Train them and they will work

The skills shortage currently being suffered across the resources industry is one subject that is not going to fall off the radar in a hurry.

The obvious way, of course, of filling the ever expanding competence void is to train people to become proficient in the skills each particular sector is demanding.

So the next chicken, or egg, in the which comes first in order of importance question, is to actually offer traineeships to those who want a career in the industry but are unable to get their foot in the door.

One startling revelation for regimented human resources departments to face is that young people do actually want to work and if given the chance to do so will usually flourish within an environment that nurtures and encourages.

Oddly enough if people aren’t afforded the chance to prove themselves they never will, so what happens next?

One company to demonstrate some foresight in this regard is engineering services provider Transfield Worley.

Transfield Worley has developed a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Design Traineeship Program.

The company has taken on five young indigenous people, offering traineeships in the disciplines of civil and structural design, instrumentation and electrical design and mechanical and piping design.

“This is the first time Transfield Worley has taken on Indigenous trainees,” Transfield Worley coordinator of Aboriginal programs Megan Krakouer told the Roadhouse.

“It is a four year program and we have entered into a partnership with Challenger TAFE at this point.

“For the next six months the trainees will be doing a Certificate III in Engineering. Challenger TAFE has designed a course specifically for Transfield Worley.”

The company developed a rather novel way of attracting applicants to the program.

It simply distributed a flyer throughout the different Aboriginal networks and via that was able to actually attract quite a large number of applicants.

“From that we initially took on four trainees but we had another start just recently,” Krakouer said.

“We have taken five trainees in this first intake and our intention is to have another five next year and another five the year after that.”

Megan Krakouer (centre) with new trainees Corey Kahn, Terrence Little, Lenard Ansey, and Hayden Yarran

The main criteria the new applicants needed to meet, was that they must have completed year 11 or year 12.

“That is because we are quite mindful of when they begin to attend TAFE they are required to tackle some fairly high-level subjects such as algebra, trigonometry and calculus,” Krakouer explained.

“We like to consider candidates that have those basic requirements so they can meet the more advanced requirements of the TAFE course.”

The Design Traineeship is a four year program with trainees undertaking a Certificate III in Engineering, followed by a diploma.

The trainees have already commenced a six week maths/science program for two days a week to ensure they have the necessary skills to cope with their rigours of their new career path.

The traineeship provides an array of opportunities including a permanent job with Transfield Worley at completion.

What is most exciting about the Transfield Worley program is that it gives the young people involved the opportunity to pave the way for other intakes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in this field over the next two years.

“It’s good when you are able to make such a particular change to someone’s life,” Krakouer said.

“It over-turns some of the disparities and gaps we currently have in education and cultural awareness.

“Too often we see too many negative things in the media but when you see something like this, where basically it is not just a traineeship but a career, and you can see the development at every stage, it’s really quite rewarding.”

No doubt it will also be very rewarding for the participants as it has also given them higher aspirations than what they may have held before their selection onto the program.

“I thought I’d just be a labourer. Now I know I can go on to have a great job,” trainee Terrance Little said proudly.

“I reckon this is great.”

Little’s sentiments were loudly echoed by the other trainees as they all nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

Importantly Transfield Worley has a mentoring program that runs in conjunction with the new training to ensure each of the trainees has the vital support and assistance needed when tackling such a challenge.

The company’s willingness to offer these positions to people who most probably would be overlooked had they applied through traditional means, demonstrates the skills shortage can be filled.

Companies just have look harder.