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Learning safety first
Apprentices at Townsville City Council are kick starting their careers with safety on their minds thanks to a unique program developed by TAFE Queensland.
Working closely with the Council, TAFE Queensland developed the Safe Start program to ensure apprentices commence their careers with a 'safety first' attitude.
During the pilot four-day customised workshop, 20 new apprentices were guided through relevant policies and procedures including risk assessments.
Practical workshops with topics including cleaning and packing up also form part of the program that all new apprentices are required to complete before commencing in Council-operated workshops.
TAFE Queensland Business Development Officer Sue Melberzs said the Safe Start program had been designed to suit practical apprentices with a heavy safety focus, but could be customised to suit the needs of business and industry to complement existing training initiatives.
“All industry-based training programs and resources are tailored to meet the precise needs of every organisation. In this instance we developed the four-day program to include practical exercises in hand and power tools, welders, drills and grinders,” Ms Melberzs said.
“The Council wanted a safety focus to ensure new apprentices who may never have entered a workplace before understand policies and procedures, and how and why they need to be incorporated into daily activities,” she said.
Townsville City Council Chief Executive Officer Dr Prins Ralston said the pilot program, held in February, gave participants a good mix of trade-specific and life skills with a safety focus.
“Our aim is to empower our apprentices with the knowledge and skills that will give them the confidence to step up to the challenges as part of our dynamic workforce,” Dr Ralston said.
“But above and beyond that, safety is our priority so ensuring our newest, and often youngest employees are making safety their priority from the moment they walk through the doors makes sense.”
TAFE Queensland’s customised training is designed to deliver industry-standard skills and knowledge, relevant to your business and staff needs.
Lodge an email enquiry or phone 1300 308 233 to find out how TAFE Queensland can help your business achieve great results.