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30 Sign up for Growth and Development Opportunity As part of its focus to provide exceptional customer service, Wellington Shire Council is offering internal traineeships to formally recognise the qualifications staff have received "on the job" over many years. By Wellington Shire Council - 2nd September 2003 - Back to News Twelve outdoor staff from Council’s Yarram depot and 17 from the Maffra depot have embarked on traineeships to further develop skills, and obtain formal recognition of the expertise they’ve gained "on the job" over many years.
The training will be delivered in the workplace by training organisation Infratrain and the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), taking up to two years. On completion, staff will receive the nationally recognised "Certificate III in Civil Construction including Bridges/Jettys".
"Signing-on" ceremonies were held in Maffra and Yarram last week, where staff were congratulated by Chief Executive Lyndon Webb and representatives from "Infratrain" and VECCI.
Assistant Manager Organisational Development Cath Darby said Council’s success in delivering services depended on its staff.
"Our goal is to attract and retain talented people who are passionate about providing exceptional service to the community," she said
"Growth and development opportunities of staff are a key to creating high performance.
"It’s important that staff right across the organisation understand that they, and their development needs, are of a high priority to us and that we are fully supportive of their efforts.
Meanwhile, Council has taken a lead role in youth employment, by maintaining its policy to employ some 13 trainees per year as an initiative to create opportunities for young people in our Shire. It is hoped local business will see these trainees as potential employees.
Council has taken its commitment to youth one step further, helping to successfully lobby the Victorian Government to offer youth employment schemes to Councils across the state.
Previously commercial businesses and Government departments could receive financial incentives to employ trainees and apprentices and Local Government organisations could not.
Following many meetings, delegations, letters and phone calls from Wellington Shire Council, and with the support of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the State Government has now introduced a new Local Government incentive scheme similar to the commercial Youth Employment Scheme.
"We hope the new scheme will encourage regional Shires to employ trainees and apprentices so that youth from regional areas are not forced into the City to pursue a career," Ms Darby said.
"If we can offer meaningful employment opportunities in our local area, it may help to retain our youth and also trained staff.
"They will have a choice.
"People can choose to live in the country, and still receive training to move ahead in their career of choice."
Ms Darby said that by helping to implement financial incentives for youth employment in Local Government, Council was offering best value to its ratepayers.
"This scheme helps to make our rates go further," she said.
"We’re able to provide a broad range of youth opportunities at less cost to our ratepayers."
Wellington Shire Council is now focussed on improving Customer Service and cementing a place in the community as an "Employer of Choice.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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