News & Views

19th July 2016

NECA to deliver innovative apprenticeship project

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), the peak industry body for Australia’s electrical contracting sector has developed a comprehensive and innovative new electrical industry apprenticeship training pilot project, following extensive consultations across the industry throughout 2015 and 2016.

Known as the Electrical Innovative Delivery and Pathways Project and supported by the Federal Government’s Australian Apprenticeship program, the pilot will operate across Australia for a two-year period and will be delivered by public and private sector training partners across the electrical contracting sector with the aim of exploring opportunities to encourage broader skills development for entry level and qualified tradespeople to enter our industry and the examination of the challenges and regulatory burdens to increased industry participation and training practice development.

NECA CEO Mr Suresh Manickam, has welcomed the announcement of the initiative, highlighting NECA’s strong history of delivering highly qualified electrical apprentices over many decades.

“This is an exciting initiative for NECA and one that builds upon many of the findings from the Project Enhancement Activities Project in 2015,” said Mr Manickam.

“The Electrical Innovative Delivery and Pathways Project focuses on key areas for our sector – the relevance of training to industry needs, training for new business opportunities and industry strategies, attracting industry entrants from more diversified backgrounds, women and adult apprentices, as well as providing effective workplace support, supervision and governance arrangements.”

“NECA has a long standing, track record of delivering skilled and job ready electrical apprentices, maintaining responsibility for the employment, training and skilling of more than 4,000 current and future electricians and contractors through our Group Training and Registered Training Organisations across Australia,” Mr Manickam said.

“An effective apprenticeship should offer the right combination and balance of on and off-the-job training. Therefore, we don’t support the delivery of a fully institutionalised Certificate III as an Electrotechnology pathway.”

“It is also very important that apprentices have adequate time to display their skills in the workplace and garner the necessary experience.”

“NECA looks forward to working with a range of stakeholders and training partners to deliver this innovative new project across all Australian states,” said Mr Manickam.

 

-ENDS-

 

Media enquiries and interviews

Barry Jackson – National Marketing and Communications

E barry.jackson@neca.asn.au

D 02 9962 6904

M 0457 767 328

 

Notes for editors

 

  1. NECA is the peak industry body representing the interests of electrical and communications contractors Australia-wide.
  2. NECA is run by electrical contractors, for electrical contractors.
  3. We have 5,000 contracting companies as members – and they in turn employ over 50,000 people Australia-wide.
  4. NECA employs almost 350 people across its seven chapters (Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia).
  5. The chapters provide NECA members with a range of services including: Industrial Relations, Health & Safety, Legal, Technical, Training, business-support services, product discounts and advocacy representation in Canberra with Government, Industry bodies and Training bodies.
  6. NECA wholly-owns its Legal firm, Group Training and the NECA Colleges (in WA) and EcoSmart Electricians – and has joint ventures with a superannuation company (NSW) and one of the national cabling registrars (ACRS).
  7. NECA also employ around 2,000 apprentice electricians and provides training to a further 2,000.
  8. For further information go to www.neca.asn.au.

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