Bechtel announces historic intake of 400 adult apprenticeships for Gladstone LNG projects
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 09:57
Bechtel will hire 400 adult apprentices to construct three LNG plants in the Gladstone region under the National Apprenticeships Program (NAP), making it one of the largest intakes of apprentices in the nation’s history, and a huge boost for Queensland jobs.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh joined Bechtel Managing Director Andy Greig and Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Senator Chris Evans in Gladstone to make the announcement.
Premier Bligh said it demonstrates that the LNG industry in Queensland is no longer a dream, it is now a reality.
“Over the next four years alone, the industry will deliver approximately 18,000 jobs and we want to see as many of those as possible go to apprentices and trainees,” Ms Bligh said.
“The 400 adult apprentices employed by Bechtel is a great start.”
“Many will be able to get full trade qualification to work on Bechtel’s three LNG operations in just 18 months, rather than the usual four years, under the National Apprenticeships Program.
NAP Program Director Alan Sparks said Bechtel’s announcement had set a new benchmark.
“The Bechtel intake confirms that the resources sector and industry at large can successfully tap into additional and alternative apprenticeship programs to contribute to their shortfalls by up-skilling Australians,” said Mr Sparks.
The NAP scheme is an innovative alternative for talented adult Australians with extensive trade skills and experience, but not necessarily a formal qualification. It enables candidates to complete trade training based on a competence model.
The Program currently has another 1,000 workers ready to participate in the NAP initiative.
Bechtel’s Managing Director in Australia, Andy Greig, said NAP was a win-win scenario for the company and applicants.
“There are certainly skill shortages in the construction industry and we continue to look at every possible way to fill the gaps. This innovative scheme taps into a large pool of talented Australians,” Mr Greig said.
SkillsTech Australia is Queensland’s largest trade and technician training TAFE institute and the National Coordinator of this program.
SkillsTech Australia is working with the National Apprenticeships Program to train and employ adult apprentices for the CSG to LNG industry to combat skills shortages.
One of those apprentices was electrical apprentice, Ross Maidens (pictured), who was among the very first intake of adult apprentices from NAP and has been onsite with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal, in Central Queensland, since August.
Mr Maidens was originally a domestic electrician from the United Kingdom, whose qualifications are not recognised in Australia. He had been quoted $12,000 and three years, to study privately.
“It wasn’t feasible to undertake a normal apprenticeship here and support my family,” said Mr Maidens.
“This way I gain my Australian qualification and have basically doubled my pay.”
Mr Sparks stressed NAP did not represent the end of traditional apprenticeships, but rather signals the beginning of new complementary options to increase organisational capability and enhancement of skills in Australian resource companies.
Seven trades are being offered at this stage - Electrical Fitter Mechanic, Dual Trade Electrical/Instrumentation, Metal Fabrication Boiler Maker Welders, Diesel Fitters, Metal Fabrication Pipe Fitters, Mechanical Fitter and Carpentry Formworkers.
A national network of Group Training Organisations and Training Providers can facilitate recruitment and college training, from any capital city or selected regional population centre, for placement on project sites anywhere in Australia.
“Our network ensures the credibility of the National Apprenticeships Program approach and helps to deliver a truly new and balanced national concept in apprenticeship models,” said Mr Sparks.
The Program also helps ensure Australian workers fill Australian jobs - a viable, productive, long-term and sustainable complement to importing foreign workers.
“By up-skilling adult Australian workers, the National Apprenticeships Program is providing Australian workers with the chance to gain a recognised trade and significantly increase their earning capacity”
“Bechtel and Anglo-American have taken the lead in looking outside the square to fill their skills requirements and I would encourage others to consider this initiative,” Mr Sparks said.
“The NAP initiative delivers to industry a mature, trained workforce that is able to fill skills needs with talented and experienced Australians”.
How does the NAP work?
NAP is not ‘fast-tracked’. There are two stages to the trade qualification – a formal Recognition of Prior Learning process (demonstrating applicants have at least 40% of aligned trade skills); and gap training.
The Program amounts to a second chance for skilled workers, aged mostly between 25 and 45, including:
• people who have partly completed an apprenticeship
• permanent Australian residents with overseas qualifications not yet recognised in Australia
• ex-members of the defence forces with aligned skills
• people with other related trade qualifications
• trades assistants from the construction & engineering trades
www.bechtel.com
www.careersinenergy.com.au
www.nationalapprenticeships.com.au
www.skillstech.tafe.qld.gov.au
