6 minute read
meet the team
MEET THE TEAM CIVIL APPRENTICESHIPS AND CAREERS
A ‘normal day’ is a ‘different day’ at CACL and I love it and what it brings to the role I hold. Life at CACL feels like a permanent puzzle: always a challenge, dynamic and never static. A day for me involves advocacy for civil apprenticeships, working with the State Government specifically in Education, Skills and Infrastructure Agencies, and working with allied employment and youth entities, strategy, governance and finance matters. Speaking with amazing apprentices when they are at CCF SA House or at Burton is always a highlight as is speaking with our incredible hosts.
As for love, forging new Vet Reform Flexible Industry Pathways – Roads2Civil – in the Education system for students, school leavers and the Civil Industry is something that I am incredibly proud of. It has taken years of work since to build these groundbreaking and innovative programs. Roads2Civil programs now reach across Career Influencers (teachers, parents, coordinators, councillors), students from Year 7 to Year 12, and includes school leavers. With 64 schools currently engaged and with this same work extended to support career pathways for disadvantaged South Australians, my hope is that this work provides future leaders and professionals into our civil industry for decades to come.
Perhaps the most important part of the job that I love will remain the establishment of Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd. To establish an entire business from an idea, into feasibility modelling and planning and then into an operating entity employing over 100 people, in less than 3 years, is something I have loved the most. I will always reflect on this as a highlight in my life and career.
Receiving Federal funding, recognition and support for civil construction apprentices and maintaining our momentum in the education and skills systems is the largest challenge that I can foresee immediately. Other challenges continue too; these include lobbying Government to ensure a reliable, consistent, and transparent pipeline of short-term and long-term work exists. This pipeline provides our industry confident and the opportunity to host apprentices. Activating greater understanding of Group Training Organisations across the business community is another challenge over the next 12 months as we seek greater diversity with our Host pool. WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO?
A hard question given all the amazing people in the world and all those I have the pleasure of meeting and working with every day. I am not sure I can pinpoint one person, but I do know for all my life I have always looked up to, and held the highest respect for, business owners. No matter the size or type of business, I look up to them all – even the young girl who sells lemonade in her driveway. I love entrepreneurial thinking and I am inspired by anyone who can take a dream, a love, an idea and turn it into a business. Unlike working for a business, running a business means there is no safety net, it can be lonely, risky, can deliver both amazing and at time heart breaking outcomes. Whether an individual is running a side hustle or an ‘all-in’ start up employing others, they are all brilliant to me. Having run my first small business at 20, and later a side hustle consultancy company (now 13 years old) to support my new, young family at the time, I know how hard life is for a business owner. So, to all the past and present business owners, keep on keeping on, you are all inspirational particularly through these tough times. I hope our CACL apprentices look to become our next cohort of business owners in our civil industry.
WHAT DID YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD SELF LOVE DOING?
I always loved being active and outdoors. I have always been naturally curious so as an eight-year-old I would spend any time I could exploring, camping, and enjoying what our amazing outdoors has to offer.
The summertime. Summer seems to bring uplift and positivity; it brings everyone together.
REBECCA PICKERING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MEET THE TEAM CIVIL APPRENTICESHIPS AND CAREERS
No two days are the same at CACL! However, a normal day for me involves overseeing the employment, training, and development of our apprentices and business operations, providing leadership and mentoring for CACL’s staff and apprentices, driving strategic business strategies, and building strong relationships with new and current hosts and stakeholders. What I love most about my job is seeing the progression of our apprentices as they work through their apprenticeship to become incredible assets for our industry’s work force.
ZAC SLADE OPERATIONS MANAGER
I believe that continuing to lobby for funding parity for our apprenticeship will be a challenging road ahead. Our apprentices deserve the recognition and support from Federal Government that SIGN THE "SAVE MY APPRENTICESHIP" PETITION HERE other trades receive. By signing the ‘Save My Apprenticeship’ petition, our industry can help us help our apprentices.
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO?
My wife, Amy. She is a constant inspiration to me. I have never met someone as hard working, dedicated and driven. The work that she does in the breast cancer research space is incredible and the outcomes of her research will help the millions of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
WHAT DID YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD SELF LOVE DOING?
I was a keen Star Wars fan and was forever eating. Luckily for me, I also had a keen interest in playing football to keep me fit!
Taking a break to recharge my batteries and enjoying the downtime. WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY AT CACL LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AND WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
A normal day at CACL involves assisting our apprentices and hosts with their payroll enquiries, providing guidance to apprentices on how to correctly complete their timesheets and overseeing
CACL’s finances. I love helping and supporting our industry by alleviating the stress of managing the apprentice’s payroll and other financial processes for our hosts.
Funding! As a charity and not-for-profit organisation, CACL is partially reliant on government support to provide sustainability for the organisation. Without it, our apprentices and hosts do not have access to financial support as compared to other trades.
WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO?
Jacinda Ardern is an inspiration to me. A strong female leader who is passionate about helping those around her and support an entire country. Also, she is an incredible working mother who understands the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
NARY TAN FINANCE MANAGER
WHAT DID YOUR 8-YEAR-OLD SELF LOVE DOING?
As a child, I loved to study and learn different languages. I always found comfort in learning new things and expanding my knowledge.
Spending time with my family, especially my little one.
