Apprenticeships Australia apprentices took out medals in all but two categories of the Metals and Engineering section of the 2007 Worldskills competition.

The medals were presented at a gala breakfast event at Burswood.

The Worldskills competition provides young people with the opportunity to test their skills against their peers.

State competitions are held every two years with winners representing Western Australia at a national and possibly international level.

Apprenticeships Australia was the major sponsor of the Metals and Engineering category of the 2007 WA Worldskills Competition.

Apprenticeships Australia Medal winners in Metals and Engineering, presented by CCI chief executive John Langoulant, were:

Construction Steelwork Bronze: Robert Walsh (right) Host Employer: JV Engineering Training Provider: Swan TAFE
Turning Bronze: Jake Van Den Elzen (right) Host Employer : TSG Key Group Training Provider: CCI Kwinana Skills Centre
Fitting Silver: Daniel Ducker (3rd from left) Host Employer: Pilbara Iron Training Provider: Swan TAFE
Welding Silver: Tola Matjuszenko (right) Host Employer: Pilbara Iron Training Provider: Pilbara TAFE
Electrical Control Systems Gold: Murray Porter (not pictured) Host Employer: Pilbara Iron Training Provider: Pilbara TAFE
Bronze: Joel Sprigg (right) Host Employer: Western Power Training Provider:  CCI Kwinana Skills Centre
Apprenticeships Australia also had one winner each in the Automotive and Building & Construction categories.
Heavy vehicle Mechanics Bronze: Sebastian Dulex (right) Host Employer: Komatsu Training Provider: Swan TAFE Presented by Motor Trades Association chief executive officer Peter Fitzpatrick.
Electrical Installation Systems Bronze: Matthew Rickwood (right) Host Employer: Chevron Training Provider: CCI Kwinana Skills Centre Presented by Building and Construction Industry Training executive director Ralph Dawson.

CCI Kwinana Skills Centre was the proud training provider for three of this year’s medal winners.

Fourth year heavy duty mechanical apprentice Mitch Hastings was awarded the inaugural Apprenticeships Australia / BHP Billiton Nickel West Overall Apprentice of the Year.

The award was presented at an awards night at CCI headquarters attended by apprentices and their guests, representatives from BHP Billiton and Apprenticeships Australia/CCI.

The inaugural 2007 Apprentice of the Year goes to a fourth year apprentice who has had the duration of his apprenticeship reduced by a year due to the calibre of his trade abilities and was commended for the drive to further his knowledge with the ambition to study mechanical engineering.

BHP Billiton Nickel West president & CEO Marcelo Bastos, and Nickel West principal training advisor John Fitzmaurice, joined with CCIWA Employment Services executive director Geoff Wrigley, and Apprenticeships Australia general manager Ann Campbell, to recognise the hard work and achievements of apprentices.

Congratulations to all the worthy winners in what will become an annual event. In addition to the major award, a number of awards were presented to the most outstanding apprentices.

2nd Year Apprentice of the Year..................... Jay Lemmon 2nd year electrical/instrumentation

3rd Year Apprentice of the Year......................... Aaron Le Page 3rd year light vehicle mechanic

4th Year Apprentice of the Year......................... Mitch Hastings 4th year mechanic heavy duty

Safety Awareness Award................................................. Rhys Turner 2nd year mechanical fitter

"Apprenticeships Australia has been in partnership with BHP Billiton Nickel West since 2002. Together, our approach is one that offers a safe, secure and supportive training environment for apprentices," said Ann Campbell.

"Only 10 dedicated Apprentice of the Year finalists were selected, ranging from second to fourth year apprentices based across Nickel West operations - Mt Keith Operation, Leinster Nickel Operation, Kwinana Nickel Refinery and Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter Concentrator."

The other finalists were fourth year Leinster Nickel Operation electrical fitter/instrumentation apprentice Chris Billinghurst, second year Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter Concentrator mechanical fitter apprentice Sean Zadow, second year Kwinana Nickel Refinery mechanical fitter apprentice Liam Borromei, third year Leinster Nickel Operation electrical fitter/instrumentation apprentice Shane Richardson, second year Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter Concentrator electrical fitter/instrumentation apprentice Scott Newman and fourth year Kwinana Nickel Refinery mechanical fitter apprentice Clayton Greathead.

"From discussions I've had with managers across Nickel West, the (apprentice) program is delivering impressive results - many of the finalists have identified important improvements and innovations that have either been accepted or are under consideration," said Marcelo Bastos.

"Your ingenuity and commitment is to be applauded, especially the clear commitment that each one of you shows to safety - this attention to safety is at the heart of our operations - it's our number one value and the backbone of our workplace philosophy.

“The support of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Apprenticeships Australia in delivering an apprenticeship program for Nickel West is also essential.

"Apprentices - you are at the beginning of what I hope will be long and rewarding careers. I know post apprenticeship that individuals of your calibre will be highly sought-after."

Eight men and women have become the first group to successfully complete the Port Hedland based PINGKU Indigenous Traineeship Program.

Graduates from this 12 month program are now ready to consider full time construction job opportunities in the areas of concreting, scaffolding, rigging, general trades and apprenticeship opportunities.

Host contractors Monadelphous Engineering Associates and Downer EDI Engineering played a vital role in providing on-the job training in alignment with vocational training competencies, day-to-day supervision and daily feedback to trainees. 

Monadelphous trainee coordinator Tony Higgs said the program had been of great benefit to the graduates as well as supervisors.

"These guys are now in a position to be able to choose their job because of the hard work they have put in during the year."

The program has been so successful, recruitment has commenced for the next program to be run in Port Hedland and Newman, reflecting the areas of opportunity on BHP Billiton Asset Development Project’s Rapid Growth Project.

Starting in February 2008, the  program is sourcing candidates interested in the area of scaffolding, rigging, dogging, concreting, business administration and plant operating.

Apprenticeships Australia's NW manager Jo Gooden said these were exciting times for the program.

"The community information sessions, posters, and word of mouth have generated lots of interest from the local communities of Port Hedland, Newman and Perth. With offers of employment to be made in December and January, the time for candidates to act is now."

Darrin Jones who has just completed his electrical trade apprenticeship with Pilbara Iron as an adult apprentice, competed in WA and won a place in the international Ironman competition in Hawaii held in October. 

Darrin achieved an overall position of 36th out of a field of over 800 starters in Busselton in 2006, with an overall time of nine hours, 25 minutes and 48 seconds.

The Hawaiian Ironman competition is considered one of the most gruelling events in the world,  due to the stringent qualifying criteria and physically challenging conditions. Darrin finished just outside the first third of a field of almost 1800 individuals in the very respectable time of just under 10 hours and 40 minutes.

The Ironman event includes 3.8km ocean swim, 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run, which is a full marathon distance. Typically, competitors train intensively for at least six months prior to an event.

Elite athletes complete the course in eight to nine hours but competitors have 17 hours to complete the event.

Celebrating six years lost time injury free at Pilbara Iron

Apprentices playing golf Pilbara style with CCI chief executive John Langoulant

Apprentice Indenture Night at Pilbara Iron Tom Price

EAG awards night

CCI's Australian Apprenticeships Centre, Employfast head office relocates to new premises in Wellington Street

Apprenticeships Australia has undergone further expansion and to support this growth a restructure has resulted in the creation of the new role of General Manager, Apprenticeships Australia. Ann Campbell has been appointed to this position and will carry overall responsibility for Apprenticeships Australia and the Kwinana Skills Centre.

From Ann's desk

2007 has been another busy year for Apprenticeships Australia with considerable growth in the number of apprentices and trainees undertaking employment with us. It has also seen many of these apprentices and trainees achieve some outstanding accolades in the World Skills competition.

Our success has seen the opening of a new office in Broome, making it the second office we have established in the past 12 months. We also opened an office in Esperance in late 2006, which has done extremely well in its first year of operation and looks set to continue this success in the coming year.

2007 has been an exciting and prosperous year for our specifically tailored initiatives. Our Indigenous traineeship program Pingku, was launched with great success in Newman mid-November, while our oil and gas specific service the Energy Apprenticeships Group has also seen considerable improvement and growth.

Safety has continued to be a top priority in all of our operations. The effort of our OSH team and supervisors, with host company assistance has seen a decrease in the number of medically treated injuries in 2007.

As we approach the festive season I wish all apprentices, their families and host companies, a safe and merry Christmas from everybody at Apprenticeships Australia. I look forward to continuing our success with you in the coming year. 

Christmas message from Jo Gooden

The past 12 months have seen massive growth and opportunity in the North West. Apprenticeships Australia's contribution to this growth has been rewarded with many successes throughout the year through our host companies.

A most remarkable achievement was Pilbara Iron hosted apprentices achieved the 6 year Lost Time Injury Free milestone in May which was celebrated in style across all sites with senior and executive management from Apprenticeships Australia and Pilbara Iron joining in and personally thanking the apprentices and trainees on this achievement. Further celebrations were required for Murray Porter of Tom Price who won the Gold medal in the World Skills competition.

The well publicised North West Resource Boom has had both a positive and negative impact. Certainly more training opportunities arose which we are constantly filling with quality new starters but it has also seen many of our well known staff and host company contacts move into new streams of employment. The North West is renowned for its transient population and it is only through good client relationships which have been developed over the past 12 months that has seen business move forward as usual with as little impact as possible. I would like to thank our hosts for being supportive during these times throughout 2007. It is greatly appreciated by myself and my staff.

As the current year draws to a close, we all try and reflect on what we have achieved. On behalf of the North West Apprenticeships Australia staff, apprentices and trainees, we wish all our host companies and staff a safe and Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for a great 2007 and I look forward to a wonderful 2008.

Jo Gooden
Manager - Northern WA

Apprenticeships Australia has welcomed some new members to the team recently - they look forward to working with you.

Jan Martin has returned to CCI to take up her new position as Apprentice Services adviser in Karratha. 

Heather Santangeli commenced as an Office Administrator in East Perth in July.

Tim Williams has also joined the Apprenticeships Australia team.  Tim commenced as an Apprentice Services adviser in our Esperance office in August, and joins CCI from CSBP Esperance. 

Jasmyn Crisp has moved from the CCI membership team to become Apprenticeships Australia's Hospitality Training services adviser.

David Helliwell commenced as an adviser in Apprenticeships Australia and comes from Summit Homes Group, where he was employed as an Apprentice co-ordinator, OS&H officer, trainer. 

Robert Jones joins the team from the Motor Industry Training Association, and has also commenced as an adviser. 

Sarah Djulbic commenced in October as a Business Development assistant.  Sarah joins Apprenticeships Australia from Iview Market Research and has completed her Bachelor of Business (Marketing).

Congratulations to Sue Pember - Sue and Matt recently gave birth to Charlotte Grace.

And last but not least, Trevor Don commenced in December as manager, Metro and Southern, and joins CCI from HIA Apprentices where he was employed as the State manager.