The NRL State of Origin may be over, but the battle between NSW and Queensland shifted from the football field to the HVTC Skills Centre in Rutherford this week.
Thirty first year apprentices from Glencore sites across the Hunter, Mudgee and Queensland put their trade skills and work-readiness to the test as part of the 2018 Glencore Interstate Skills Competition.
The rigorous two-day program, which kicked off on Tuesday, saw apprentices tackle theoretical and practical exercises representing the core areas of their training to date, including machining, fabrication, electrical, hydraulics, safety and first aid.
Glencore Projects and Training Engineer, Paul Gill said the competition has been running for more than 12 years as a fun way of testing what the apprentices have learnt so far throughout their training.
“The apprentices receive a job scope for each activity and have a particular timeframe to complete it in,” Paul said.
“It is the first time in their training that the apprentices are tested in a fully simulated scenario, which allows us to see how well they cope under pressure.
“The competition helps us assess individual progress and identify areas they may need to focus on in the future.”
HVTC CEO, Sharon Smith said HVTC was honoured to have hosted this year’s event.
“Training is the core of our business, so we understand the value in giving apprentices and trainees a way to validate their knowledge and skills in real-world settings,” Sharon said.
“Our state-of-the-art Skills Centre is already equipped with the facilities to deliver nationally accredited courses, such as electrical and mechanical, so hosting this event seemed like a good fit.
“Initiatives like the Glencore Interstate Skills Competition are a good way to monitor an individual’s progress, showcase their strengths and weaknesses and identify potential gaps in their training that may need to be addressed.
“It’s not about picking winners and losers, but providing ongoing support for the apprentices to give them the best possible chance of succeeding in their chosen fields.
“On behalf of HVTC I would like to congratulate each and every one of the apprentices who took part in this year’s competition and wish them all the best in their careers.”
HVTC works with employers across NSW to deliver tailored solutions that meet their training and employment needs. It provides specialised training courses for trades, pre-apprenticeship courses, online and face-to-face business courses and additional short courses to upskill or reskill workers.
IMAGE | Thirty first year apprentices from Glencore sites put their trade skills and work-readiness to the test as part of the 2018 Glencore Interstate Skills Competition.
