By Vanessa Chircop
WITH 50 per cent of Victorian building sector apprentices dropping-out before completion – Victoria University, Newport is adopting a program to help tackle the problem.
The Master Builders Association of Victoria ALink program has been dubbed “the apprentice’s new best friend”.
Association executive director Brian Welch said research had revealed why more than 50 per cent of Victorian trade apprentices did not complete their training.
Over the past two years, the Master Builders Association has developed a package of services and offerings based upon research which has found there were two main reasons for the high drop-out rates.
The first reason was the lack of relevant, clear and centralised information for apprentices.
The second reason was a high incidence of communication break-down between the apprentices – who are mainly Generation Y – and their Baby Boomer bosses and mentors.
“ALink aims to bridge the gap between apprentices and the industry providing information and tools that they need to stay focused and successful,” Mr Welch said.
Last Thursday Master Builders attended Victoria University’s Newport Campus to speak about the program.
With 3000 apprentices and trainees commencing their training in Victoria each year, Mr Welch said he wants ALink to be a one-stop-shop for Victorian building sector apprentices to go to and get the information and advice they need to get ahead.
