The armidale 'a team'

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The Armidale ‘A TEAM’

by Jim Ralph im Ralph, Employment Consultancy PL / Indigenous Employment Project (IEP) Panel Member, worked with National Infrastructure Services (NIS) in delivering the NBN@Work Pilot Project Armidale under an Indigenous Employment Project (IEP) to recruit, train, employ and mentor 10 Indigenous participants to enter the NBN Roll Out in Armidale through NIS. The IEP project was funded by Department Education Employment Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Tamworth managed by Brooke Andrews with an expected

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employment outcome of 35 hours per week per participant including training, employment and mentoring over a 26 week period.

Selection The recruitment process incorporated the local Job Service Providers from Armidale : (Jobs Australia, Joblink Plus, Best Employment), community engagement and the Local Land Council to secure specifically long term unemployed participants who showed potential.

Training JREC screened these referrals, resulting in 12 chosen to complete the Certificate II in Telecommunications presented

The Crew Armidale with Jim Ralph centre in white shirt. Image supplied

by JBHunter over an 8 week period. Opportunities were given to those who were interested and encouraged to complete a Certificate in Linesman course.

The ‘A TEAM’ was formed.

Where are they now?

Hayward Loy - NIS - SILCAR Leading Hand Charlie Ahoy -NISSILCAR Anthony Blair -NISRelocated Stephen Gordon - NIS - SILCAR Danny Naylor - NIS SILCAR Michael Green - NIS Page 1

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Relocated James Falzo-Mclure - NIS - Not working Ray Riley - NIS - NIS Linesman Terrence Foote - NIS - NIS

Placement National Infrastructure Services (NIS) employed the ‘A TEAM’ placing them in positions as Pipe Crew members working to lay cable to houses. The ‘A TEAM’ worked together as a team with Hayward Loy stepping up to becoming a mentor within the crew. Ray Riley & Aaron Ralph completed the Lineman course and became a strong member of the team working on the installation of Arial lines.

The ‘A TEAM’ built a strong reputation as the team to complete all jobs given to them and was successful in receiving other jobs from competing contractors. Each member shone independently as a productive member of the crew and was proud to wear the NIS shirt within the community. The ‘A TEAM’ together beat the odds of securing positions within the NBN Roll Out Armidale and become

community mentors in their own right.

Commitment This group of successful individuals clearly showed commitment, engagement, a hunger to learn, a desire to better themselves and do well. With strong support, mentoring and a bond developing between the ‘A TEAM’ and JREC, leaders stepped up, mateships was established, community support and encouragement was given, family support was enforced and a passion to succeed was obvious.

However this project presented a few challenges. The industry did not offer full time employment and half of the ‘A TEAM’ were parked, yet still acknowledged as being employed by NIS. These boys continued to present themselves as committed, loyal employees who turned up at the work site every morning to find there was no work available. The team become discouraged and was showing moments of disengagement with the team, the employer and the concept of working.

Danny Naylor

JREC chose to reverse market these boys to SILCAR who are the major contractors for the NBN Roll Out. Jim Ralph approached James Herden from SILCAR Comms Coffs Harbour to reverse market these boys. JREC’s success resulted in Hayward Loyd (Supervisor/ Mentor), Charlie Ahoy, Danny Naylor and Anthony Blair and Stephen Gordon moving over to SILCAR through Skilled Labour Hire under the supervision of Lachlan Wilson from SILCAR Comms.

Lachlan saw the potential and commitment the team gave to NIS and chose to take them on under a 3 month probationary period. Lachlan showed an understanding in Indigenous employment, mentoring and support and has worked further with these boys to settle them in and encourage them to grow further in the Telecommunications Industry as a career choice.

Socially The ‘A TEAM’ developed a strong mateships and support each other and continue to get together after hours.

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Jim Ralph and Hayward Loy