Earlier today the Honourable Gayle Tierney, Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, and Minister for Corrections, presented a number of certificates to apprentices and trainees working on the level crossing removal project at lower plenty road Rosanna.
18 months ago the Victorian Government established a program to support workers effected by the closure of the automotive manufacturing industry – south east auto transition (SEAT). Through the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) Apprenticeships and Traineeships were identified as possible pathways for workers that would need re-training into another career. The AEN are part of this project with Victorian TAFEs to support workers into new careers.
“Today we congratulate Apprenticeships Group Australia (AGA) and the North Eastern Project Alliance (NEPA) for employing a number of local mature aged workers effected from the closure of the auto industry” said Gary Workman executive director of the AEN. “Mature aged workers bring a wealth of experience and transferable skills that can be applied into a new career pathway. Through an apprenticeship the new technical and hands on skills that are required can be provided on and off the job so the new worker becomes a valuable member of the team”
The level crossing removal construction site in Rosanna has engaged 14 apprentices and trainees in total through the group training program offered by AGA.
Nine civil construction apprentices
(mature aged workers previously within the auto manufacturing industry and local indigenous youth)
Jason Eames Paolo Di Grazia Rabi Vyravipillai
Pascal Bunyan Pierre Saykali Ali Dawish
Adam Anthony Daniel Hume- Guinane Anthonio Coseto
Five business administration trainees
(mature aged workers previously within the auto manufacturing industry and local indigenous youth)
Ruth Lopez Marolym Lagniton Rivva Karpany
Claire Needham Sarah Gardner
AGA have also recently placed two ex-auto industry workers into automotive mechanic apprenticeships in the Northern Suburbs.
The SEAT project is expected to support 250 mature aged workers into apprenticeships and traineeships over the next 12-18 months. This project demonstrates that apprenticeships are a great way to support local projects, employers and workers of any age into a new meaningful employment pathway.
For further Information
Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) Executive Director Gary Workman 0425 736 036 gary@aen.org.au
Apprenticeship Group Australia (AGA) CEO Mark Knox 0488 661 817 mark.knox@agaustralia.com.au
For further information about the SEAT project please click here.
North East Project Alliance (NEPA)
The North East Project Alliance (NEPA) was established to remove four level crossings.
The alliance members are Laing O’Rourke, Fulton Hogan, Jacobs, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA).
The program alliance is an innovative approach to alliance contracting developed by LXRA to expedite the removal of 50 level crossings in metropolitan Melbourne over an eight-year period.
NEPA will remove the level crossings at:
- Grange Road, Alphington
- Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna
- Bell Street, Coburg
- High Street, Reservoir
NEPA will also duplicate the track between Heidelberg and Rosanna, including anew Rail Bridge over
Burgundy Street; and duplication of the rail tunnel under the Darebin Street/Hawdon Street intersection.
For further information please click here.