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Trade Start at MiHaven by Pip Miller 28 October 2013
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iHaven have engaged five Indigenous jobseekers to undertake its new Trade Start General Certificate I Construction training program. The trainee group all hail from North Queensland’s Cassowary Coast Region and are aged between 19 and 44 years of age. In what is an innovative approach to training, MiHaven’s Trade Start program incorporates an industry driven initiative with 80 per cent of the training delivered on the construction site and 20 per cent in the classroom. The program runs for 16 weeks and culminates in an accredited Certificate Training in the Construction Industry and every effort is also made to ensure a job outcome. With the training now underway, MiHaven’s Industry Liaison Manager, Robbie Goulding has already hit the streets of Innisfail and Cairns to talk with potential employers. MiHaven is encouraging all Far Northern businesses to get on board. According to MiHaven director, James Mort, a major focus of this program is based on the development of life skills. “Our trainees aren’t just learning about construction, but are also taught the practicalities of personal budgeting and financial management, fitness and nutrition, work skills, goal setting and self development.” Mr Mort says this latest group’s first hand experience is being provided in the construction of a private client’s home in Innisfail while all theoretical components, including language, literacy and numeracy, are taught in within MiHaven’s new, state of the art, training centre in Cairns.
On the job, MiHaven trainees, Chris Barley, Mark Purcell, Ashley Bawden, Richard Messina. Image supplied
“Since commencing last month this group has hit the ground running and has given themselves a nickname of ‘Scrub Turkeys’. Our trainer Ruth Bickoff says she is delighted in how well they are keeping to the task, building not just a house, but each other and their team. They have found a real purpose and passion for work because it is pointing them towards what they want, a future for themselves and their families. We are very proud to be training these men,” he said. Since the introduction of MiHaven’s training school for indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in January 2012 the organisation has been making a difference and changing lives by providing training, opportunities and employment for long term jobseekers. MiHaven has facilitated the training and graduation of 65 job seekers; 80 per cent of which are now employed or are undergoing apprenticeships.
Through its industry-based initiatives, MiHaven has been able to facilitate employment outcomes for those whom are deemed as “unemployable”. Projects undertaken have included the renovation of Cairns Plaza Hotel, The Men’s Shed in Tully, private homes throughout the region and the establishment of a training school in the remote community of Napranum near Weipa including a pilot project building five houses. In 2011, after personally experiencing the two most significant cyclones to impact Australia (Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011) MiHaven Pty Ltd was launched by James and Sarah Mort. MiHaven is a new building concept which is designed and engineered to withstand a category 5 cyclone and is flood resistant. MiHaven is affordable, easily built in rapid time and designed to resist natural disasters to last a generation. Page 1