Career kickstart at TAFE – comment by CEO Craig Robertson

By design or luck –the Morrison Government’s focus on careers development is well timed.

As we contemplate coming out of COVID-19 the carnage in the labour market is difficult to ignore.

The Reserve Bank Board last week concluded that unemployment is expected to peak at around 10 per cent for the remainder of 2020 and still be above 7 per cent at the end of next year. As disturbing this is as a headline figure, it is on top of the persistent underemployment (more people wanting to work more hours) before the crisis and disguises the deep impact on young people who will be at the back of a longer queue to get into work.

The National Careers Institute was established at the instigation of the Joyce Review. As reported later in the newsletter, the institute is offering Project grants of up to $700,000 for innovative proposals which improve career information pathways and services.

TAFEs are a good place to start. Let me share with you just some of the practical outcomes from several of the Skills and Jobs Centres (SJCs) run through TAFEs and dual sector universities in Victoria.

Boxhill Institute operates three SJCs – the CBD, Box Hill and Lilydale. In 2019 they provided guidance and services to over 2,100 individuals and in the first quarter this year, despite COVID, have helped over 400. While most participants are unemployed, many are employed or studying and seeking career advice and some are parents looking to return to work.

Janet Lang of the Holmesglen SJC placed Doyne, who had just completed his electrical pre‑apprenticeship at Holmesglen, and Hamish, who sought out the services of the SJC, with Ellapack as blow mould technicians. Janet describes the unique nature of the SJC service,  “opportunities like this can help students with their personal wellbeing, which will also help them with their studies.”

The SJC at Wodonga TAFE works with Towong Shire and Corryong and Tallangatta Learn Locals providing targeted training and skills development, helping to cope with COVID-19 and rebuilding after the summer’s devastating bushfires. Wodonga donated 200 plants to the Upper Murray Community Recovery Hub’s Mother’s Day activities on top of the 2,000 seedlings being grown by the Agriculture and Horticulture Department to aid in bushfire recovery.

Wodonga TAFE

The SJC for Chisholm Institute serves the Dandenong region, one of the most multicultural and disadvantaged communities in Australia. In a prime location in the main street the centre is a gathering point for locals looking for employment and education opportunities.  Chisholm has established a three-step career program, which develops employability and enhances career readiness, to support students to transition into employment at the completion of their studies.

Chisholm CEO, Stephen Varty acknowledges “the South-East of Melbourne is one of the most disadvantaged regions in the state, and locally we suffer from pockets of high unemployment. Our Skills and Jobs Centre does a great job connecting those in need to employment and education and offers workshops to ensure people are prepared for job interviews and are work-ready.

“We anticipate higher levels of unemployment and disadvantage in the coming months and we’re committed to support our students and the community more generally,” he said.

Making Mallacoota Great Again is just part of the activities of Gippsland SJC. TAFE Gippsland is delivering training as part of the bushfire recovery program for the fire-ravaged community of Mallacoota.

Construction Induction Card (CIC) training is taking place in the seaside hamlet and, according to Interim Project Manager, Stuart Cooper, they have been, “a big hit with local students”.

“With eight students enrolled today and another six tomorrow, the numbers may be modest but they represent a huge boost for the Mallacoota community post the summer bushfires,” Stuart said.

The CIC training allows the participant to register with Grocon, which has the contract for clean-up work on properties lost during the fires.

Local connections with business drives The Gordon’s SJC. Headquartered in Geelong, The Gordon has a close working relationship with the National Disability Insurance Authority. As part of the authority’s drive to grow awareness of the job opportunities through the NDIS the SJC hosted a Facebook Live event – Industry Insights into Careers at NDIA. Originally scheduled to be held at the SJC, there were 14 participants registered, however, the Facebook Live event has been viewed 704 times, has reached 2796 people and had 393 engagements.

The Pathfinders SJC at South West TAFE helped a local lady who had not engaged with education for over 27 years to enrol in the Certificate III in Individual Support for work in Aged-Care. Sue’s story in her own words are featured below.

Pathfinders – South West TAFE

The messages from the Skills and Job Centres are many and varied. At the core though it says there is no wrong door at a TAFE – for citizens, for business, for the community. As institutes with a comprehensive range of post-school education offerings, student and business focused support services and staff committed to the community, TAFEs are the place to build careers, whether starting or refreshing.

While Victoria calls theirs Skills and Job Centres and WA calls theirs Jobs and Skills Centres, all TAFEs offer the same public service.

TAFEs, quite rightly, quite properly, as public institutions have been the anchor during the COVID-19 response – see more stories of the TAFE COVID response on the TDA website. As a network of TAFEs across Australia committed to vocational education for citizens, community and industry, they will be the backbone of a coherent and compassionate career support system for many Australians during the recovery.

It’s the #POWEROFTAFE.

Let me finish with two personal stories which demonstrates the benefits of that power.

Retail was all that I knew, 16 years and counting… I was your usual checkout chick at Coles, you know the one who was there no matter the time of the day nor the time of the year always there to help, this was my life along with raising two children as well as being a wife, friend and, daughter. I needed something for me.

A sighting of a Fed Uni logo on a customer’s clothing and a plan was set, took awhile but I turned up at Fed Uni Job and Skill Centre without a clue of what I wanted to do. I knew I loved working with people and I knew a few things about businesses but what sort of uni/TAFE course combines the two of those things? Chatting with the advisor and Diploma of Business was the goal!

After a few stumbling blocks and two years of study, I walked out on that stage at the Regent as a graduate! All my hard work and dedication to study had paid off but I was still working retail and wishing for more…

Another meeting with the job advisor and a resume was sent off for an opportunity that was what I thought out of my reach. A few months of waiting to see if my application was successful and bam! the process of beginning a career with Serco and the Police Assistance Line began.

After 18 years of being the checkout chick, I am now taking calls for people who have been affected by crime and in need of police assistance with lost items or general enquiries.

I love my new career and have the qualifications as well as the skills that will take me anywhere I wish… if a change is ever needed again I know that I will be heading to see the wonderful staff at Fed Uni for direction.

Hi, my name is Sue I am a mum of five children and I care for four of them at home. They too have busy lives with them attending school, playing sport and working jobs.

I did a three-day course at Hyland Street in Warrnambool which led me to meet Riki Fox at Pathfinders Skills & Jobs Centre. I was very nervous and didn’t know what I was doing. I kept changing what course I wanted to do. I didn’t have much confidence in myself and was doubting if I could do a course. One of my fears was using a computer and completing the online test. I kept going back to Skills & Jobs Centre where I sought assistance with Cert 111 in Individual Support as the right course for me.

I was nervous about going to class and meeting new people and knowing I had to use computers. At first I thought it was too hard and would go and see Jo at Skills & Jobs Centre and she reassured me.

My experience working with Pathfinders Skills & Jobs Centre has been really positive. I have used them to do my resume and cover letter and they have given me assistance to search for jobs and practice job interviews as I have never had one before. I even did a phone and video interview. As I was going through the process I would go back to the Skills & Jobs Centre and they would encourage me to follow through to the next stage. I have now secured the job and am loving the work.

The outcome has been that I applied for three jobs with the help of Pathfinder Skills & Jobs. The first interview I went to was not successful and the people at Skills & Jobs Centre talked me into keep trying and even though I was upset I could see they were right. I was successful applicant for both jobs however only decided to take on one that fitted in with my personal life. I am now self-employed, working in Aged Care part time and studying the Certificate 1V in Disability.

I came across two people that completed course at TAFE at the same time as me. When they asked me how I get a job I told them about the Skills & Jobs Centre and all the help I had received with my resume, interview tips, and they encourage you for whatever job / career you would like to undertake. I have recommended them to anyone who will listen.