Batchelor Institute Awards

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Batchelor Institute finalist in the Host Employer of the Year

by Imran Naveed Understanding the importance of contributing to employment outcomes for Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, through training and work placement entry level for Indigenous apprentices, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has been nominated as a finalist for the ‘Host Employer of the Year’ Category for the Group Training NT (GTNT) Awards 2013.

A multitalented Batchelor Institute Indigenous staff member, Stephanie Barber has won the Supervisor of the Year award for

Stephanie Barber and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education Acting Director Dr Peter Stephenson nominated as the Supervisor of the year and finalist for the ‘Host Employer of the year’ at the GTNT Darwin Annual Awards 2013.

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her outstanding work with School Based Apprentices from Batchelor Area School in the Northern Territory.

Batchelor Institute and Batchelor Area School collaborated with Group Training Northern Territory (GTNT) to host tailored training support arrangements in place for apprentices in the Top End to improve the quality of training provided.

These training programs have

a strong focus on meeting the demands of a dynamic economy and community; meet the challenges of the future and at the same time develop Batchelor Institute business in the region.

The nominations were based on the selection criteria to develop the Indigenous Young Apprenticeships job skills, personal skills, industry and training system knowledge required to contribute to: • Career and study

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achievements • Communication, team and leadership skills • Other pursuits including achievements in areas other than study and work; involvement in the community; awareness of current social, economic and political issues • Ability to represent the training system at a broader level “The award provides substantial national recognition for the Institute but also for everybody’s efforts for training the apprentices to improve the employment outcomes for Indigenous people.

“Batchelor Institute values its strong relationship with GTNT and appreciates the personal interest that GTNT provides each of its apprentices while training with our organisation.

“GTNT provides the Institute with quality apprentices which makes for a very productive and rewarding training experience for all concerned,” Batchelor Institute Acting Director, Dr Peter Stephenson said.

Batchelor Institute Student Support Team Leader, Stephanie Barber was nominated as the ‘Supervisor of the Year’ for her

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outstanding work with the School Based Apprentices from Batchelor Area School in the Northern Territory: “I enjoyed mentoring, guiding and training the trainees alongside GTNT. “It was a wonderful and rewarding opportunity to work with the young trainees from Batchelor Area School to mentor and guide them within their chosen career and study plan, to further develop their skills for successful achievement and transition into the workforce in the future.

“With the success of this program, the Institute looks forward to further trainees in the future,” Mrs Barber said.

Supported by the innovative approach, the training programs for the apprenticeships include Construction, Business Administration and Children Services and focus on providing Indigenous people in the Top End communities with the skills and qualification required to enter the work force.

In the current Batchelor Institute School Based Apprentice program, the on-the-job training components of the program provide a realistic model of working life at a work place.

Apprentices work and train over a 2 year period to help them achieve a basic set of life and onthe-job skills which will enable them to become work ready, to assist participants to understand and prepare for their entry into the workforce.

Batchelor Institute Acting Director, Dr Peter Stephenson and the Indigenous supervisor, Stephanie Barber attended the GTNT Darwin Annual awards recently at Crowne Plaza Darwin.

The winners of the GTNT awards will be nominated for the NT Training Awards (State) and category winners will then be nominated for the Australian National Training Awards (National).

Batchelor Institute looks forward to continuing its successful relationship with Group Training NT (GTNT) to grow and expand pathways from training to sustained employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The Institute has a free call line to assist Indigenous people to find out more about the apprenticeships programs on 1800 677 095.

E-mail enquiries can be sent to enquiries@batchelor.edu.au or visit http://www.batchelor.edu.au