Electrotechnology Career Kickstart Program

The Program

MITAC has been funded by the NT Government to select and prepare a group of people for careers in the Electrotechnology trades which are an identified skills shortage area.  The program is largely aimed at younger people (school leaver to 19 years and under) but people above this age will also be considered.

Successful applicants will undertake a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) at Charles Darwin University.  This qualification will give direct credits of between 20% and 25% of the requirements for the training required for apprenticeships as:

• Electrician,
• Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic
• Instrumentation Tradesperson, or 
• Electronics and Communications Tradesperson.

This will increase employability and potentially reduce the time taken to qualify in these trades.  Assistance to find employment will be a part of the program.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria

• Preference will be given to those who fit the NT government project criteria (generally under 19 years of age and either unemployed, under-employed, or an imminent school leaver).  Note – this program is not considered a substitute for a good basic education and students undertaking year 11 or 12 who can complete with a reasonable NTCE result are encouraged to pursue that goal first.
• Ability to pass a colour blindness test.
• Ability and willingness to undertake work in typical industry settings (for example use of hand tools, working at heights using ladders, working in non air-conditioned environments)
• Ability to pass an industry aptitude assessment OR to be considered able to pass an industry literacy and numeracy assessment after undertaking reasonable and defined “gap training”.
• Motivation to enter a technical career and apply oneself to the standards expected by the industry
• Willingness to apply oneself diligently to training, including making all reasonable personal efforts to succeed
• Ability to pass drug and alcohol screening

Participants will receive through the program

• Quantified feedback on literary and numeracy competency related to electrotechnology careers.
• Literacy and Numeracy gap training as appropriate to reach industry benchmarks required to support successful technical training.
• Training in the nationally accredited Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start).
• Training to receive a nationally accredited Construction Industry “White Card” (to allow entry on to construction sites).
• Exposure to the various trades that participants may seek to move into following completion of the program.
• Training and mentoring support to assist develop employability skills.
• Introductions to potential employers through MITAC’s industry network.
  

Participants will be obliged

• To be available for a minimum of three days a week for up to 26 weeks from 20th February 2011.
• To provide proof of identity.
• To enter into a documented agreement and abide the terms of that agreement.  (In general, the agreement will be typical of the employment expectations of electrotechnology industries.)  Expectations will include
  • Attendance at all training and assigned work unless medically unfit (proof may be required) or given written permission for absence according to established procedures.
  • Good timekeeping
  • Good application to training and work assignments
  • Adherence to Occupational Health Safety and Welfare requirements, including no smoking during work or training times, and maintaining oneself drug and alcohol free during work and training.
  • Participating fully in appropriate employment search as appropriate during the program
• Breach of the documented agreement will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program.  In general the degree of discipline expected is that which applies at work in these industries and the form of action will be modeled on industry practice.
  

The Challenge

If you are genuinely interested in this type of career, if you are willing to apply yourself and give of your best, then click here to download the application form.

Applications must be received by MITAC by close of business on the 4th February 2011

Brief initial enquiries may be directed to

Bob Potter at MITAC on

Phone 8981 0077 or 0407 720 569.

Email bob@mitac.org.au

Further Information

The following links provide information that may be of interest if considering an application.

Electrotechnology Careers information click here

A practice literacy and numeracy assessment click here

To brush up on maths click here

NOTE – the literacy & numeracy and maths links do not indicate where you need to be to apply, although it is good if you are, but they do give you an indication of where you need to get if you are going to be successful in an eventual apprenticeship.  The kickstart program will provide gap training to help you.  The real purpose of looking at these now is to help you understand what you are committing to - not to scare you.