Central TAFE is responding to the operational needs of employers by providing training services in the workplace.
“Traditionally, employers have had to send staff to TAFE to take advantage of vocational training. We are turning that traditional approach around and placing strong emphasis on workplace training and assessment,” said Peter Douglas, Manager of the college’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Unit.
With productivity demands on most businesses impacting on staff availability, Central TAFE has recognised it needs to be responsive to the operational constraints experienced by employers.
“If your employees require training, where possible, Central TAFE will come to you to deliver it if that is the preferred option,” Peter said.
“The traineeship pathway is the perfect vehicle for supporting this option.”
The concept is proving particularly successful for the not-for-profit organisation Nulsen Haven, which supports people with physical and intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injury.
Central TAFE has appointed a lecturer to work full-time with Nulsen Haven, providing training to carers working towards a Certificate III or Certificate IV in Disability Work.
“With 46 trainees across 20 Nulsen Haven homes in the southern metropolitan area, taking training to the workplace is not only the ideal solution, but possibly the only viable solution for this client,” Peter said.
“The traineeship initiative provides training and assessment from day one for people coming into the organisation. It also offers recognition for those employees with past experience and identifies any gaps that need attention.”
Currently there is no legal requirement for employees in the disability care industry to have a qualification, so Central TAFE’s on-site training becomes a valuable staff recruitment and retention mechanism.
Scott Thomas, Coordinator Human Resources for Nulsen Haven, said the organisation’s partnership with Central TAFE had helped generate more than 30 new recruits this year and had helped raise Nulsen Haven’s profile.
“Central TAFE has accommodated our needs well and has integrated with our operations to minimise workplace disruptions,” Scott said.
“The education program has been well received by our staff and many prospective employees have been astounded by the opportunity to earn money while obtaining a free formal qualification – effectively being paid to learn.”
With Federal and State funding available to support the training, and with a substantial group undertaking a traineeship, the training is effectively cost-neutral to Nulsen Haven.
“It also provides an opportunity for TAFE staff to develop a better understanding of the host operation, by working closely with client staff in the workplace.”
The on-site traineeship initiative at Nulsen Haven has been modelled on a similar Central TAFE program that has been running at the Water Corporation for the past two years.