New RTO Management Team on the Block!

(L-R) Jodi Ryan, Emma Horbury, Alana Sparrow and Victoria Griffith.

THE MTA’S REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATION (RTO) HAS BEEN EVOLVING QUICKLY THIS YEAR, WITH A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM DEDICATED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

Leading this new team and stepping into the newly created role of General Manager Automotive Skills Development, Alana Sparrow has a vision of creating meaningful change in the MTA’s RTO.

Alana said, “My approach is about prioritising customer service for apprentices, hosts and employers and also ensuring that we provide uncompromising quality in the training we deliver.”

“Everyone will notice an increase in the frequency and accuracy of the communication they receive, as well as more requests for feedback – I am very eager to hear from everyone associated with our training about what we are doing well and what we can improve.”

“Our RTO also needs to be training in the technology of the future. We need to ensure that we have qualified technicians ready to go as that technology is adopted by industry. Shortly, our apprentices, hosts and employers will see more offerings from the MTA’s RTO to train and equip them for the automotive industry of the future.”

Expanding on the MTA’s evolving training, Alana said, “2021 sees the introduction of the new AUR20 training package. This means that all of the apprentices currently training with us (as at 1 July 2021), and any new ones who start, will be taught a different curriculum than the current one. Updating the material and assessments is no small task, but the challenge has also provided us with an opportunity to improve the overall student experience.”

The updating of the MTA’s training packages requires a strong focus on compliance and this is where the RTO’s new Quality and Compliance Manager, Jodi Ryan, steps in.

Jodi said, “Our compliance focus will see the MTA develop best practice training and assessment resources to support the next generation of automotive specialists.”

“I started in RTO’s as a trainer back in 2005. Within a year, I was developing resources and programs. In 2007, I started to focus on compliance and have worked at various RTO’s and GTO’s across Adelaide since then, including Hospitality Group Training (HGT), Sport SA and PEER. I really enjoy the challenging environment compliance offers and being able to drive a continuous improvement model to develop a best practice training and assessment approach for students.”

“We are rolling out the new training packages in the second half of this year for all our trades and are consulting on new training products, including new qualifications for Battery Electric Vehicles, which is very exciting news for local automotive businesses.”

Supporting the next generation of automotive technicians also requires front line customer service to ensure that apprentices, hosts and employers are receiving correct information - Welcome Emma Horbury, the RTO’s new Customer Service Team Manager.

Emma said, “I have worked in RTO’s my whole career, most recently as Customer Service Team Leader at PEER, which is where I first came into contact with the MTA. I was asked to assist with the introduction of a new student management system. Having managed people who deliver customer service on the front line, I am acutely aware of the importance of getting the little things right like making sure people turn up where they are meant to and have what they need to succeed. It’s really important to achieving positive student outcomes.”

The new team have also been working tirelessly on the new training schedule for the second half of 2021 to make sure scheduling mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Emma said, “When the new team came on board, we heard loud and clear about the areas where the RTO had let students, hosts and employers down in the past. While we couldn’t change everything overnight, I am confident that the second half of the year will be a much smoother experience for everyone involved.”

“The new team has a good history and a vision to improve the quality of service at the RTO.”

Ensuring that the positive direction the MTA’s RTO is taking also requires a person to lead the overall training of the MTA’s apprentices and Victoria Griffith is the latest to join the RTO’s management team as Head of Automotive Training.

“Everyone will notice an increase in the frequency and accuracy of the communication they receive, as well as more requests for feedback...”

Victoria said, “My background in law and teaching provides a useful combination when leading a team of educators, who need to be creative and innovative but also operate within a strictly regulated field. I believe a balance can be achieved and I am excited to join the MTA’s RTO as we plot out this journey.”

“Every learner’s experience is important and we want to inspire, invigorate and grow the current and future generations of automotive specialists so our industry can thrive.”

“My approach will be to lead based on a culture of quality; training and coaching staff across all levels of the organisation. This will ultimately ensure future growth and sustainability in what the new team is trying to achieve.”

The key to everything the MTA’s RTO does ultimately revolves around our outstanding training staff.

Alana said, “The best part of our RTO is the trainers!”

“I have worked in one way or another around registered training for most of my career and I have never come across such a passionate group of trainers who are amazing at what they do. They are dedicated to producing the best possible automotive technicians – they are phenomenal.”

“I want our customers to know that we are listening.”