News Articles

2011 NSW Group Training Awards Sponsors

8th Feb 12

Click here to view our 2011 NSW Group Training Awards Sponsors.

GTA e-news Edition 10

31st Jan 12

Click here to read the latest edition of the bi-monthly GTA NSW e-newsletter.

Pre-Apprenticeship Program

22nd Dec 11

Do you want to improve your chances of getting an apprenticeship in metals and engineering? Do you want to study at TAFE for free and get hands-on work experience? Show an employer what you can do?

Australian Industry Group Training Services, HunterNet, MIGAS, MEGT and MG My Gateway are being funded by the NSW Government to run a series of pre-apprenticeship courses in Metals and Engineering in early 2012.

The pre-apprenticeship courses will run at various locations in Sydney and the Hunter and include a six week training course plus four weeks of work experience. All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided and there are no fees.

Locations and dates:

Miller TAFE: 27/2/2011 – 28/3/2012
Training Site: Cnr Hoxton Park & Banks Rds Miller NSW 2168
Mt Druitt TAFE: 5/03/2012 – 27/04/2012
Training Site: Cnr Mount St & North Parade Mount Druitt New South Wales 2770
Campbelltown TAFE - Training Site: 181 Narellan Road Campbelltown New South Wales 2560
Group 1: 27/2/2011 – 28/3/2012 (Mondays – Wednesdays)
Group 2: 29/2/2011 – 30/3/2012 (Wednesdays – Fridays)
Belmont TAFE: 5/03/2012 – 31/05/2012
Training Site: Belmont TAFE Campus, 647 Pacific Hwy, Belmont
Maitland TAFE: 5/03/2012 – 31/05/2012
Training Site: Maitland TAFE Campus, Cnr Ferraby Drive & New England Hwy, Metford
St George College: 5/03/2012 – 27/04/2012
Training Site: St George College, Princes Highway Kogarah NSW 2217
Ultimo College: 5/03/2012 – 27/04/2012
Training Site: Harris St Ultimo NSW 2007

Places are limited. To apply to attend one of these courses register with your details and resume. Successful candidates will be contacted in February.

To register for this event, click here.

GTOs head to Narellan and Penrith to talk about Apprenticeships

14th Oct 11

The Group Training Association of NSW recently united with Schools Industry Partnership and Macarthur Workplace Learning Program Inc. to put together a series of Industry Careers Nights for parents and young people. The events consisted of a panel of Group Training Organisation (GTO) industry specialists who discussed and answered relevant questions from parents and young people about Apprenticeships in the following industries: Automotive, Construction, Electrical, Health, Hospitality, Metals and Engineering, and Plumbing.

These trade careers nights held in areas around Sydney were held as a part of the innagural National Skills Week. The events are aimed at informing parents, teenagers and other community members about trade career opportunities for young people from the employer perspective.

The first Industry Careers Night was held at Penrith City Library with a panel consisted of the following GTO specialists: Australian Training Company, Apprentice Power, Hospitality Training Network, Master Plumbers, Master Traders Association, MG My Gateway and WPC Group and hosted by GTA NSW Executive Officer, Naomi Dinnen.

“The panel did a fantastic job and fed off the questioning very well," said Brett Carter, Schools Industry Partnership.

The second Industry Careers Night was held at Narellan Library on a Monday evening 26th. The panel included the following GTO specialists: Australian Training Company, Australian Industry Group Training, Apprentice Power, Hospitality Training Network, Master Plumbers, Master Traders Association and MG My Gateway and TABMA.

“This night went really well. It was good to have so many panel members, they were all great and their expertise were really valued by the parents and their young people, ”said Janelle Henson, Macarthur Workplace Learning Program Inc.

“The feedback was very positive and even some negative comments ended up being a positive learning experience for the rest of the group. Some of the negative comments were: what can teenagers do if they don’t pass the test paper prior to being accepted as an apprentice? The response was that there are other pre apprentice programs that and support that can be undergone to have a successful outcome.

“Parents liked the opportunity to also talk one on one with the GTO field officers at the end of the night.”

Both events attended by more than 50 parents and young people. The panel members were enthusiastic and informative, allowing the audience to have their questions answered and followed up with personal one-to-one interactions with the GTO representatives.
GTA NSW is grateful for the help and support of the Schools Industry Partnership and Macarthur Workplace Learning Program Inc. for all of their efforts in putting these events together in a short time frame. GTA NSW and with the assistance of local partnership brokers will endeavor to hold future careers nights for local communities.

2011 NSW Group Training Award - Winners Announced

9th Sep 11

A horse farrier, a laboratory technician, and an Aboriginal land project worker are amongst the winners of this year’s NSW Group Training Awards which recognise our best apprentices, trainees and their host employers.

A total of five individuals and two organisations were honoured at a gala dinner at The Westin, Sydney, attended by more than 300 guests. The Parlimentary Secretary for Tertiary Education & Skills, Ms Gabrielle Upton, MP, gave an opening address and highlighted the importance of Vocational Education & Training in NSW. Ms Upton joined with sponsor representatives to bestow the Awards.

Staged annually, The NSW Group Training Awards recognise individual and employer excellence within the group training industry reflecting the importance of group training programs in developing a skilled Australian workforce.

Click Here to view the winners.

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7th Jul 11

Skills for NSW: High Quality Apprenticeships and Traineeships

14th Feb 11

Skills for NSW: High Quality Apprenticeships and Traineeships

As the representative body for the largest employer group of traditional trade apprentices, the Group Training Association of NSW is a key stakeholder in the apprenticeship and traineeship market.

Following is an excerpt from the policy statement prepared by the Group Training Association of New South Wales for the 2011 State Election.

To support a quality, industry-led vocational education and training system the Group Training Association of NSW seeks ongoing support and funding from the NSW Government to:

1. Increase the number of apprentices and trainees in the market to improve the skills base in NSW

2. Improve quality though strengthening of standards for employers of apprentices and trainees

3. Provide a meaningful entry to the workforce through structured work experience and on the job training

4. Enable partnerships between business and the training industry to increase retention and completion rates

5. Promote the use of group training to government agencies

6. Provide meaningful, consistent career advice to young people and adult job seekers

For further details, please read the complete GTA NSW Skills For NSW policy statement.