Industry, business & education join forces to train long-term unemployed for skill shortage 

Forsythes Recruitment, Wesley Uniting Employment (WUE), TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute and RPC Technologies (Reinforced Plastic Composites) have joined forces to train long-term unemployed as fibreglassers to fill a critical skill shortage in the fibreglassing and plastic composites industry. 

"RPC a leading supplier of corrosion resistant structural fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) fabrications; piping and ducting systems; acid-resistant, heavy duty linings; and specialist composite products, secured a project to supply pipe work for the desalination plant planned for Sydney. The project is expected to continue for up to 12 months with a need for staff numbers to increase around July 2008. In order to accommodate the extra workload the project will create, RPC approached us to supply additional staff working full time hours on an ongoing casual basis," said Forsythes Recruitment partner, Mr Geoff Crews.

"Knowing there was an extreme skill shortage in this area we engaged both our own search strategy, led by Forsythes Consultant James Alexander, and commenced discussions with WUE, Hunter TAFE and RPC to supply, train and introduce new people to the industry. It all came together through the cooperation of all parties concerned,” Mr Geoff Crews went further to say.

"Working closely with Forsythes, Wesley Uniting Employment put forward candidates who needed work and were ready to be trained,” said Ms Jennifer Ross, Acting Branch Manager - Newcastle, Wesley Uniting Employment.  

“Following consultation with all concerned, Hunter TAFE developed a customised course to specifically meet the requirements of the client. The section successfully tailored a flexible course from national competencies in the Certificate II in Plastic Composites course which focused on skill development in fibreglassing and laminating, based at Newcastle Campus,” said Ross Mitchell, Head Teacher of Marine Craft Construction and Composite Technology at Hunter TAFE 

“Students trained in OH&S, basic laminating skills and received tuition in chemical resistant laminates.  The collaboration with Forsythes, Wesley Uniting Employment and the client has been a great success, and represents Hunter TAFE’s engagement with industry, business and the community,” Mr Mitchell said. 

"The course started on May 26 2008 and included a week’s component of work experience before commencing the successful graduates into paid work on site with RPC. Of the fourteen participants that have now completed the course, nine have commenced employment working 38hrs per week, with the remaining five to start work next week,” said Mr Crews.

"It has been a pleasure to work with Forsythes who have been proactive in making sure we have quality staff needed to work on this project. We are very happy with the first batch of graduates, and the training provided has ensured that all graduates have developed specific job ready skills and are very employable. The whole process has been extremely rewarding for all concerned and we look forward to another 16 or more fully trained staff in the near future,” said RPC Production Manager, Mr Trevor Hopewell.

Forsythes Recruitment is this region’s largest locally owned and operated recruitment firm with branches in Newcastle and the Central Coast and formal recruitment alliances nationally and throughout the world.

Wesley Uniting Employment provides information for job seekers including career and job search hints and tips, how to prepare and apply for work, and the types of assistance available whist looking for work. Wesley helps match job skills to available jobs. Over the past year Wesley Uniting Employment has assisted thousands of people re-enter the workforce throughout the Hunter.

Over the past 100 years, TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute has become a highly respected provider of quality vocational education and training with 15 campuses spanning the Hunter, Upper Hunter and Central Coast regions, offering over 500 courses to more than 50,000 students each year.

RPC provides a full range of reinforced plastics and composites products together with specialty fabrications tailored to customer requirements. It serves a broad assortment of industries including defence, water and wastewater, power and mining, process, aerospace and marine.