|
|
|
|
Above: International Carpentry Apprentice from Sweden, Anna Svensdotter
Above: Humpybong Creek Upgrade program
Above: Ravensthorpe, WA
Ridges Hill Soccer Club Facility. |
  
Apprentices Help SES after Brisbane Storm A number of East Coast
Apprentices joined Redcliffe SES to help in the cleanup after the recent
Brisbane storms. SES Local Controller, Alan Rycroft expressed his
gratitude for nearly 20 m Above Right: East Coast Apprentice (middle) with SES crews head out to another cleanup job. Our apprentices were working mostly in the Narangba and Burpengary areas answering some 282 calls for help received by the SES at Redcliffe. David Barkla, a Field Officer with East Coast helped out driving SES trucks while he looked after our apprentices. Outstanding Community Generosity Members of East Coast Apprenticeships joined hundreds of
voluntary workers and suppliers, neighbours and friend Above: Peanuts East Coast's Michael Freeleagus "Walking into Bianca’s house on the first day of work it was a real eye opener to see how badly destroyed the house was. Where gyprock sheeting would normally be there was thin stainless sheets of metal and even they were indented from her outbursts. The main thing that shocked me the most however was that Bianca had punched straight through the wall tiles and out the other side into the gyprock sheet. It was a great privilege for me to be chosen to work on a project like this for someone that deserved it so much. It was a great experience working with some of the top builders on the Sunshine Coast and meeting everyone that worked on this project. Seeing the place change day by day was amazing and it was a great feeling knowing that you played a role in rebuilding the house. The best part about the whole experience was seeing the community spirit that we have up here on the Sunshine Coast. People that didn’t even know the Saez family jumped at the opportunity to help out a family in great need. Robert Flood of Family Homes and Ryan Watts of RJ Watts Constructions both donated $60,000 each to the project which shows just how touched they were by Bianca’s story on 60 Minutes. You wouldn’t have ever thought that the house would have ended up the way it did after only 3.5 weeks it was such an amazing transformation. Talking to one of the Channel 9 builders that worked on this project he described it that this project ran like clockwork. Running on such a tight deadline it was amazing that everything that was made up for this job worked and fitted perfectly. On the final night it was the best feeling seeing the family arrive and they were just in shock at what had taken place over the 3.5 weeks. The look on their faces was just priceless and all of the long hours and weekends worked made it all worth while and it was such a great feeling to be apart of something like this." - Michael Freeleagus Field Officer Creates Record Bob Morrison, Field Officer
at Maroochyd Well done, Bob. Above: Bob with Mirika James, number 100! Air Force Discusses Apprenticeship Program
Preliminary discussions have been held with representatives from the RAAF to
explore alternate pathways to trade training for service personnel. These
discussions explored a number of options including the concept of our
Advanced Entry Adult Apprenticeship Scheme.
Further talks are planned for the future and it is hoped that a draft plan can
be prepared for further consideration. Like all industries, our Defence Force
is also facing the impact of a skills shortage and are looking for alternate
options. East Coast’s CEO Alan Sparks, spent 27 years in the Defence Force and understands many of the issues facing Defence as well as the training system in Queensland. This experience on both sides of the fence hopefully will be useful in these further discussions. Interest extended to apprenticeships in carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Another 4 Graduate from TATS Four new graduates from our Advanced Entry Adult Apprenticeship Scheme have graduated in some cases after just 16 months in the program. The Electrical program was always going to be more difficult than our successful welding scheme but these results are just exciting. East Coast is hoping to promote the training concept to government and to other industry enterprises over the coming months. We also have remaining TATS Apprentices still to reach that finish line.
Left to Right, David Walsh, Abdull Omar, Keith Johnston and Lance Veitch are now moving into a tradesmen's role on major projects around Australia.
20th Anniversary and Awards Night 2008 East Coast Apprenticeships celebrated its 20th Anniversary in August and combine the event with the 2008 Training Awards. A packed house heard about the "Journey" of 20 years from a humble beginning seeking to employ 12 apprentices and trainees to the successes of East Coast today. The CEO presenting the history of East Coast at the Awards Night concluded with: "Pine Rivers, Caboolture and Redcliffe Group Training Scheme now trading as East Coast Apprenticeships has traveled a remarkable journey in just 20 years. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, it is appropriate to reflect on that journey and the many people who have contributed to our growth and service. It is also sobering to remember that in that time we have lost five apprentices to vehicle accidents, young people in the prime of their lives with so much to look forward to. With the continuing commitment of dedicated staff, guidance from our Board and a sense of community service, East Coast Apprenticeships’ future is one of optimism. It remains a credit to all staff past and present that over two decades now, we have remained true to our goals “to promote integrity and service.” Over these years, we have sought to enrich the lives of many as they have of ours. While the future is one of continuing change and some uncertainty, we can draw on the strength of our history and face the challenges ahead with great confidence." Apprentice of the Year 2008 Norton Connolly was recognised as this year's Apprentice of the Year in a very competitive field of finalists. Norton's citation read: "Norton
Connolly is recognized as
Apprentice of the Year 2008. Norton stands out amongst those who excel in
their training – The Best of the Best! His commitment to
training, his initiative and leadership has been recognised over an enduring pe Nauru Graduates Commence Work in Ipswich In late June, 12 graduates
from our Nauru Training Scheme course in 2007 arrived in Brisbane Left: Student of Merit 2007, Timothy Denuga once again led his team as they begin a new chapter of employment in Australia. Electrician Makes History
In a first for our advanced entry adult apprentice scheme, TATS,
an electrical apprentice has completed his full trade training in just seventeen
months. Simon Bell from Clontarf, Brisbane successfully passed the Capstone
test, the last
Before joining the TATS program, Simon serviced QANTAS 737s. This background supported his accreditation at RPL and identified the ‘gap training’ necessary to become fully competent as an electrical fitter mechanic. While he is the first electrician through TATS, Simon joins 25 other adult graduates who have also gained full trade qualifications in metal fabrication. Simon is our first TATS Electrical apprentice but is being closely followed by a further three who are nearing their own completion of this unique program.
“It is an exciting day for everyone involved in the TATS
Program. There have been many challenges along the way and I congratulate
Thiess Kentz and our other partner in this venture SkillsTech Australia.” said
CEO Alan Sparks. “TATS offers a new two-stage pathway to trade qualifications
but is not in the general traditional form of past apprenticeships.”
Simon’s success clearly demonstrates the new pathway works. It is hoped that
other industry enterprises and Government might adopt this new scheme which has
universal applications. In the meantime, we congratulate Simon for a job well
done. Simon has been employed by Thiess Kentz and returned to a major project
in Central Queensland days after finishing his apprenticeship P.S. Three more TATS Apprentices have joined Simon as graduates of the Advanced Entry Adult Apprenticeship Scheme. They are Daniel Booth, Paul Shorten and Dave Cochrane. Congratulations to all four! Above: Brian Evison Field Officer TATS, with Daniel Booth and Paul Shorten President Attends Graduation Dinner for Nauru Training
His Excellency, The President of Nauru Marcus Stephens and the
Hon Roland Kun, MP Minister for Education for Nauru attended the Graduation
Dinner for the latest graduates from our
A highlight for the course was work placement
in three engineering businesses It is hoped that the 12 new graduates may be offered employment in Brisbane and that they will return under Visa 457 arrangements to contribute to our current skills shortages. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
| Home | Vacancies | Register Online | Contact | | |
|
|
|
| East Coast
Apprenticeships Brisbane Office 2 Jockers Street Strathpine Qld 4500 PO Box 5370, Brendale Qld 4500 Redcliffe Branch Unit 3/238 Anzac Ave Kippa Ring 4021 Sunshine Coast Branch Unit 2 68 Kingsford Smith Pde, Maroochydore 4558 Ipswich Branch Cnr River Road & Mary Street, Bundamba 4304
|
Phone: (07) 3881 3166 Phone: (07) 5479 4711 Fax: (07) 5479 5764 Email: sunshinecoast@ecapprenticeships.com.au Phone: (07) 3816 1816 Fax: (07) 3816 2789 Email: ipswich@ecapprenticeships.com.au
|
|
|
|
ostly
carpentry apprentices. Alan said, "Their support has been terrific and
they worked hard alongside other SES volunteers. As carpentry apprentices,
they have been able to see what happens to houses when hit by a storm which will
be helpful in their understanding of construction techniques."
s to welcome home Bianca Saez and family to their renovated home on the Sunshine Coast. For the past
three weeks while the family were spirited away on holidays, hundreds of
volunteers and the Channel Nine Team of Domestic Bliss gutted the family home
and rebuilt it. For those who saw the 60 Minutes report on Bianca's severe Tourettes Syndrom
e and the miraculous deep brain surgery that arrested her
uncontrollable tics, the up-coming special of Domestic Bliss is not to be
missed. After seeing the 60 Minute show, we offered to do what we could to help
along with hundreds of others. East Coast provided apprentices to the project
and conducted sausage sizzles for the workers.
"The generosity of hundreds of
people was overwhelming." Michael, one of our apprentices on site was nicknamed
"peanuts" by the Domestic Bliss team and may have a speaking part in the special
along with Rose our receptionist from Maroochydore Branch who caught Scotty's
eye.
ore
Branch has achieved his 100th sign-up in 20 months. This is an exciting
and outstanding effort for group training and is a recognised benchmark across
group training in Queensland and possibly Australia. Bob has maintained
the highest standards and brought great credit to himself, his branch and East
Coast Apprenticeships. 
to commence work in metal fabrication. Employed under Visa 457
arrangements these 12 will contribute to the skill shortage in the Ipswich area.
challenge
before finishing his trade training. Simon was an original apprentice on our
.
Nauru Training Scheme. The evening celebrated the successful completion of all
practical and theory requirements giving the graduates a Certificate II in Metal
Fabrication, a Senior First Aid Certificate, a General Construction Blue Card
and an International Welding Certificate, Sub-merged arc under AS 1796.
in Ipswich, Bradken, Aquatec-Maxcon Industries and J.A. Evans. The attitude and
welding skills of the graduates was commended by the managers of these three
companies.