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MID COAST CONNECT School Leaver Support Programme: get help, get a job! Our School Leaver Support Programme Coordinator met John* when TAFE referred him. John had recently turned 18 and was interested in completing a Certificate III in Hospitality, although this was not due to start for several months. In consulting with John, our Coordinator identified that he had left school in Year 11 for a traineeship; however in an unsupported environment, the traineeship did not benefit John, and he decided to leave. Our Coordinator worked with John to update his resume, assisted with career profiling and sourcing additional training opportunities. From this, John was able to commence a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Training, which would benefit him until the Hospitality course began.
Additionally, our Coordinator was able to secure John a work trial with a local café that has since converted to a job. The best part, John is now appointed as a first-year apprentice chef and about to commence his study with TAFE in the career of his choice. The School Leaver Support Programme is a free service that works with young people to plan, set and achieve the training and career goals that are right for them. If you know a young person aged 15 - 19, who’s not in school, training or work, we are here to help get them there. Register at www.midcoastconnect.com.au or contact your local Pathways Coordinator, Chris Franey Port Macquarie, on telephone 6583 5910 or mobile 0434 702 488. Sam Palise, Kempsey, on telephone 6562 5314 or mobile 0413 911 288. *not his real name or photo.
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VERTO As your local Apprenticeship Network Provider in Port Macquarie, VERTO is dedicated to helping businesses to skill their workforce through Australian Apprenticeships. VERTO provides assistance at every stage of the apprenticeship and traineeship process at no cost to the apprentice or employer. This includes providing free job search services to aspiring apprentices and trainees to help them find the right Australian Apprenticeship. VERTO also connects apprentices and employers through targeted job matching. The support provided doesn’t stop there, with VERTO providing free access to specialist support services such as workplace mentoring, Disability Employment Services and Aboriginal services. The team also administers incentives and trade support loans to eligible businesses, employers and apprentices.
VERTO’s Port Macquarie Workforce Development Consultant, Toni Wailes, said VERTO makes it easier for employers to find, train and retain quality apprentices and trainees at no cost to them. “We provide local employers with advice about mentoring to at-risk students and facilitating all paper work associated with employer incentives and Trade Support Loans,” Ms Wailes said. Local businesses will receive additional benefits, such as access to up to $4,000 in Australian Government incentives and additional rebates (eligibility applies), increased productivity through well trained staff and better staff retention rates. For further information on how the VERTO Port Macquarie team can assist your business, please contact Toni Wailes on 0429 363 019, visit verto. org.au/apprentices or find the VERTO team on Facebook.
apprenticeships? traineeships? verto can help. call us today!
Visit VERTO at Level 1, Shop 47,25-27 Hay Street, Port Macquarie. Call Toni Wailes, Workforce Development Consultant on 0429 363 010.
1300 4 VERTO | VERTO.ORG.AU
greater port macquarie focus. 93