Matthew Brown - Full time Light Vehicle Mechanic at Adelaide Hills Toyota since 2015
 

Matthew started his apprenticeship in 2015 while he was completing year 12. He has now completed his full 4 year apprenticeship and is happily employed full time at Adelaide Hills Toyota servicing and repairing new cars.

How did you get started in your apprenticeship?
In year 11 (2014), my school had a course called PLP (Personal learning Plan). Part of the course involved doing mock interviews for jobs. Through that I won an opportunity to do 2 days work experience with Adelaide Hills Toyota. From there I was offered a Light Vehicle Mechanic apprenticeship.1 day a week and continuing year 12 for 4 days a week. This was followed by 4 years full time at Adelaide Hills Toyota to complete my apprenticeship.

What apprenticeship options did you have?
My only other viable option was through MTA (Motor Transport Adelaide).

What was good about being employed through Statewide Group Training?
They're a small business and offer personal attention. I have my own field officer, James, who has been fantastic and helpful at every step. Statewide Group Training also looked after my pay and entitlements. 

What do you like most about working at Adelaide Hills Toyota?
I love that I still learn something new every day and that Adelaide Hills Toyota is a family orientated business with a close knit team. It's close to home with good pay and good people.

 

4th Year Carpentry apprentice Briley Gibbs, centre of picture, wins the Construction Industry Award and Runner Up Apprentice of the Year at the 2020 Riverland & Mallee Vocational Awards.

Also in the picture on the right is Briley's Host Employer, Ben Williams of Ben's Constructions, who has been a massive support and mentor for Briley throughout his apprenticeship.  Greg McLean, Statewide's SA Regional Manager (on the left in the picture) was rapt that Briley deservedly won the Industry Award and then Runner Up for the overall Apprentice of the Year.

Ouside of work, Briley is also a high achiever - winning the Riverland Dingy Derby with a close friend.

Statewide Group Training and Carey Training are proud to kick off our 8 week Civil Construction Skilling SA project. All the highly committed and enthusiastic participants in the picture will obtain licences and skills the Contractors highlighted they needed when taking on new apprentices.  Can't wait to see each of the Program participants start their Civil Construction careers!

Victor Harbour City Council currently has two trainees through Statewide Group Training SA
 

Bailey - Full time Information, Digital Media, and Technology
 

What options did you have to get into the field of work you were looking for?
When I left school in November 2016 I was looking for work but couldn't find anything in the area I wanted to work in (IT). My only options at that point was to take any type of part time work and enrol in a TAFE or university course.  

How did you find out about Statewide Group Training?
I was lucky enough to find out about a traineeship position that was finishing at City of Victor Harbour Council, so I approached them directly. After an interview with them, they put me in touch with Statewide Group Training to go through the application process. I started my traineeship in February 2017.

What was the process in starting a traineeship through Statewide Group Training?
After my interview with City of Victor Harbour Council, I was put in touch with James from Statewide Group Training. He guided me through the application process which also involved an interview. He then recommended me to City of Victor Harbour Council for a few hours of work experience. From there I was offered a full time traineeship with City of Victor Harbour Council.

What's involved in the ongoing traineeship program?
I work at City of Victor Harbour Council but I am employed by Statewide Group Training. I have my own field officer, James who checks in quarterly and visits in person sometimes. He's been fantastic and is always available if I have any questions. City of Victor Harbour Council allocates me 3 hours a week for my lessons which are all done online. I put in some extra hours each week of my own time for homework and studying. I'll be employed by Statewide Group Training for the duration of my traineeship.

What qualifications have you got/are you doing?
Cert IV IT and Networking (2 years) - completed
Diploma in Information, Digital Media, and Technology (2 years) - in process

What was the best part about going through Statewide Group Training?
Not doing training through TAFE. Statewide Group Training run their courses through Integrity Business College. They provide a personal student liaison assistant who is my contact for anything I need assistance with and who checks in with me from time to time.   

What do you like most about working at City of Victor Harbour Council?
My department colleagues have been very supportive and they're also great to work with. I find all the team at City of Victor Harbour Council to be professional, respectful, and it is a stable environment to work in.

Emily - Traineeship in Business
   

How did you find out about Statewide Group Training?
I completed year 12 in 2017. I didn't really know what I wanted to do after school. I was working as a casual employee at McDonalds. I applied for a 1 year traineeship position at City of Victor Harbour Council which had been posted through Statewide Group Training. My first contact was with James at Statewide Group Training.

What was the process in starting a traineeship through Statewide Group Training?
After my initial conversation, I went in for a chat with James at Statewide Group Training. We did a mock interview and then arranged a proper interview for me with City of Victor Harbour Council. From there I was offered a 1 year traineeship role and started in June 2018.

What's involved in the ongoing traineeship program? 
I worked full time at City of Victor Harbour Council while I was doing my studies. I was allocated 3 hours per week for study while I was at work. I had to do a little bit of study at home but it was a good balance. 

What qualifications have you got/are doing?
Certificate III Business (1 year) - completed

What was the best part about going through Statewide Group Training?
The support I got through james from Statewide Group Training and being able to learn on the job. I had the advantage of doing theoretical and practical learning.

What do you like most about working at City of Victor Harbour Council?
After my traineeship finished the role was no longer available. I was offered temporary positions from June 2019 before getting my current permanent part time position in December 2019. I love that I get to be actively involved in the community and am able to provide support to the community. I also enjoy working with the organisation and my colleagues.

Doing the traineeship was a great career move, opening doors for me in a highly competitive area. The study I did is something I'll always have and can use in the future.

 

Mark Barron is the Service Manager at Adelaide Hills Toyota. They have been an ongoing host company for many years and have successfully trained many Light Vehicle Motor Mechanics.

How long has your business been using Statewide Group Training?
Since 2007. We are currently the host business for 3 apprentices and employ 4 former Statewide Group Training apprentices who are now fully qualified. Since our partnership with Statewide Group Training began, we have hosted 12 apprentice mechanics.

What are the main benefits to you as a business in partnering with Statewide Group Training?
We've established a great relationship with Statewide Group Training and in particular, James. James understands our business needs and knows exactly what type of person we are looking for. He is also great at choosing someone who is suited to a small workshop environment.

Working with Statewide Group Training means we don't have to pay for advertising and run our own job ads. Instead of getting dozens of applications to go through, many who are not seriously wanting an apprenticeship, James finds and screens applications for us and sends us only resumes of those he thinks most suitable. From there we can choose and get James to arrange a one week work experience as a trial. If that goes well and all parties are happy to move ahead, James takes care of the formalites and the candidate starts a 3 month probation period. This again gives all parties the opportunity to reassess the relationship to make sure it's the right fit. We've never had an unsuitable apprentice but if we did, we have the flexibility of sending them back.

What's the ongoing relationship with Statewide Group Training like as a host business?
We try to take on one new apprentice every year with Statewide Group Training. We also like to employ people local to the community. James visits our premises every month to check on our apprentices and make sure everyone, including us, is happy.

All in all, we've had a great experience partnering with Statewide Group Training. It's been a beneficial relationship for both parties. We've been able to provide stable and professional employment for our apprentices, some who have remained with us after qualifying.

Once the apprenticeship finishes, and if both parties agree, the apprentice leaves the employment of Statewide Group Training and is then employed by us. From start to finish the entire process is smooth and hassle free.