TCA turns tables at Gapuwiyak Arts Centre
December 2011
Training Connections Australia (TCA) recently delivered 30625QLD Certificate I in Work Readiness, 30627QLD Certificate II in Workplace Practices and General Construction Safety Induction Course (White Card) in Gapuwiyak for 22 participants. The reason for TCA’s amazing completion rate and full participation of students in remote communities in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia is due to its methodology. TCA delivers accredited training in a flexible project-based manner incorporating pre-employment skills, employability skills and life-skills. We deliver accredited training within a robust framework that supports and develops low to medium Language, Literacy and Numeracy capacity and combines essential community support services such as drug and alcohol use awareness, money management, sexually transmitted diseases and other services where available in community.
The hands-on practical project for this program was to build a series of picnic tables so that visitors at the Art Centre could sit and relax after exploring the gallery and shop. The project was so successful that the Centre immediately purchased additional materials and requested the crew to construct more tables. Perhaps not surprisingly, as the tables were well constructed, sanded and painted, the participants found that they were being purchased before they had even been completed. Twenty-two participants enrolled in the program and 17 completed both Certificate courses to attain their Statements of Attainment.
TCA, Art Sense and CEA join to produce Warraber Island art ready for sale
December 2011
This project was based around 30627QLD Certificate II in Workplace Practices BS2L and involved the manufacture, production and sale of art and craft items on Warraber Island in the Torres Strait. Fifteen participants commenced the training and 14 received their Certificate of Attainment. There was one employment outcome as a result of this program. The course involved training with CDEP and Art Sense workers. The participants held a market stall at the end of the program which was a huge success with over $1,000 being made. Items for sale included plain, patchwork and printed pillowcases; mobile phone bags; flower hair clips; printed fabric pieces for patchwork; cards and postcards and approximately 200 beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings. The older students also arranged *Kai Kai for sale. Sales exceeded expectations with items to the value of almost $400 being ordered. The learning for this program included producing and pricing art and craft items; organising the venue and equipment; selling; simple accounting as the students totalled the individual artist’s sales and worked out percentages for artists and funds required for re-supply of materials. Students have decided to hold a market stall each month as this was such a success. *food
Aurukun BS2L students rewarded with jobs
December 2011
30625QLD Certificate I in Work Readiness and 30627QLD Certificate II in Workplace Practices were delivered recently in Aurukun. Thirteen students signed up for this program. Ten completed Certificate I and 8 completed both I and II. Of the 8 who completed both, 4 were put forward for interviews by CEA and ITEC for 4 12-month Community Housing Maintenance traineeships. Another 4 participants have interviews with the local council for 4 cleaning positions in the Aurukun community. Two of these participants have already had their interviews, the outcomes of which will be known in the New Year.
After the four weeks of training, the students coordinated a traditional kup-murri feast to draw their families and the community to their celebration for support. Several members of government agencies also attended the kup-murri.
Warren would like to thank the RFDS for allowing the use of the Well-being Centre; the Aurukun Community and project partners: TCA, ITEC Employment, JobFind and CEA for the success of this project.
Binjari Community Success
December 2011
Binjari Update – CPC20108 Certificate II in Construction Because this project has been such a huge success, we thought a large space in the newsletter would be appropriate for something as innovative, complex and successful as this project.
History of the project
In 2010 ITEC and Kalano organised and ran a CPC20108 Certificate I in Construction and 30627QLD Certificate II Workplace Practices through Training Connections Australia (TCA) at Binjari which was a great success. Twelve participants completed the course, most of whom were employed by New Futures Alliance in the SIHIP program. The community wanted to continue on with training with the view of having skilled people in the community to allow the Binjari Community Aboriginal Council (BCAC) help the community to eventually be self-sufficient and tender for housing and maintenance projects. ITEC wanted a Certificate II Construction course up and running in Binjari by March 2011 and in conjunction with BCAC we looked at options for the training. BCAC had a large shed (17.5 x 17.5 x 3.5 metre) that they wanted to erect to house community assets and to allow activities to be run. A number of the options did not work out and, in the end we approached DET to source funding assistance to do the course – thanks to Paul Rider and Bill Daw. From this point ITEC, TCA, BCAC, Kalano and DET met regularly to get the course developed. ITEC Employment Coordinators liaised with participants regularly to keep them up to date on progress. Kalano Community Association which runs the CDEP program for Binjari provided fantastic support – they purchased all the PPE for the men and through Mike Jackson an innovative side program through CDEP was set up. Mike sourced 4 ladies from Binjari and he worked with them to provide nutritious meals to the construction participants. These ladies – Angela Katherine, Caroline Brumby, Valarie Birdum and Edna Waterloo came in every day to Kalano and prepared an incredible range of food for the men for smokos and lunches. Through Mike the ladies learnt about budgeting, nutrition, hygiene and OH & S and made homemade sausage rolls, damper, and sauces using tomatoes grown at Kalano farm to make homemade bolognaise and tomato sauce. BCAC assisted with accommodation and purchased tools for the course – these are now community assets. Ben Clifton – Trainer from TCA worked very hard and achieved an ITEC and TCA record of 17 full completions for any course.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
November 2011
Alcohol is a teratogen and a neurotoxin that is an agent that is known to adversely affect fetal development and cause birth defects and brain damage. Alcohol crosses the placenta freely and produces equivalent concentrations in fetal circulation to that of the mother.
FASD is a life-long disability; it is not curable, however early diagnosis and appropriate interventions can make an enormous difference to the life of the person with the disability. Children who have been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy may have trouble:
o adding, subtracting and handling money
o thinking things through / reasoning
o learning from experience
o understanding the consequences of their actions
o memory, and
o getting along with others
Because of their disabilities, people who are affected by FASD may have special needs that require life-long help even when they are adults:
o handling money, such as paying rent or bills and buying food
o learning from their experiences and making changes in behaviour
o understanding the consequences of their actions and working on issues independently
o parenting
o relationships and interacting with other people socially, and
o keeping a job
FASD can sometimes be confused with developmental delays and behaviour disorders. In Australia, very few doctors have been trained to diagnose the disabilities that fall under the fetal alcohol spectrum.
RTD10102 Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management - Kalumburu
November 2011
Warren Canendo has recently returned from a 12 week program in Kalumburu Community in Western Australia.
He delivered RTD10102 Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management with 15 participants from the Kalumburu Community. No full term training has been attempted there in the past with the results that have been achieved by Warren and his participants. Many courses have commenced but none for the full duration at one time.
It was a credit to the participants that they attended the training full time and for the full length of the course – 12 weeks!
Warren is happy with the results. Ten participants achieved their Statement of Attainment along with Certificate in First Aid. Three participants have obtained employment and one participant will be furthering her studies in Perth as a result of the training course. Warren would like to send a big thank you to Mark O’Neill CDEP Supervisor, TCA, CEA, ITEC, Wunan and the Kalumburu Community for making the training possible.
Torres Strait Recognition Awards
Thursday, 6th October 2010
The news of the success of the Torres Strait Recognition Awards held on Thursday October 6 on Thursday Island has travelled across the nation. These inaugural awards conceived by Queensland Apprenticeship Services and delivered in partnership with Enterprise Management Group took place during National Skills Week.
Event organisers David Collins from QAS and Mark England from EMG are both thrilled with the outcome of the event. In preparation for some months, they formed a committee of Torres Strait employers and committed individuals who developed the event to promote and recognise the training and employment opportunities in the Torres Strait region.
Promotion and recognition of employers, apprentices, trainers and people in training is the catch cry of both Collins and England. Both have lived and breathed the event opportunity for the last 12 months and to see the spectacular success of the evening was absolutely fantastic and very gratifying they said. any entries were received with 24 finalists selected resulting in judges declaring 8 awards winners who were present to receive trophies and certificates on the evening. “This event will become a part of the Torres Strait and will get bigger each year” said Federal Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch.
Young Jobseekers gain important Employability Skills to become Stockman
Monday, 9th August 2010
It was a cold and windy day when our Alice Springs Trainer arrived at Likkaparta for the first day of training. The classroom was a work of art, and the breeze was very refreshing.
Participants were eager to begin so class got under way. By morning tea we were all shivering and frozen to the bone, so it was decided to install central heating. After the central heating was working at full bore, the class settled down and achieved some great results with their paperwork, class participation was great and it was good to see many participants assisting others with spelling and a few were good mentors as well.
At times adaptability was the name of the game, and any surface would do to aid in getting the message across. Participants worked through some tough conditions, but always looked forward to morning tea around the open fire. While the TCA Trainer took half the class in the morning while the other half of the class worked towards their Certificate II Rural Operations.
The participants worked so well as a team, and all got involved with keeping each other on track, even when at times cultural differences made thing very stressful. Training aids were a great success, with participants coming up with great ideas as what they would take if they had to go bush for a few weeks.
This course was a great success with 6 participants gaining full time employment on various stations as stockman. After attending the Certificate II Workplace Practises and looking at how important planning for the future is, many of the participants started out just happy being a station hand but now most of them what to run a station.
The women will achieve certificates in Work Readiness and Workplace Practices through the tailored program
Wednesday, 4th August 2010
It is delivered by sister companies ITEC Employment and Enterprise Management Group. The women who all live in Katherine have learnt basic life skills, event planning and are currently on a week's work experience. They will then work with employment consultants to get into further training.
Enterprise Management Group trainer Christine Butler said the program is activity-based with lots of discussion and role playing. The ladies learnt about work protocol and legislation, fundamental presentation, hygiene and communication. Ms Butler said it has been amazing for self-confidence, noticing a big change from day one when everyone was "shame". She said the retention rate has been quite good and the women have turned up every day.