Submitted 29th June 2010

As the only RTO, apart from Tasmanian Skills Institute, to be awarded a contract in 2010/2011 for the delivery of Certificate III in Carpentry, Learning Partners (LP) welcome the opportunity to return to delivering qualifications to the traditional trades.

This means that employers in the Building and Construction Industry will be able to partner with LP to work with their apprentices utilising LP's flexible, workplace based training delivery and assessment model without block release.

Director, David Castle, said that his tender to be an alternative provider of trade training was prompted by feedback that he had received from industry members stating that they would prefer a training model based on on-the-job delivery to minimise apprentice "down-time". "We have focused on flexible training delivery coupled with close mentoring of both the apprentice and the workplace trainer", Mr Castle said.

While the non block release model may have appeal to all employers, smaller businesses will benefit from the lack of interruption to their projects that the traditional Skills Institute model demands in having apprentices off the job for extended periods of time.

LP has partnering arrangements with a number of Group Training Organisations for those micro businesses where project work prevents the employing of a full time apprentice.

Apprentices can be full or part time.

A range of incentives are available in additional to the Commonwealth Government Employer Incentive payments when an apprentice is taken on. Information linked to additional incentive payments can be found at http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/employers/apprenticeships.

The employer will drive the learning and assessment timetabling linked to their current work demands and, choose, in conjunction with LP's qualified trainer and assessor, the order in which units of competence skills and knowledge will need to be learnt by the apprentice.

Off the job learning will be scheduled to support the knowledge of theory required for skill development supported by learning materials, both text and electronic. The Learning Partners trainer will work closely with the workplace mentor/supervisor in developing the apprentice's skills and knowledge.

Businesses are entitled to a positive business outcome when employing apprentices. Learning Partners aim to support the achievement of goals and positive outcomes for employers as well as their apprentices.

If this alternative apprenticeship training model appeals for your Certificate III in Carpentry apprentices and you would like more information contact Learning Partners:

• Brendan on 0409 431 743 or bjohncock@laerningpartners.com.au
• Kim on 0400 180 096 or kdean@learningpartners.com.au
• Mike on 0418 131 494 or mwalsh@learningpartners.com.au
  

To download the qualification flyer click here.

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