Skills Course pays off in forestry jobs
25 October 2011
The sixth Northland Forestry Straight to Work Industry Partnership programme has successfully delivered another nine highly skilled and reliable forestry workers into a buoyant employment market.
Left to right – Kieran Diack, Jordan TePania, Pepehi Kapea, Tawhia Nicholls, Joshua Bills L to R Front Tom Cox, Joel Allen, Leevon Popata, Thomas Tangimetua, Morgan Toia (FITEC), Treina Chaplin (Work and Income) Jack Johnson (FITEC)
Attended by a record number of Whanau, friends and representatives from the Limited Service Volunteer programme and the Auckland Employer Services team the graduation marked yet another successful programme designed to meet the skills shortage for forestry workers in Northland.
Returning to work after three years on the sickness benefit was a proud day for Thomas Tangimetua and his family last week. Thomas and eight of his colleagues successfully completed the eight week Forestry Straight to Work programme delivered by FITEC for Work and Income.
“I was sick and tired of not feeling well and not having a job”, explained Thomas. “With supported from my Whanau and church I began to understand that work was going to be the best thing to help me be well again”.
Thomas sought guidance from his Work and Income Programme Coordinator Ysobel Cherrington who recommend the FITEC forestry programme. Ernest Morton also supported this opportunity, as someone who has been in the forestry industry for 25 years.
“We encouraged Thomas to understand that our words are a result of our thinking”, Ernest said. “If we think positively and consider ourselves healthy, wealthy and wise then we can move mountains”.
Jack Johnson, Contract Careers Consultant FITEC is one of the people credited for teaching the students the right ingredients for success. Along with the practical and theoretical aspects of the job Jack creates an environment that commands respect and reward accordingly.
“We are here today to acknowledge the work these young men and women have done over the last eight weeks”, Jack explains.
“Morgan and I had a tough job choosing the final nine because the calibre of the people was so good. I think this comes down to the candidate screening Work and Income do along with the information seminars they provide which are clear about the industry environment and what is expected”, Jack said.
“The first two weeks is about developing values such as reliability, being drug free, responsibility and communication. Being drug free from day one is mandatory and sitting up here today are the students clean drug tests which proves to them and us that they have what it takes to be successful in their careers”.
“I want to acknowledge Rowan Struthers, from Hancock Forest Management as one of the first people to have the vision to put a forestry training programme together”, Jack emphasised.
“What Rowan saw was the need for major workforce development in Northland. The growth in the forestry industry and the urgent need for skilled forestry workers particularly over the next 5 year period could be achieved by government, training organisations and the industry working together.” Northland is the second most forested region in New Zealand with many of the forests coming online now. “We think that the industry can sustainably go to 4 million ton a year which means we will be able to double the number of jobs”, Jack said.
“The increased demand from China and India and local processors means Northland will continue to go from strength to strength”.
Eight of the graduates started work with local contractors immediately after completing the programme and after a week or two of work experience the remaining one will follow suit. Yet another fine example of Industry and Work and Income assisting Northlanders move off a benefit into full time sustainable employment.
