Top Mentor for the Top End

Shaun O’Brien is no stranger to the MTA, having completed his adult apprenticeship as a light vehicle technician last year. Now, as the Northern Territory’s new Apprentice Mentor, he’s helping to improve the retention of first-year automotive apprentices through building relationships and raising awareness of the MTA’s activity across the NT.

With nearly 80% of automotive apprentices abandoning their apprenticeship within the first 12 months, the MTA has launched the NT Apprentice Mentoring program. The program is a free support service available to all first-year automotive apprentices and their employers throughout the Northern Territory.

Supported by the NT Government, apprentices engaged in the program will receive a face-to-face visit every 16 weeks, and more often if required for additional support.

Since starting out in early March, mentor Shaun has already signed up 20 apprentices across a range of trades including light vehicle, heavy vehicle, mobile plant, paint and panel.

“The feedback I’ve been getting from businesses is very positive and everyone is supportive of the program. They really like the idea of having someone taking the time with an apprentice and helping them with whatever they’ve got going on – particularly from an industry-specific organisation, with knowledge of the trade,” Shaun said.

As most automotive apprentices complete their qualification through Charles Darwin University (CDU), Shaun has found just being present at trade school has helped with informing apprentices of the mentoring program and his role.

“We’re very fortunate in terms of being able to meet with apprentices at trade school. We’ve got good relationships with the lecturers at CDU who are very supportive of the program. We’re able to know when there will be new sign-ups throughout the year and when hard to reach apprentices from remote areas will be in town,” Shaun said.

Having completed his own apprenticeship recently, he understands the challenges involved with getting through an apprenticeship, and has taken on the mentor role quite naturally, as he was often asked for help with administrative tasks from his younger counterparts.

“Apprentices face many difficulties, both in and out of the work place and often don’t ask for help or know what help is available to them. It’s important for them to know that there is help and support available to them should they ever need it throughout their apprenticeship,” he said.

“Outside of work, if I can’t help, I can point them in the right direction to someone who can – anything ranging from mental health, homelessness, financial trouble – whatever they are dealing with.”

But beyond what he can provide as a mentor to these up and coming apprentices, Shaun says it’s really important for those more senior in their workshops to be approachable and share their knowledge, tips and tricks of the trade.

“A business taking on an apprentice needs to invest their time into those young people and share their knowledge and experience, so they can become the next generation of our industry. Having the workshop foreman and the more experienced techs step into a bit of a mentor role themselves; getting on the tools with the apprentice and taking the time to show and teach them on the job – that’s where you learn!” he said.

Looking to the future, he’d love to see the program expanded to include all apprentices – not just those in their first year – and further initiatives to get into schools to promote work experience opportunities in the industry.

“It would be great to get into schools across the Northern Territory and assist young people interested in automotive to get out into these workshops and gain exposure to the automotive industry,” he said.

“It would be a great way for businesses in the NT to identify potential new apprentices and for young people to see what the automotive industry is about and help them to decide a career path.

“I’m excited about all the possibilities that can come from this program and I’m looking forward to seeing what else we can do to support our apprentices, businesses and our industry in the Northern Territory.”