MENTORS AT FINISH LINE
MENTORS are being assigned to new apprentices in a bid to boost the number of people completing trade training.
About 40 per cent of apprentices fail to finish their training, with the vast majority of those abandoning their apprenticeship within the first two years, says Motor Trades Association of Queensland group chief executive Dr Brett Dale.
The Federal Government has announced a $60 million Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices program, to provide intensive support for apprentices in industries undergoing structural change during their first two years of training.
Dale, whose organisation is one of 24 that will deliver the mentoring service, says mentors will assist young apprentices with their training, with problems encountered with their host employer and, if necessary, provide support during personal issues unrelated to the apprenticeship.
“If we can get (apprentices) through that first year or so (of training), that’s critical,’’ Dale says.
“In the early stages, things are unfamiliar and (apprentices) are not as certain about things as they would like to be. It’s quite possibly their first job so they don’t know how to approach the boss about something, they might not know how to step up to the role that’s in front of them.
“If we can support (apprentices), and help to get things right, then I think we could see retention rates of more than 75 per cent.’’
Under the new program, mentors will be required to have previously worked in the trade.
Parts interpreter apprentice Clare Maxwell, 22, says her mentor Andrew Bear has been vital in helping to navigate what is traditionally a maledominated industry.
“I’ve never had issues at (host employer) SU Performance but I do get a lot of customers that don’t like talking to a female so it’s good to be able to talk to (Bear) about that,’’ she says.