Ginninderry ready to light more SPARKS
If you want a life-changing opportunity to forge a new career, is this the year you consider joining Ginninderry’s newest SPARK intake?
The SPARK program is Ginninderry’s unique training and employment initiative born out of its commitment to improving the education, social, and economic outcomes of residents within the region. Applications are now open for the first initiative of 2024 – a Renewables Pre-employment Program for Migrants/Refugees – with more courses on the way.
In partnership with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and Neoen, the program will deliver an innovative course focused on supporting and up-skilling migrants and refugees living in the Capital Region, with the aim of providing employment pathways in the local renewables sector. Participants will not only have the opportunity to get the standard working tickets to enter a construction site (White Card, Silica and Asbestos Awareness), but the program will also provide non-accredited training in Australian Workplace Culture, Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Conversational English. Participants will also be given the Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE) that they need to work, be able to undertake site tours to renewable energy sites around the region, and hear from guest speakers from within the industry.
Since its inception in 2016, the award-winning training and employment program has delivered significant outcomes, including 1672 training places, 707 work experience placements and 845 jobs. Ginninderry has engaged The Umbrella Collective in partnership with UnitingCare Kippax to again deliver a number of training programs over the coming 12 months.
Ginninderry’s Head of Sustainability and Community Development, Jessica Stewart, has seen firsthand how the SPARK training and employment initiative has positively influenced the lives of its participants, and is particularly excited to launch this year’s program.
“SPARK has always been an important initiative for the team at Ginninderry. SPARK offers a different way of learning and up-skilling for those people who are disconnected from the labour market. It is a unique opportunity to get into training and employment pathways that some people might not otherwise have the chance to participate in”, said Jessica.
All SPARK programs in 2024 will be fee-free for participants. “The cost of training is often a barrier for many people – particularly with the current cost of living crisis,” she said.
“SPARK puts the needs of its participants first – providing case management and wrap-around support so that each person can focus on learning the skills of their trade. SPARK is all about giving participants the confidence in themselves, providing them with greater skills and knowledge so they can continue further training, gain work experience or progress into employment”, said Jessica.
She noted that the wrap-around support, the PPE, the networking opportunities and site tours also gives SPARK participants a much greater insight into the industry and the confidence and skills to get a job or continue to further qualifications.
Looking forward, Ginninderry plans to deliver further fee-free programs in Civil Construction, General Construction and Early Childhood Education and Care through 2024 and 2025. Ginninderry also continues to include work experience and job placement requirements into key procurement contracts for capital works and provides live training sites for use as outdoor classrooms to build new skills for the community.
Past participants have given whole-hearted thanks for the ways in which SPARK has changed their professional circumstances as well as the ways in which it has enhanced their self-esteem.
Bree credits SPARK with allowing her to transition out of an industry that she wasn’t happy in (hospitality) and move into one she has always wanted to be a part of – construction.
She took the plunge to leave her career as a chef and retrain with SPARK’s Women in Civil Construction Program.
“I am now working in civil construction, I am seeing friends, gaining confidence and I love that every week is different,” she said. Despite her initial nervousness, Bree found SPARK to offer “a very good environment, everyone is so uplifting, everyone is positive and happy.”
Another graduate, Mark, found himself lacking direction after moving to Yass to help care for his ageing parents.
Despite a constant search for work and undertaking a series of short courses in order to build up his skill set, Mark continued to languish. He felt hopeless and alone before making the decision to enrol in the Horticulture and Land Management Program.
“I’m really glad I participated. It gave me something to do, it got me outdoors and I was learning so that made me happy,” Mark said.
Mel Lyons, Mark’s mentor, said he quickly made an impression on the group with his knowledge and generous spirit.
“He came out of his shell and started to be an integral part of the group. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in different areas and he was really willing to share that with other participants, which was lovely to see.”
Mark was also a dedicated beekeeper and a surplus of bees saw him approach Ginninderry to see whether he could keep some in the gardens there.
After consultations with Ginninderry’s Sustainability Manager Jess Stewart, Mark set up some hives and Ginninderry now proudly produces its own local honey.
