fica

Trial of new mentoring programme for silviculture Trial of new mentoring programme for silviculture workers proves successful workers proves successful

Prue Younger, Prue Younger, CEO Message CEO Message

Ten silviculture crews around the country have completed a trial of a new mentoring programme developed by the Ten silviculture crews around the country have completed a Forest and Wood Processing Workforce Council, with trial of a new mentoring programme developed by the Forest funding from the Forest Growers Levy Trust and support and Wood Processing Workforce Council, with funding from from MPI. the Forest Growers Levy Trust and support from MPI. Mentoring Programme Manager, Greg Steele, says the Mentoring Programme Manager, Greg Steele, says the CounCouncil is looking to improve the status and mana of the silviculture sector. cil is looking to improve the status and mana of the silviculture sector. “We want to formalise mentoring in the forestry training infrastructure, especially as some good crews already do take on this role. “Using the process, we aim to get new people more skilled “We want to formalise mentoring in the forestry training infrastructure, especially as some good crews already do take on this role. earlier in soft and practical skills. We selected crews who “Using the process, we aim to get new people more skilled were interested and had a new entrant to put through.” earlier in soft and practical skills. We selected crews who Currently new entrants are encouraged early on in their were interested and had a new entrant to put through.” work to achieve unit standards to meet compliance Currently new entrants are encouraged early on in their work standards. to achieve unit standards to meet compliance standards. “We thought if we identified other key interpersonal, “We thought if we identified other key interpersonal, commucommunications and induction skills and packaged them on a time-serve basis, for example within the first month, that could work. A person following the full programme will achieve seven to eight full introductory unit standards as well as achieving time-served milestones. They will be recognised at each milestone, beginning with a one-month certificate. Some of the guys have nothing in the past from school.” nications and induction skills and packaged them on a timeserve basis, for example within the first month, that could work. A person following the full programme will achieve seven to eight full introductory unit standards as well as achieving time-served milestones. They will be recognised at each milestone, beginning with a one-month certificate. Some of the guys have nothing in the past from school.” As well as the presentation of a certificate in front of their As well as the presentation of a certificate in front of their peers, their elements achieved are downloaded via App peers, their elements achieved are downloaded via App onto onto a smart-card which shows these credentials as a part a smart card which shows these credentials as a part of their of their record of learning. A QR code allows scanning and record of learning. A QR code allows scanning and immediate immediate access to credentials held. access to credentials held. The mentoring programme is designed as a package that The mentoring programme is designed as a package that can can run up to 36 months. The first three months have been run up to 36 months. The first three months have been tritrialled by the 10 crews. The trial results were assessed in alled by the 10 crews. The trial results were assessed in late late December and a report prepared for the Taskforce Council. Greg says he is happy with the trial outcomes. “The intent is now to ramp the programme up, engage more crews in 2022, and establish the training with funding from the education sector. December and a report prepared for the Taskforce Council. Greg says he is happy with the trial outcomes. “The intent is now to ramp the programme up, engage more crews in 2022, and establish the training with funding from the education sector. “Mentoring depends on someone being prepared to “Mentoring depends on someone being prepared to address address it and become a role model, rather than leaving a it and become a role model, rather than leaving a new entrant new entrant to their own devices. In many cases, they turn to their own devices. In many cases, they turn people around people around and provide a real service to the crew and and provide a real service to the crew and the community.” the community.” Troy Mason, Managing Director of KTM Silviculture based in Troy Mason, Managing Director of KTM Silviculture based the Wairarapa, says the mentoring programme allowed their in the Wairarapa, says the mentoring programme allowed mentee to complete and pass three assessments in a day on their mentee to complete and pass three assessments in a the job – in communications, health and safety, and nutrition. day on the job – in communications, health and safety, and nutrition. “He is well on his way to getting his national certificate; that will be a huge reward for us. He is probably one of the strongest young fellows I’ve ever seen – a qualified builder “He is well on his way to getting his national certificate; that will be a huge reward for us. He is probably one of the strongest young fellows I’ve ever seen – a qualified builder and a shearer. He has a good work ethic and is willing to learn. and a shearer. He has a good work ethic and is willing to “He works in a great team environment and is outdoors all day.” learn. “He works in a great team environment and is outdoors all day.” Troy has worked in the industry for 30 Troy has worked in the industry for years. His company employs 18 staff. 30 years. His company employs 18 His company does all aspects of silvistaff. culture and over the years he has em His company does all aspects of ployed many young people. silviculture and over the years he has employed many young people. “Many are referred to us by the police to give them a go and try to turn their “Many are referred to us by the police to give them a go and try to turn their life around. Some are at-risk or troubled youths. Some are too far gone to turn around. “A lot of them don’t have a good work ethic. They don’t have a lot of confidence – we try to build that. life around. Some are at-risk or troubled youths. Some are too far gone to turn around. “A lot of them don’t have a good work ethic. They don’t have a lot of confidence – we try to build that. “That’s why there are accidents in forestry – they have “That’s why there are accidents in forestry – they have issues, issues, they have financial burdens at home. they have financial burdens at home. “It’s being able to read them, take five minutes, being “It’s being able to read them, take five minutes, being able to able to talk to them – whether it’s me or a crew member – talk to them – whether it’s me or a crew member – and build a and build a whanau-way around them; getting to know one whanau-way around them; getting to know one another and if another and if they are mentally okay. they are mentally okay. “As a company, we try to take the financial burden off our employees. We pay our cutters and production leads more than others pay them and because of what we do for them, their output is higher. As a result we deliver very good quality work to customers, which I can then reward in turn.” “As a company, we try to take the financial burden off our employees. We pay our cutters and production leads more than others pay them and because of what we do for them, their output is higher. As a result we deliver very good quality work to customers, which I can then reward in turn.” Ben White, Director of Ace of Spades Contracting based Ben White, Director of Ace of Spades Contracting based in the in the Bay of Plenty, is also a supporter of the mentoring Bay of Plenty, is also a supporter of the mentoring programme. programme. His company has two staff going through it. His company has two staff going through it. “It’s a better way of learning, especially if you have “It’s a better way of learning, especially if you have experienced experienced mentors in the crew. Our workers don’t like to mentors in the crew. Our workers don’t like to be cooped up in be cooped up in a classroom where things go over their a classroom where things go over their heads but out here in heads but out here in the forest, they can relate to it. It the forest, they can relate to it. It provides a point of difference.” provides a point of difference.” He says their mentees are receptive to the information which includes safety and a knowledge of the bush. He says their mentees are receptive to the information which includes safety and a knowledge of the bush. His company employs 16 people to do a variety of His company employs 16 people to do a variety of silviculsilviculture work and was set up two years ago by five ture work and was set up two years ago by five Directors who directors who are good mates. “The company evolved from are good mates. “The company evolved from that friendship,” that friendship,” says Ben. says Ben. “I love my job; being outside seeing the sunrise and “I love my job; being outside seeing the sunrise and sunset. It’s sunset. It’s the crew you’re with that makes it; the culture the crew you’re with that makes it; the culture is so great, and is so great, and our people have bought into it. our people have bought into it. “Silviculture is never going to wind up. Trees will always need to be planted and they will always need to be cut down.” “Silviculture is never going to wind up. Trees will always need to be planted and they will always need to be cut down.” Recently I have joined the Council and with knowledge of the Recently I have joined the Council and with knowledge of the Review Review of Vocational Education progressing through to 2023, of Vocational Education progressing through to 2023, this project this project and pilot is going to provide some valuable and pilot is going to provide some valuable feedback into the Trainfeedback into the Training Strategy for the Forestry Industry. ing Strategy for the Forestry Industry. Thus, we are keen to keep you Thus, we are keen to keep you all informed across it as it has all informed across it as it has some alignment with the harvesting some alignment with the harvesting sector as well which will be complimentary to this specific silviculture mentor pilot. sector as well which will be complimentary to this specific silviculture mentor pilot.