We are back in full swing and full of energy at the start of this new year. School’s back, new apprenticeships have started and the final cut off for TAFE enrolments is fast approaching. So to all of you host employers who are thinking of putting on an apprentice for the new year, now is the time to act! We have some fantastic candidates ready and waiting. Likewise to all prospective candidates, we have some great roles still to be filled. Click Hot Jobs at the end of this newsletter to view the magnificent seven roles we currently
have available.

A new year and a new focus on OH&S 
Our OH&S Manager, Darren Gibson is preparing to roll out the
new online OH&S Induction Program to all employees and host employers. We will bring you further updates as we get closer to launching this new initiative. Darren will also be in touch with host employers to conduct OH&S inspections, or if you have a questions regarding OH&S in your workplace, please give Darren a call on 1300apprentice or 0407 663 086.

Special thanks to Peter Johnson at Mortgage Choice Sutherland for his recent referral. As a result we have welcomed aboard another fantastic new host employer.

Don’t forget we are rewarding all referrals that convert to
new business with Gold Movie Passes - all you need to do
is REFER A FRIEND.

Have you ever considered a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship as an alternative form of recruitment? This allows a student to gain valuable workplace skills and the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst also completing their HSC.

School-based trainees attend school four days a week and attend the workplace one day a week (or more often during school holidays). Over the two years of the HSC, students are required to complete a Vocational Education & Training (nationally recognised) qualification) which has also been endorsed by the Board of Studies.

School-based traineeships suit students who want to continue with their schooling but who are also looking for an opportunity to gain workplace skills, formal qualifications and the hope of a full-time job once they have completed their HSC and their traineeship. It is a great program and offers real career progression for our younger students.

1300apprentice has been working closely with the ANZ and NAB banks with their Indigenous School-Based Traineeship Program. We have had 23 new school-based trainees commencing the program with these banks starting late last year, who we would like to warmly welcome to 1300apprentice. We are looking forward to watching their progress over the next two years.

The program with ANZ and NAB is ongoing and as a result we will be visiting many schools over the next few months. If you are a careers advisor or a year 10 student intending to do your HSC next year then please call Chad Smith on 1300apprentice or 0407 225 886. Further information can also be found at the ANZ and NAB website listed in our Hot Links section.

We have been madly working away in the background to understand the new Modern Awards system to ensure that any changes implemented is a smooth transition with little disruption to your business.

Modern Awards operate along with the National Employment Standards (NES) to regulate minimum terms for a specific industry or occupation.

Initially these changes relate mainly to allowances and are effective from 1 January 2010. However, changes to the apprentice or trainee hourly rate will be phased in later in the year effective as from 1 July 2010 and this phasing will continue over a five year period until 2014. We will be in touch later in the year with further updates and if you have any questions regarding the Award Modernisation process please do not hesitate to contact Chris Petrou on 1300apprentice.

More information can also be found below in our Hot Links section.

On our mission to have the very best track record for OH&S, we start the new year with the first of our monthly reports on any injuries or accidents for the month. We are pleased to report that in the month of January we had only one work related accident that resulted in minimal lost time. Although this injury would not be described as serious it still resulted in medical treatment. Thankfully this apprentice has returned to work and has not been effected long term by the injury.

1300apprentice would like to take this opportunity to remind our apprentices and trainees of their responsibilities in reporting any incident or accident to your field officer as soon as practically possible. There are a number of forms required to be completed and all incidents are investigated to help prevent similar incidents reoccurring in the future.

This month our spotlight is centred on Todd Philp, a 3rd year sheetmetal apprentice hosted with HRC Alliance Pty Ltd. What makes this story even more special to tell is that Todd has recently been nominated for the category of Apprentice of the Year at the TAFE NSW Achievement Awards. This is the Institute’s premier event of the year celebrating achievement and excellence in vocational education and training.

Todd commenced work at HRC Alliance as a first year sheetmetal apprentice (just 16 years of age) and had a somewhat bumpy start. “I found the first year of transitioning from school to work difficult and I had to learn some hard lessons really quickly”. Whilst he wasn’t sure where this trade was going to take him, he knew that he wanted to complete a trade qualification to give him as much advantage as possible. Todd said “it all started to turn around at the end of my 2nd year – I was progressing better at TAFE - my confidence was building and I started to build up creditability with the other tradesmen in the workplace.” This gave Todd more reason than ever to complete outside courses to help further him in his career. As a result of these actions that is exactly what has happened.

Gary Wright, Production Manager at HRC Alliance says that “Todd’s ability as a tradesperson has by far exceeded HRC Alliance’s expectations and as a result of his performance HRC Alliance have provided an opportunity for him to further develop his career with the company as a junior draftsman which will facilitate Todd’s career path to production/project coordinator in the future.” To find out more about HRC Alliance  > Click here 

Whilst this story is exceptional, it demonstrates how successful an apprenticeship can be for a young Australian when they are willing to work hard and are determined to succeed. It also serves to illustrate how, through the support of a great host employer, Todd has been allowed to thrive and develop to a point where he is now adding real value to the business.

1300apprentice wishes Todd the very best in the forthcoming awards and special thanks to HRC Alliance and Granville TAFE for their continuing support of 1300apprentice and the apprenticeship program.

Did you know that Sheetmetal is listed as a skills shortage trade? For more information on sheetmetal  > Click here

Group Training National Conference
14-16 April 2010 - Adelaide
> More

Last minute TAFE enrolments
> More 

Modern Awards
For more information and a thorough understanding of the Modern Awards system, visit Fair Work Online > click here

Check out the exciting things the big banks are saying about our school-based traineeships:
ANZ website >
or the NAB website >

1300apprentice Host Employer of the Month:
Mortgage Choice Sutherland

The Magnificent Seven!

1. 1st Year Horticulture apprentice (Parks & Gardens) –
   Holroyd  > More
2. 1st Year Plastering apprentice – Kellyville  > More
3. 1st Year Automotive apprentice –
   Artarmon & Penrith  > More
4. 1st Year Fitter/Machinist apprentice – Thornleigh  > More
5. 1st Year Forklift apprentice – Seven Hills  > More
6. 3rd Year Landscaping apprentice – Hills/North Shore  > More
7. 2nd Year Refrigeration apprentice –
   Smeaton Grange  > More

> Click here for more HOT JOBS