Good Training Practice - Case Studies
Bally Glunin Park: training for new futures on the land
Like Hamilton farmer, Michael Blake, changes to the Victorian training system encourage lifelong learning.
‘Knowledge is power’: Michael Blake has the old aphorism taped to his desk at Bally Glunin Park, his 1800 hectare grazing and farming property in Hamilton. The message may be well-worn, but Michael believes it is no less true for that - and all the more easily underestimated. “My father was very future-minded,” he says, “and I was indoctrinated with the value of research. I never lost that passion.”
While producing prime lambs, yearling beef, fine-superfine merino wool, grain and fodder on Bally Glunin Park, Michael has also continued his father’s championing of education and training. Over the past fifteen years, as well as seeing six apprentices through their Certificates in Agriculture (beef and sheep and wool production streams), he has employed around 20 trainees and another 30-40 work-experience students.
Michael is a passionate believer in continuous up-skilling and upgrading of qualifications for all ages and this is something the Victorian Government’s major reform of the vocational training and education system are designed to encourage, particularly the Victorian Training Guarantee.
The Victorian Training Guarantee entitles eligible students to government subsidised training through a TAFE institute, university TAFE Division, Adult Community Education organisation, or private Registered Training Organisation (RTO). If a business is looking to up-skill its employees through any of these approved providers a government subsidy will be available to help them meet the cost of their training.
The Victorian Training Guarantee provides an opportunity for businesses to share the cost of training with Government for training for the skills they need to raise productivity and innovation. It is also designed to boost the skills and capabilities of their workforce.
Michael also has a Masters in Education and provides a variety of work experience and training opportunities for students, including an annual, five-day "pathways to industry" program for five secondary schools from the Hamilton area.
It’s no surprise then that Michael and Bally Glunin Park were welcome signees to the Victorian Skills Pledge. Another feature of the changes to the Victorian training system, the Victorian Skills Pledge is a public declaration by businesses of their commitment to skills development. Taking the Victorian Skills Pledge also gives businesses a range of marketing opportunities to show potential customers they are dedicated to up-skilling their staff to best-practice standards. It is open to businesses of all sizes across all industries.
Businesses of up to 200 full-time equivalent staff that sign the Victorian Skills Pledge also become eligible to receive assistance from the Victorian Government in delivering on their training commitment through Skills for Growth: the Workforce Development Program. This program provides eligible businesses with independent specialists to work with them – free of charge – to identify their strategic business aims and objectives, assess the skills of their existing workforce and identify opportunities for skills development and training. A training plan is put together in consultation with the business, and the specialist helps to find the most appropriate accredited training available to support their needs.
Skills for Growth is open to all Victorian-based small and medium sized businesses in all industries. To be eligible, the business must have been in operation for at least 12 months and be financially viable.
Michael believes the maxim “knowledge is power” particularly applies to young people. “There’s a lot of doom and gloom attitude about, that the career paths for our industry have been destroyed,” he says, “but there’s tremendous potential for well trained young people. If they’re well trained, young people have an overview of industry that enables them to develop a whole range of career paths and, if they’re given the opportunity, young people are very enthusiastic,” he says.
As an employer, Michael believes staff training benefits everyone. “Staff who have a good understanding of what they are doing means better operations,” he says. “I require all my staff to get qualifications and I send them off to do accredited courses. My wife, my children and I have all done certifications. I recommend continuous training to everyone!”
For more information about changes to the TAFE and training system, including Skills for Growth, The Victorian Training Guarantee and The Victorian Skills Pledge, visit www.skills.vic.gov.au or contact Primary Skills Victoria on (03) 9210 9470.
Further case studies coming to this webpage soon.
