Hunter Valley Training Company is undertaking a major management restructure to prepare for its fourth decade of skills training.
The Company has advertised internally and nationally for a Chief Executive Officer to head a redefined management structure adopted by its Board of Directors, following a meeting at Maitland in April.
The Chairman of HVTC, Mr Milton Morris AO, said the achievement of almost 30 years as Australia’s premier skills training organisation was something to be proud of but the company had its focus strategically positioned for the future.
“Skills training is important for individuals who go on to have successful and rewarding careers - and for the nation, which needs to continually develop those skills in order to remain competitive,” Mr Morris said.
“Just as individuals and the industries that employ them must be of the highest standard, so too Hunter Valley Training Company must ensure it is providing world’s best practice in training of essential knowledge and skills.”
“Our focus is firmly set on developing and delivering exactly what’s needed for the decade ahead,” he said.
Hunter-V-Tec, HVTC’s major training facility in the Hunter, is prepared for the challenge. Newly appointed Operations Manager, Douglas Ivins said May’s Federal Budget identified certain industries which had or would soon have skills shortages that would limit their capacity to expand or compete.
“We see this already in our client base in the mining and resources sector especially, but also in the health, retail and hospitality industries as well,” Mr Ivins said.
“The Budget provided $660 million for up to 39,000 training places in its Critical Skills Investment Fund, so the resources are now there to redress some of these shortages.”
Mr Ivins said competency-based progression for apprentices is just one solution in addressing the critical skills shortage. Competency based progression would increasingly replace the fixed term apprenticeships, and this could see some apprentices complete their apprenticeships in as little as two years instead of the customary four years.
On 22 June 1981, 197 HVTC apprentices began their training which led to initial construction work at the Bayswater Power Station, near Muswellbrook.
“As the country’s premier group training company we are looking forward to next year’s significant 30th milestone,” Mr Morris said.
“Over the years, the company has continually provided and delivered innovative and successful partnerships with host employers, along with the historic restoration of the 3801 locomotive by apprentices who would otherwise have had to abandon their training during the recession of the early 80’s” he said.