainees.
However, this is the time when business
needs to be looking to the future and
meeting skill shortages with trainees
and apprentices. This will ensure we,
as a nation, have a skilled workforce in
Sharon Smith, HVTC CEO
place to take advantage of the improved
economy. We understand clearly that
that it’s the employers who create the
training and employment opportunities
needed to skill the next generations,
and it’s our job to help you do that.
As well as being a time of adjustment,
the past few months have given
us many reasons to celebrate with
HVTC apprentices, trainees and Host
Employers celebrated with a collection
of awards.
I hope you all have a happy and safe
Christmas and enjoy the break with
family and friends.
Sharon Smith
HVTC apprentice with extra edge wins
manufacturing award
HVTC Hunter apprentice Andrew
Godwin proved he has the winning
goods after taking out the Apprentice
of the Year - Manufacturing at the 2013
Hunter Manufacturing Awards.
The judging panel said the Apprentice
of the Year award was a particularly
difficult category to judge as all
nominees were worthy and proved to be
a credit to themselves and their industry.
The Hunter Manufacturing Awards
(HMA), now in their ninth year,
are dedicated to the promotion of
best practice in manufacturing by
showcasing the achievements of the
Hunter’s best.
However, Andrew was the clear winner
as he was able to demonstrate that ‘little
bit extra’ in the judging criteria – this
extra edge set him apart from the other
deserving nominees.
Andrew, who is an engineering
mechanical apprentice hosted by Walter
Diversified Services at Cameron Park,
outshone the other five finalists to take
out first place in this new category.
Andrew is also part of the Xstrata
Sponsorship Program.
HVTC laboratory techniques trainee
Joshua Lodge was also recognised as
a finalist in the Rising Star category, for
his outstanding personal contribution to
the manufacturing business through his
leadership ability.
NSW Mining rewards HVTC’s service
to industry
HVTC’s long-term commitment to the
mining industry has been recognised,
with the company taking out the
Professional Services Category at the
2013 NSW Mining Suppliers Awards.
HVTC Chairman Bob Cameron AO
with Manager Southern Operations
Chris Schofield
On Friday 27 September, HVTC
perfected the bright pink pout to raise
money and awareness for hereditary
breast and ovarian cancer.
Bright Pink Lipstick Day is an initiative
of Pink Hope, Australia’s only charity
designed to inspire women to be
proactive and vigilant with their breast
and ovarian health.
Teams from HVTC Head Office, Hunter,
Illawarra and Mid Coast celebrated
the day with a fundraising morning tea
worked closely with the industry to
develop HVTC’s Mining Industry Skills
Program - a specific training program
used to produce job-ready apprentices
and trainees to meet market demand,”
she said.
The second annual NSW Mining
Suppliers Awards held in Sydney on
October 24, celebrated the excellence
and innovation amongst the thousands
of businesses that help keep NSW
mining strong.
“With work carried out in confined
underground spaces and the regular
use of heavy machinery, mining
sites can be a high-risk and complex
environment. The program provides a
simulated workshop environment where
safety and basic skills are learnt in a
safe environment designed to reduce
the risk to workers on the mine site.”
HVTC was named the winner out of
seven high-profile finalists, including
Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Pacific
National and Bis Industries.
Since it began, the Mining Industry
Skills Program has given around 700
students the career start and basic skills
needed for success in the industry.
HVTC CEO Sharon Smith said the
award was recognition of the company’s
dedication to meeting the changing
needs of the NSW minerals industry
over the past two decades.
HVTC currently services a large and
diverse network of mining associated
Host Employers, with more than 70
percent of HVTC’s Hunter region client
base from mining and mining-related
support service industries.
“We have forged strong relationships
with mining companies and have
HVTC puckers up for Bright Pink
Lipstick Day
Andrew Godwin
and plenty of fun and frivolity, while
collecting dollars for the important
cause.
The trainers and apprentices from our
HVTC Skills Centre based in Telarah
near Maitland, even got in on the act
with pink hair and bright pink lips.
At the end of the day, HVTC raised a
$530.00 for the charity.
The funds went directly towards
employing an online Genetic Counsellor
- an important resource especially for
women living in rural areas who often
have long wait-times to access this
service.
HVTC Skills Centre trainers
and apprentices
03
HVTC Skills Centre at Rutherford
HVTC Manager RTO Michael Murray
New Skills Centre builds on exciting future
HVTC’s new $5 million Skills
Centre at Rutherford, near
Maitland, is well on track to
open its doors to students in
2014.
Constructed by Drayton Construction,
the three main buildings are complete
with all the internal fit outs including wall
and floor tiling, kitchens, light fittings
and power points installed.
Murray joined the HVTC team in
October.
The car parks, footpaths, landscaping
and fencing are also finished, with the
new facility close to completion.
With a strong background in the
training industry, Michael will manage
the relocation to the new skills centre,
continue to develop innovative and
industry-reflective training programs and
aims to welcome more students into
training and courses.
The next stage will be the fit out of the
workshop areas over the next couple of
months.
HVTC’s Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) Manager Michael
Workshop and training rooms
NATIONAL SKILLS WEEK/
V-TEC OPEN DAY
This year’s National Skills Week (August
26 – September 1) was a great success
with HVTC jumping on as an official
sponsor, for the second year running.
Now in its third year, National Skills
Week aims to highlight the talents,
the skills, the career pathways and
the value of apprentices and trainees
across Australia to the wider public and
employers.
To kick off the week, HVTC’s CEO
Sharon Smith and Manager Corporate
Affairs Melinda Smith attended the
official launch at The Bond, Lend
Lease’s Headquarters in Sydney.
04 skills change lives
The gala event was launched by
The Hon. Adrian Piccoli, Minister for
Education, and attended by The Hon.
Pru Goward, Minister for Community
Services and Women and Gabrielle
Upton, NSW Parliamentary Secretary.
On Wednesday, August 28, HVTC Skills
Centre held its School Open Day as an
official National Skills Week event.
The day was a resounding success
with local high school students given
the opportunity to speak with trainers
and apprentices and try a skill in the
workshops.
Throughout the week, HVTC’s National
Skills Week SkillsOne video was also
broadcast on FOXTEL, Austar and freeto-air channel TV4ME.
HVTC Trainer Kevin Welton
demonstrates equipment
HVTC apprentices and trainees
showcase WorldSkills
HVTC Southern Sydney apprentice
Brendan McArthur will put his skills to
the ultimate test when he competes at
the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National
Competition.
Promoting skills excellence since 1981,
WorldSkills Australia aims to equip
young Australians with the confidence to
excel in their trade or skill by providing
them with an opportunity to showcase
their talent on a regional, national and
international level.
Brendan, who is hosted by ANSTO,
took out both gold and silver medals
in the Sydney region WorldSkills finals
held earlier this year. Completing
a Certificate III in Engineering
Mechanical, Brendan came first for
machining and a very close second in
fitting. So close, the judges had to go
back and check the marking three times.
HVTC Illawarra had twelve apprentices
and trainees compete in the WorldSkills
Illawarra regional finals, with apprentice
Jake Cunningham taking out the silver
medal in the fitting competition. Other
HVTC Illawarra finalists included:
•Josh Pickering (Welding)
•Rhys Deliseo (Machining)
•Ryan Corvalan (Welding)
•Catherine Lee (Business
Administration)
•Jason Mitchell (Fitting)
Brendan will travel to Perth’s Convention
and Exhibition Centre in September
next year to compete on a national
level. The three day event will see more
than 500 of Australia’s most talented
students, trainees and apprentices from
30 regions battle it out for gold medal
success and the prestigious title of
‘Australia’s Best’ in their chosen skill or
trade. These winners will then take their
skills overseas to compete on the world
stage.
•Mitchell Conley (Automotive Heavy
Vehicle)
•River Peters (Fabrication)
•Tommaso Trunzo (Automotive Heavy
Vehicle)
•Blake Southall (Machining)
•David Miech (Fabrication)
Brendan McArthur
•Carl Rindisbacher (Machining)
Blake Southall
Carl Rindisbacher
Catherine Lee
David Miech
Jake Cunningham
Jason Mitchell
Josh Pickering
Mitchell Conley
Rhys Deliseo
River Peters
Ryan Corvalan
Tommaso Trunzo
05
HVTC SHINES AT GROUP TRAINING’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS
GTA NSW & ACT AWARDS
– HVTC WINNERS AND
FINALISTS
Joshua Lodge - Trainee of the Year
(HVTC Hunter)
Host Employer: Origin Energy
(formerly Eraring Energy)
Industry category award winners:
Jamie-Lee Wild - Trainee of the
Year Finance, Insurance & Business
(HVTC Hunter)
Host Employer: Origin Energy
(formerly Eraring Energy)
Kera Ritchie - Trainee of the Year
Community & Human Services
(HVTC Mid Coast)
Host Employer: Mid North Coast
Local Health District – Kempsey
Hospital Dental Clinic
The NSW & ACT GTA Awards were
celebrated at a gala event held in The
Grand Ballroom at the Westin Sydney on
Friday 25 October.
As a silver sponsor of the
awards, HVTC was wellrepresented on the night
with three tables present to
support our eight finalists.
The evening recognised the
outstanding achievements
of HVTC’s finalists. It was
also the chance to celebrate
HVTC’s valued employers who
make apprenticeships and
traineeships possible.
Joshua Lodge
Gary Goddard - Apprentice of the
Year Manufacturing, Engineering
& Mechanical (HVTC Western
Sydney)
Host Employer: Thomas & Coffey
Michael Renko - Apprentice of
the Year Civil Construction Design
(HVTC Illawarra)
Host Employer: Wollongong City
Council
Finalists:
Kelcie Fraser - Woman in a NonTraditional Trade Apprentice/Trainee
of the Year Finalist (HVTC Northern
Rivers)
Jamie-Lee Wild
Kera Ritchie
Gary Goddard
Michael Renko
Host Employer: Graeme Essery
Building
Nathalie Massin - School-based
Trainee of the Year Finalist (HVTC
Mid Coast)
Host Employer: Valley Industries
Kera Ritchie - Indigenous Trainee/
Apprentice of the Year Finalist
(HVTC Mid Coast)
Host Employer: Mid North Coast
Local Health District – Kempsey
Hospital Dental Clinic
Shoalhaven Council - Large Host
Employer of the Year Finalist (HVTC
Shoalhaven)
06 skills change lives
Toni Bellos, Kelcie Fraser, Marilyn Essery,
Graeme Essery and Lisa Coughran
HVTC Northern Rivers beat all odds to attend awards
By Lisa Coughran, HVTC Northern
Rivers Field Officer
“It all started on the wrong foot or
should I say wing, when our flight was
cancelled twice with new times.
Our finalist nominee Kelcie Fraser,
in the division of ‘Woman in NonTraditional Trade’, was all excited as not
only was she about to see the bright
lights of Sydney for the first time, but
she was about to experience her first
time on a plane.
When we arrived at the airport in
Lismore, it was like everyone knew who
we were - the people that had the plane
cancelled in Ballina and needed to be in
Sydney for Kelcie’s important night!
This made our awful stressful afternoon
all worthwhile.
If HVTC Northern Rivers say we are
going to do something, we do it!”
We arrived in Sydney with 15 minutes
to get ready - thank goodness for
deodorant! We missed the first hour and
a half of the evening but the wonderful
news was that our finalist Kelcie Fraser
arrived just in time to stand up on stage
and receive her award.
Kelcie, Graham and Marilyn Essery
(Host Employers), HVTC Manager
Toni Bellos and I boarded the plane
on time at 12pm, took our seats and
strapped ourselves in for the night of
nights. However, once the plane started
along the tarmac it came to a sudden
halt just before take-off. Then came the
voice over the loud speaker - We had
engineering problems and had to go
back to airport to disembark.
Finally at 4pm, after sitting anxiously
at the airport for a few hours awaiting
the news and watching the clock,
they announced the flight had been
cancelled. We could not believe our
ears!
We sprang into action. Toni and I were
on our phones immediately trying to
organise alternative arrangements - we
were determined to get Kelcie to the
awards. We organised another flight out
of Lismore at 5pm with another airline
and with no time to spare we ran to the
car, bags in hand. Knowing our flight
would take off in one hour, it took us 35
minutes to drive there. On the way, I was
on the phone to the airline stressing
to the phone assistant to HOLD THAT
PLANE!
John Nagle, Gary Goddard and Debbie Boyd
Leigh Morrow with Peter and Karen Crerar
07
Indigenous apprentice lays
foundations for winning future
HVTC North West building apprentice
Dom Gall was named Apprentice of
the Year at this year’s NSW TAFE
Gili Awards. The annual Gili Awards
recognise excellence and achievement
in Aboriginal Vocational Education and
Training across all TAFE NSW Institutes.
Construction (Building). While
undertaking his building studies,
Dom also finished his Certificate III in
Fitness and is currently completing his
Certificate IV in Fitness, showing his
dedication and passion for education,
and health and fitness.
Gili (pronounced kili) is an Eora word,
meaning to shine.
Dom received his Gili award alongside
16 other successful award winners,
at a special ceremony in Sydney on
Thursday, August 29.
Dom’s commitment and positive attitude
teamed with his desire to become a
builder have led to his ongoing success.
He completed his Certificate III in
Building and Construction (Building)
in 2012 and has gone on to complete
his Certificate IV in Building and
It has been an award-winning year for
the young apprentice, with Dom also
named Apprentice of the Year at the
2013 New England Training Awards.
Dom Gall
School-based trainees strive for caring careers
Two HVTC Mid Coast school-based trainees are proving they
have the compassion, commitment and courage needed for a
rewarding career in disability services.
Emily Wright, 17 and Nathalie Massin, 18 are both hosted by
disability service organisations that help individuals to live full,
enjoyable and inclusive lives.
Nathalie is hosted by Valley Industries, a Taree organisation
that employs people with varying disabilities who are trained
in a range of business skills and participate in meaningful paid
employment.
Nathalie, who has Irlen Syndrome - a condition that affects her
ability to process visual information, works with clients of all
ages with varying levels of disability.
The Year 11 Heritage Christian School student is hosted by
NewIDAFE - a Port Macquarie-based service that supports
adults with a disability to access the community and learn life
skills.
NewIDAFE Service User Liaison Coordinator Denise McGann
is thrilled with Emily’s progress in her role.
“Emily is caring, adaptable, reliable and a thoughtful person
who has shown herself to be an asset to the NewIDAFE team,”
Denise said.
“Emily has the ability to work with a large cross section of
NewIDAFE service users including those with behaviours of
concern to others with high personal care needs. She is liked
by both the service users and other staff members.”
“Having to overcome the daily challenges of having Irlen
Syndrome helps me to understand and have empathy for the
difficulties people with disabilities encounter,” Nathalie said.
“This makes me a better employee and more determined to
work hard to stay in this industry.”
Recognised as one of three finalists in this year’s NSW & ACT
Group Training Association Awards, Nathalie was also one of
three school-based trainee finalists celebrated in the North
Coast Training Awards. Nathalie is undertaking a Certificate III
in Disability Services and will complete her HSC and schoolbased traineeship at the end of this year.
Just like Nathalie, Emily is also passionate about pursuing a
career in disability services.
Meagan Jackson, Sean Ritchie
and Debbie Jones
08 skills change lives
Nathalie Massin
Emily Wright
HVTC APPRENTICE TAKES
OUT TOP TITLE AT AIG
REGIONAL AWARDS
and demonstrate initiative and selfmanagement.
HVTC Illawarra fitter machinist
apprentice Sean Ritchie took out the top
award at the Australian Industry Group
(AIG) Illawarra Region Apprentice of the
Year Awards on November 8.
Six other HVTC Illawarra apprentices
were also recognised as finalists in
the Illawarra awards. Congratulations
to Stephen Coyle, Mitchell Conley,
Tomasso Trunzo, Reece Cullen, Lachlan
McDonald and Sam Kost.
Apprentices were judged on several
different criteria including ability to
work as a team, solve problems,
Sean, who is hosted by the University of
Wollongong, was a clear winner.
APPRENTICE CHEF DISHES
UP DELICIOUS SKILLS
Maddison created the menu from
scratch and ran the kitchen like a
‘seasoned’ professional.
HVTC North Coast apprentice chef
Maddison Smith plated up her best
culinary skills when she took on the
role of Head Chef for a special dinner in
October.
Tables were filled with 50 of Maddison’s
family and friends including her HVTC
North Coast Field Officer Jane Wayland.
The second year apprentice chef, who
is hosted by C.E.X Club, served up
her best dishes at Osprey Restaurant,
located at the Coffs Harbour Education
Campus.
The budding chef’s TAFE supervisor Ian
Holdaway and her classmates assisted
with food service on the night.
The evening was a great success, with
Maddison receiving rave reviews for her
menu design and tasty creations.
Ian Holdaway with Maddison Smith
HVTC REWARDS BUDDING ELECTRICIAN WITH
BRIGHT FUTURE
HVTC Southern Tablelands has turned
the spotlight on a bright young spark by
recognising him with a well-deserved
Customer Service Award.
Valerie Roberts, Joshua Majewski
and Doug Dobbs
Joshua Majewski, a second-year
electrical apprentice employed by
HVTC Southern Tablelands, is dually
hosted by Ultra Tech Electronics and
DOBB Electrical and Air Conditioners.
Throughout his apprenticeship
Joshua has continued to impress his
host employers, the staff and both
businesses’ clients with his efficiency,
dedication and commitment to his role.
HVTC Southern Tablelands Manager
John Rawle said Joshua was presented
with the award to celebrate his
outstanding professional achievements.
“Joshua is a gifted apprentice with a
very bright future. Over the past few
months, one of his Host Employers
Doug Dobbs has taken numerous
phone calls from delighted customers
who each praised Josh for his efficiency
and politeness while on the job,” Mr
Rawle said.
“We take enormous pride in providing
our Host Employers with quality
apprentices and trainees and Joshua
is a shining example of this. We are
very proud of him and were delighted to
present him with this award.”
“The conditions were wet and slippery
but everything went really well from the
beginning of the finals. I built up more
speed each round, picking my way
through a pretty stacked field to come
up against fellow Aussie Conner Fearon
in the race for gold,” he said.
Over the past decade, the Crankworx
dirt stadium has been home to
hundreds of game-changing moments
in freeride mountain biking’s history and
has launched the careers of countless
professional athletes.
The 20-year-old Woodberry resident
has been racing BMX since the age of
six.
Graeme Mudd
HVTC apprentice leaves winning tracks
at international mountain bike festival
Four-cross champion Graeme Mudd
was crowned with international glory
when he competed at Crankworx in
Whistler, Canada in August.
With the help of HVTC sponsorship, the
HVTC Hunter fitter machinist apprentice
competed against some of the best
riders on the international scene and
snapped up first-place in the dual
slalom race.
HVTC manager corporate affairs
Melinda Smith said HVTC was proud
of Graeme and his achievements both
in the sporting arena and in his skills
training.
“Graeme is working for Donaldson
Coal as part of his apprenticeship and
is an outstanding HVTC apprentice.
By sponsoring Graeme to compete
at Crankworx, HVTC supported his
sporting aspirations in addition to his
professional goals,” Ms Smith said.
09
HVTC HIGHLIGHTS
•The HVTC Northern Rivers team
brushed up on the latest training
developments when they attended
a recent information session at
Apprenticeworks, Tallebudgera
Creek. Apprenticeworks, formerly
Designworks, is a private
registered training organisation
(RTO), offering training for trades
such as signwriting, printing,
painting, decorating and picture
framing.
•HVTC Hunter apprentice Luke
Nelson-Hauer hosted by Daracon
Engineering won first place in the
2013 TAFE NSW Kurri academic
awards.
•HVTC Hunter electrical apprentice
Joel Tuckett won a highly sought
after State Training Services
Scholarship. The scholarship was
worth $5,000 a year for the next
three years.
•A crew from HVTC Skills Centre
boarded the bus to head to AIMEX
(Asia-Pacific’s International
Mining Exhibition) in August.
AIMEX is a global showcase of the
latest technologies, equipment and
services for the mining industry.
HVTC apprentices and staff had a
great day learning more about the
latest technologies in the mining
industry.
•The team from HVTC North West
celebrated the Chinese New
Moon festival with Host Employer
Shenhua Watermark Coal.
The Moon Festival is a celebration
of family and love and one of
the most important traditional
events in Chinese culture.
The North West team was
honoured to be involved in
Shenhua’s official celebrations.
•The HVTC Southern Tablelands
office signed up four new schoolbased apprentices and trainees
for Wingecarribee Shire Council Melissa Parker (horticulture, parks
and gardens), Melanie Fitzgerald
(business services), Jacob Radovi
(plumbing) and Ben Coulter
(automotive).
•In August, Hunter-V-Tec farewelled
a group of Xstrata apprentices
that had been training at the
Skills Centre in Telarah since
January this year. After leaving,
the 15 mechanical and three auto
electrical apprentices headed off to
complete TAFE and begin work on
the mine site.
10 skills change lives
HVTC and ANSTO encourage
women to trade up
HVTC Southern Sydney and ANSTO
are joining forces to boost the number of
‘lady tradies’ in the Australian workforce
with a range of new apprenticeship
opportunities.
According to the ABS Labour Force
Australia data, women make up only
13 percent of trade apprentices and
trainees in NSW and less than two
percent of automotive, engineering,
construction and electro-technology
trade workers in the state are female.
HVTC is working closely with ANSTO
(Australian Nuclear Science and
Technology Organisation) to encourage
more women to take up a non-traditional
trade.
Many of these jobs are in high-demand,
well-paid and offer both women and
men rewarding, flexible and challenging
careers.”
HVTC and ANSTO have offered
apprenticeships for females in a range
of areas including electrical, fabrication
and mechanical.
“ANSTO is dedicated to gender diversity
in the workforce and we’ve made
a commitment to equalling gender
representation in our workforce across
all areas,” Megan Lusty-Evans from
ANSTO said.
HVTC Southern Operations Manager
Chris Schofield said despite the push
for gender equality there was still a clear
division between ‘women’s jobs’ and
‘men’s jobs’ in the NSW workforce.
“Statistics show us that many
young women overlook trades in
mechanical and electrical, in favour
of apprenticeships in areas such as
hairdressing and catering,” Mr Schofield
said.
“We want to encourage more women to
take up training in these key skills areas
and as a result change perceptions of
traditionally male-dominated trades.
Megan Lusty-Evans and
Bethany Hahesy
HVTC sponsors
Worimi Dolphins in
Knockout
The Koori Knockout is held each year
during the October long weekend with
thousands of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people travelling to
support their teams and the game of
Rugby League.
HVTC was the proud sponsor of the
Worimi Dolphins Rugby League Football
Club who took to the field for this year’s
43rd NSW Annual Koori Knockout at
Raymond Terrace.
The Port Stephens club had teams in
both the Open Men’s and Under 17
Boy’s Divisions. The Under 17’s made it
to the quarter finals - just one win from
Grand Final. The Men’s team had an 1818 all draw with Longbottom United but
lost the game as the other team scored
the first try.
HVTC CEO Sharon Smith said HVTC
was dedicated to supporting the local
Indigenous community both on and off
the field.
“As well as getting behind local events
such as the Knockout, HVTC is also
dedicated to creating equal employment
opportunities for all people,” Ms Smith
said.
Worimi Dolphins
“Skills change lives and HVTC believes
that employment plays an important role
in ‘closing the gap’ between Indigenous
and non-Indigenous Australians.”
Recruitment tool lands trainee
on the right career path
Jaimee Peacock’s
hairdressing career was cut
short when she realised the
profession wasn’t the right
fit. But now, with the right
pre-employment assessment,
Jaimee is on her perfect
career path.
After 11 months in the salon, the
then 17-year-old decided to leave her
hairdressing apprenticeship to begin a
traineeship in business administration
with HVTC. This decision landed Jaimee
a position perfectly suited to her skills,
personality and career goals.
For the past 10 months, the 18-year-old
has been employed at HVTC’s Head
Office.
“I love working at HVTC in Head Office.
It’s such a friendly team environment
and I learn something new every day,”
she said. “This job has definitely opened
my eyes to all the places my business
administration traineeship can take me.”
For more than 32 years, HVTC has
prided itself on its ability to recruit
quality trainees and apprentices and link
their potential with the right employment
opportunity.
To maintain its position as an industry
leader in recruitment, HVTC utilises a
suite of employment methods including
literacy, maths and mechanical
reasoning tests. A candidate’s preemployment physical and mental
health status are also collected
through the use of a Personal Health
Questionnaire, functional assessments
and pre-employment psychometric
testing. HVTC uses GeneSys tests
including the HSI (Health & Safety
Inventory) through its partnership with
Beliby Consulting. The psychometric
testing measures a range of abilities
and personality characteristics that
provide valuable information for talent
management of the employee. It also
provides an indication of an applicant’s
tendencies towards safe behaviours in
the workplace.
HVTC Human Resources & Safety
Manager Janet Lee said the current
skills shortage had heightened the
importance of a robust selection
process for companies to identify and
manage their talent pool.
“The benefits of pre-employment testing
as a learning and development tool are
two-fold. It is not simply a tool that is
filed once the recruitment process has
finished. It is a valuable instrument to
assist the employee, their field officer
and host employer to understand their
profile. This kind of testing increases the
individual’s learning and minimises risk
to their physical and mental health at
work,” Janet said.
“On the business side of things, preemployment testing is effective in
reducing the incidence of health and
safety issues and workplace accidents.”
HVTC Field Officer Kellie Marks said
Jaimee performed very well throughout
the interview and testing process and
as a result, continues to thrive in her
position.
“Jaimee displayed a passion for
administration tasks, she met the
criteria and answered each question in
the one-on-one processes competently,
and her reference checks were of the
highest standard. This combined with
her testing results further demonstrated
her suitability for the job. Now 10
months on, Jaimee absolutely loves her
work and is a highly valued member of
the team who continues to impress her
HVTC colleagues and supervisors.”
NEW STARTERS
FIVE YEAR MILESTONES
Since the last edition
of Grapevine, HVTC has
welcomed new people to the
organisation or to new roles.
Over the past few months,
three staff members have
joined HVTC’s five year club.
Congratulations to HVTC Mid Coast
Administration Officer Sharee Murphy,
HVTC Southern Tablelands Manager
John Rawle, and HVTC Shoalhaven
Regional Coordinator Leigh Morrow.
Jaimee Peacock
Chris Schofield with John Rawle
These HVTC team members are here
to help ensure we deliver the best
services to host employers, apprentices
and trainees.
Jackie Bower
Finance Officer HVTC Head Office
Paul Briscoe
Field Officer, HVTC North West
Michael Cunningham
Trainer/Technical Writer,
HVTC Skills Centre
Michael Murray
Manager RTO, HVTC Skills Centre
Matt Giles and Sharee Murphy
Leigh Morrow with Chris Schofield
Mary O’Leary
Commercial Manager,
HVTC Head Office
11
MEET THE TEAM
John Rawle is the Manager
of the HVTC Southern
Tablelands office. He began
his time at HVTC as a
Field Officer and this year
he celebrated his fiveyear milestone with the
company.
HVTC’S BRAND NEW LOOK
HVTC’s new collective
brand has strengthened the
organisation’s business and
marketing position, uniting its
regional offices under the one
HVTC brand.
•HVTC Northern Rivers
•HVTC North Coast
•HVTC Mid Coast
•HVTC North West
What has been your greatest life
accomplishment?
My three wonderful daughters.
•HVTC Hunter
What was the last movie you
watched?
Rush.
•HVTC Illawarra
Name the first CD you bought?
Might go with first LP (vinyl) for an
old bloke like me – Machine Head,
Deep Purple, 1972.
•HVTC Western Sydney
•HVTC Southern Sydney
•HVTC Shoalhaven
•HVTC Southern Tablelands
What is your favourite motto/
saying/quote?
“Do the right thing by others and the
right things will come back to you”.
HVTC’s renowned
and dedicated
service focused
on supporting
employment
solutions and
training needs of
our valued host
employers remains
the same.
The organisation’s
new logo pays homage to the original
design in 1995 that reflected the core
business at that time. The refreshed
logo, created by Newcastle-based
design company Headjam, has been
developed to align with HVTC’s
core values, philosophies and brand
personality.
It represents community, teaching and
learning relationships, growth and
varied areas of learning.
HVTC CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
What is something that most
people don’t know about you?
I’ve raced motorbikes most of my
life, and built/prepared most of my
race bikes myself. I used to compete
in Motocross, Enduro, Hillclimbs,
Short Circuit and Long Track until
2000 when an 11 bike pile-up ended
my bike racing career. Unfortunately,
I was on the bottom of the pile and
got busted up a bit. I still ride when
I can but don’t compete any more.
Now I get my need for speed out
of my system competing in Historic
Motor Racing in my 1974 Stag
Formula Vee.
Our offices will close on Tuesday
24th December 2013 and reopen
Monday 6th January 2014.
Fun Festive Fact: There are 364 gifts in the
popular holiday carol “The Twelve Days of
Christmas” .
Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
GROUP TRAINING
ORGANISATIONS
REGISTERED TRAINING
ORGANISATION
Hunter........................... 02 4932 4184
Hunter-V-Tec................. 02 4932 4184
Illawarra........................ 02 4271 7051
Mid Coast...................... 02 6583 5355
North Coast................... 02 6652 4566
North West.................... 02 6762 6755
Northern Rivers............ 02 6622 1363
Shoalhaven.................... 02 4422 7611
Southern Sydney........... 02 4271 7051
John Rawle
Southern Tablelands..... 02 4822 5075
Western Sydney............. 02 4721 0099
12 skills change lives
Quality apprentices and trainees
1800 247 864
hvtc.com.au