GROUP TRAINING
Electrical contractors are recognised as providing an essential service, so they can continue working under current NSW/ACT BRANCH government rules and are set to play a critical role in the economic recovery as governments invest in infrastructure and construction. Demand for electrical work and the apprentices’ skills is, therefore, remaining relatively strong.
ADDRESSING INDUSTRY’S SKILLS SHORTAGES With the general freeze on migration into Australia, current and future skills shortages have become a key discussion point for businesses across all industries. Within the electrical industry, NECA Training and Apprenticeships is working to build its apprenticeship numbers to strengthen our workforce now and into the future. NECA Training and Apprenticeships is a not-for-profit registered group training organisation (GTO) owned by NECA. With offices in Sydney, Brisbane and the ACT, we currently have 790 apprentices placed with host employers and gaining experience in the diverse range work that NECA members offer. As theof business landscape changes rapidly, it was great how team Group training offerstoa see range of the benefits came together to adapt and innovate over self-employing apprentices: so that the learning environment could Flexible labour to cope with continue without disruption. your peak and quiet times. Simple and competitive pay rates that The ability to change rapidly was noticed the full ofpicked employment into by take industry andcost even up by the account. This includes college media, including an article in thestudies, SMH all types leave, workers where NECAofwas praised forcompensation, our ability to superannuation, tax, RDOs more. adapt, and recognised for ourand efforts in The opportunity to ensureItapprentices re-homing 100 apprentices. was great fitelectrical with your contracting team and thewas type of work that deemed do - if service, they don’t quitehelps fit, NECA anyou essential which to willdemand find an apprentice that does. keep high. All recruitment and retention While many training providers have risks belong to NECA, not you closed their doors due to COVID as the host employer.
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Apprentices turn up ready to work with a full uniform, PPE and initial safety training. Field Officers work with you to understand your needs, mentor apprentices and address any issues that may arise. Unlike many competitors, NECA’s Field Officers are all experienced electricians drawn from the contracting industry. NECA manages the complexities of the national training system. This is a great option for specialist businesses who are unable to provide the full range of apprenticeship training. Apprentices can be easily moved, ensuring they get a well-rounded experience while 19,your leaving apprentices their business has the and labour it needs. employers in limbo, NECA Training and Businesses of allquickly sizes can accessits Apprenticeships modified the flexibility and benefits group schedule so learning couldof continue. training. current host employers All theoryOur lessons were moved online, include the full range from small family and the number of apprentices attending companies to the industry’s largest practical lessons was reduced to adhere contractors. As testament to the to social distancing requirements. success of group training, some of our current hosts and are now run by former NECA Training Apprenticeships’ NECA apprentices who’ve experienced approach meant minimal disruption to the value of group training first-hand.
Tom Tom Emeleus Emeleus General General Manager, Manager, NECA NECA Training Training and and Apprenticeships Apprenticeships www.necatraining.com.au www.necatraining.com.au (02) 9188 4424
SEPTEMBER 2020
COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR MAIN SWITCHBOARDS GREATER THAN 125 AMPS Access Canberra electrical inspections require a Compliance Statement for a Main Switchboard (MSB) where, a) The total of the connected load at the point where the MSB is installed exceeds 125A r.m.s per phase; or
Access Canberra Electrical Inspections Team (02) 6207 7775 8:30am to 4:30pm Business Days electrical.inspections@act.gov.au
www.ccesscanberra.act.gov.au
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Recognising this, NECA Training and Apprenticeships moved quickly to convert its post-trade courses, so qualified electricians could continue Apprenticeship recruitment now open to upskill – for example, with solar grid For more than three decades NECA Training connect and battery storage training and Apprenticeships has supportedIn – and maintain key qualifications. industry a strong, workforce. NSW, thiswith includes ASPqualified (Accredited Service Provider) training, which allows Our robust recruiting system identifies an electrical contractor to work on apprentices who are dedicated and the electricity network, undertaking passionate about ouroften industry, resulting maintenance critical to keeping in completion that ratesisthat are well above the industry lights on.average. Over 95% of our apprentices gain employment with our NECAemployers Training and Apprenticeships host after their apprenticeship, employs nearly 800 and demonstrating that apprentices NECA’s apprentices thenhighly-valued partners withbyelectrical are industry.contracting businesses, who provide on-the-job We are currently recruiting apprentices experience. who will be ready to work in your business. Thefind success of NECA Trainingabout and To out more and enquire Apprenticeships’ model has minimised becoming a host, call your local NECA office theemail impact on the fledgling careers of or contact@necatraining.com.au. the apprentices. While some apprentice opportunities have disappeared, such as those servicing businesses in the hospitality sector, new opportunities have emerged, such as hospital projects. With group training systems like NECA’s, apprentices can continue to learn through periods of major change.
b) The prospective short-circuit current at the incoming terminals of the MSB is greater than 10kA r.m.s. The switchboard compliance requirement is found in AS/NZS 3000:2018 A2 clause 2.10.3.2
Electricians are required to submit a completed statement from their switchboard manufacture with their Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES), and to have the statement available on site. The compliance statement form can be downloaded from our website, and is titled “Fact Sheet - Switchboards 61439 Compliance Statement” at www.bit.ly/act61439
September 2021
