Great start in Gladstone for five Indigenous apprentice boilermakers

Five Indigenous people from Gladstone have gained an ideal start to their boilermaker apprenticeships through an intensive training project funded by the State Government.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the group are now working on Rio Tinto Alcan’s Yarwun 2 project, a $1.8 billion expansion of the Rio Tinto Alumina Refinery.

Mr Mickel met with the group following the meeting of State Cabinet in Gladstone today.

“Thanks to a $17,010 grant from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative this group completed an intensive six week welding program with Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Limited,” Mr Mickel said.

“Now they are apprentices with GAGAL and are working with Bechtel and other contractors on this important project.

“As Rio Tinto’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contractor for Yarwun 2, Bechtel approached the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, Construction Skills Queensland and GAGAL to develop strategies to lift the number of locals in their workforce including Indigenous people.

“It is encouraging to work with industry and training providers to assist Indigenous people into a rewarding career.

“As well as the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which assists all disadvantaged unemployed and underemployed people, the Queensland Government also employs 57 Indigenous Employment and Training field officers.

“The Indigenous Employment and Training Manager for this region helped bring people from industry, training providers, the community and government organisations together and they made this project possible.

“The Queensland Government also wants to make sure Indigenous people who sign up for an apprenticeship or traineeship complete their training and earn their qualification.

“That is why the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations employs 42 Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices through any work, study, family or cultural issues that could lead to a person dropping out.”

RTA Project Director Keith Nugent said finding skilled workers for the project was difficult and they also wanted to connect with the community through a local workforce.

“We want to have good relations with the community we’re operating in and we encourage our contractors to do the same because we see there are many benefits,” Mr Nugent said.

“Bechtel worked with the unions, GAGAL, the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, Rio Tinto Alcan and other businesses operating in Gladstone to find ways to train and employ more local people, including these five Indigenous apprentices.

“This is the first time we’ve employed first year apprentices but the six weeks’ intensive training they completed with GAGAL means they don’t need to go back to TAFE for block training for 12 months.

“That’s a great outcome for us and the apprentices because it means we could check them out before they got on-site and the first four guys started with their teams in November and they won’t have to put down their tools to go back to the classroom.

“Bechtel’s Indigenous mentor will stay in contact with the apprentices, their co-workers and managers to make sure everything keeps going well.”

GAGAL Field Officer Adriana Dore said the group completed nine competencies before they went on site including oxy-cutting and oxy-welding.

“The enthusiasm of these five guys has been overwhelming and their attendance, study and work have all been fantastic,” Ms Dore said.

“The youngest apprentice turns 18 only this week so while he couldn’t start work on site with the others he is now completing his formal site induction.

“Provided they keep up the good work they’ve done so far, Bechtel and the other contractors have confirmed they’ll get 12 months work on the Yarwun 2 project. After that GAGAL will rotate them into other industries in Gladstone until they have completed their trade.

“Without the great support and assistance we’ve had from the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations staff this project wouldn’t have gone ahead.”

During 2008/09 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 15,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.

Twelve months after receiving assistance 71 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21^st Century.

For more information on the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ employment and Indigenous initiatives, including the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925

Media contacts:

Minister’s Office 3237 1944

Rio Tinto Alcan Community Relations Officer Tracey Lenz on 4971 7981

Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Limited General Manager Kerry Whitaker on 4972 5988 or kwhitaker@gagal.com.au

8 December 2008