NECA plays major role in apprenticeship pilot

NECA is playing a major role in a new electrical apprenticeship pilot being trialled throughout Australia by the industry skills council E-Oz Energy Skills Australia, focused on improving electrical apprentice completion rates across the country.

The pilot will provide electrical apprentices the opportunity to progress through their training once they demonstrate competency. Industry-endorsed benchmarks will ensure the progression model is comprehensive and rigorous, ensuring quality outcomes.

As part of the program, NECA, which is involved in the training of over 2000 electrical and communications apprentices through its group training companies, will employ some 40 mentor/advisors across Australia - with 16 already in place - to talk to and advise employers, potential apprentices and their parents to assist in ensuring that completion rates can be increased.

Pictured at the launch of the competency-based reforms of the electrical apprenticeship system at NECA’s Brunswick apprenticeship campus are (from left to right): NECA President Wes McKnight, NECA CEO James Tinslay, E-Oz CEO Bob Taylor, former Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research Minister Chris Evans and Chairman of the 370° group board Phil Honeywood.

NECA Chief Executive Officer James Tinslay said the initiative - which was launched by the federal government at NECA Apprenticeships Victoria facility in September - was needed because completion rates across the country were highly variable. “Apprentice completion rates in the electrical trade are highly variable across Australia with NECA’s Group Training Schemes having completion rates of over 90% in comparison to the overall industry average which sits just above 60%,” said Tinslay.

“NECA knows that these completion rates can be improved as it has the knowledge and track record of delivering outstanding completion rates. The key to increasing completion rates is the selection process and then mentoring the apprentice throughout the term of their apprenticeship to ensure they’re satisfactorily progressing through both on- and off-the-job competencies.”

The initiative is about flexible delivery, allowing individuals to complete their apprenticeship and being competent, and this could mean before or after the traditional four-year duration.

Tinslay said that the program is not about watering down the requirements but rather strengthening the electrical apprenticeship training program.

“NECA acknowledges that many in the industry feel that four years is the minimum that an apprenticeship should be served but this pilot would accommodate those apprentices that are able to demonstrate competencies prior to the traditional four-year completion rate and also those who would benefit from additional time served,” he said.

“This program allows flexibility both ways with the focus being on safety and quality of skills application.”

The Managing Apprentice Progression (MAP) pilot is being trialled across 28 participating registered training organisations (RTOs) across Australia and will see 1000 first-year apprentices commencing this year and another 1500 apprentices in 2014.

E-Oz Chief Executive Officer Bob Taylor said, “The severity of skills shortages in our sector and the increasing number of mature apprentices has necessitated a comprehensive rethink of apprentice training. Currently, approximately a third of those who start an electrical apprenticeship end up not completing, which represents a huge cost to industry and an equally huge waste of government’s resources to the nation.”

Candidates have commenced booking into Readiness Assessments throughout the participating RTOs. Successful completion of the Readiness Assessment will assist to identify any potential barriers to undertaking an electrical apprenticeship.

The final challenge is to secure employment with an employer and E-Oz is calling on electrical contractors to get involved by registering to be part of the pilot program.

By registering, employers have access to a pool of candidates who have achieved the Readiness Assessment benchmark.  This will assist and advance recruitment efforts and provide employers with the confidence that their selected candidate is suitable for an electrical apprenticeship.

During the pilot program, the apprentice will be assessed against industry-agreed progression benchmarks with final sign-off against online national assessments. This means that flexible progression is undertaken against quality indicators and the apprentice will progress and complete the trade when competence is achieved.

The pilot program provides an assigned industry mentor to guide the employer, the apprentice and the RTO through the relevant on- and off-the-job components of the program, keeping all parties on track.

Employers interested in participating in this national pilot should visit www.energiseoz.com.au to register their interest.