September - October, 2011

Message from the Managing Director

Welcome to our latest newsletter. Please let me introduce Mr Paul Kulpa our newly appointed Operations Manager. Paul will take responsibility for this column in the coming editions.

As Brett has mentioned, I have recently commenced as the Operations Manager at MIT.

I have come to MIT from Automotive Skills Queensland (ASQ). ASQ is the peak industry body for providing strategic skills and training information to the state government for the automotive retail, service and repair industry.

One thing ASQ taught me is that working in the automotive industry provides many challenges given its dynamic nature with changes in technology, environmental expectations, OH&S regulations, legislative requirements, customer expectations and workforce demands all wrapped up in an unpredictable economic climate. It is amazing that businesses are able to negotiate their way around these elements and still carry out their core business!

I look forward to working with you through MIT and bringing you future newsletters to give you an insight into some of our automotive skilling and training news and where MIT might be able to help you in your business.

In this issue we highlight:

• Our association’s new facility at Eight Mile Plains;
• Anthony Bonaccorso, Business Development Manager, talks about the value of pre-apprenticeships;
• How MIT diesel training is enhanced by Isuzu D-MAX donation;
• Overcoming obstacles that some apprentices face; and
• Congratulate MIT’s Student of the Month.

I hope you enjoy the read and I look forward to communicating with you in future issues.

Kind Regards,
Paul Kulpa
Operations Manager
MIT Institute of Technology

New Building

Our Association’s new facility at Eight Mile Plains is “progressing well” according to MTA Institute of Technology managing director, Brett Dale. “We are working with Skills Tech in the Paint and Panel set up and our aim is to have the entire fit out completed before the end of October, giving us a fully operational centre at the start of the New Year.”

Taking the initiative

MIT business development manager, Anthony Bonaccorso, said that from advertisement placed in the local paper, Jacob Noonan contacted MIT regarding the pre-apprenticeship program, which has led to full time employment with MTA member Sunshine Coast Honda.

“Jacob applied to do the pre-app course through us after reading the ad in the local paper,” said Bonaccorso.

“The pre-apprentice course takes a student to just under a Cert II level, and they are offered job placement and/or work experience to assist them in securing a full time employment role as an apprentice leading to a qualification,” he added.

Whilst Noonan was undergoing the course at MIT in Cannon Hill, Sunshine Coast Honda service manager Brett Sweet, telephoned Bonaccorso, asking about getting an apprentice in for a few weeks.

Noonan was sent to Sweet, and after three weeks, he was offered an apprenticeship with full time employment. MIT technical trainer, Darryl Shiels, will facilitate Noonan’s Cert III in Auto Technology. Sweet couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

“Jacob is a good fit and he’s productive thanks to his pre apprentice course experience,” said Sweet.

Noonan’s immediate goal is to gain his qualification and consider the many options that are open to him from there.

“I have a high interest in diesel fitting,” he said.

The just-turned 21 year old will be spending time with family and friends on the Gold Coast at the end of July.

MIT diesel training enhanced by Isuzu D-MAX donation

Isuzu UTE Australia has donated a D-MAX ute to MIT (MTA Institute of Technology) – the major provider of automotive technical traineeships and apprenticeships in Queensland.

Caption:
Isuzu’s Hitoshi Kono (left) and MIT’s managing director, Brett Dale, at the presentation of the D-MAX ute; with MIT technical trainer Richard Pope (far right) and apprentice Tad Lealia.

Isuzu’s managing director, Hitoshi Kono, was present for the handover and said that his company was pleased to support MIT.

“Diesel engines are becoming more popular on Australian roads. What better product to learn on than an Isuzu diesel engine – the pioneer of diesel engines,” said Kono.

MIT managing director, Brett Dale, said the donation was a great gesture and will prove to be an excellent training aid.

“The Isuzu Ute will provide our students and trainers with access to the latest technology,” said Dale.

“It will greatly improve the simulation in training as the modern vehicle replicates real world fleet exposure to our students.

“The diesel engine further adds to the currency of training as the diesel fuel technology has become particularly import over recent years.

“With the increase in fuel prices and concerns about climate change, the demand will grow and skilling our technicians in this technology is even more important today,” he added.

The MIT chief also said that the D-Max will be used for training on a daily basis in MIT’s simulated workshop and it will be accessed for training by hundreds of technical students throughout the year - and many more to come in future years.

“We will be relocating to a State of the Art training facility at Eight Mile Plains,” said Dale.

“The facility has been purpose built with extensive consultation with industry to ensure that it simulates best practice and industry standards.

“The donation of the Isuzu Ute will certainly complement our objectives to provide access to world class facilities and training fleet,” Dale concluded.

Automotive Access Program

The Australian Government has approved MTA Institute of Technology to deliver a prevocational model of training to assist eligible candidates back into the workforce. This program is specifically designed for applicants who may be having some difficulty securing an apprenticeship in the current economic climate.

Overcoming obstacles

The first step Thomas Hayes took after he was dissatisfied with events at his workplace was to withdraw from his apprenticeship - but after that, he wasn’t quite sure what direction to take.

When MIT staff received his cancellation notice, they contacted Thomas and listened to his experience, then offered him a solution that would help bring him back to the trade.

Hayes agreed to come to MIT’s Cannon Hill location for a 3-week Block Release training program for 1st year apprentices, and while the training was in progress, the staff received a call from an employer that was looking to hire an apprentice.

Jamie Eade of Pro Tune Performance in Geebung agreed to take Thomas on for a 2-week work experience trial placement, and it was during this period that Eade offered Hayes a full time job.

“Thomas is a good mechanic – he’s got good instincts and he is passionate about the business,” said Eade.

“He’s got a lot to offer and he doesn’t want to waste time,” he added.

Working alongside Eade and mechanic Adrian Hinsch, Hayes’ MIT training is with technical trainer Graham Macmillan, who will see the apprentice on through to qualification in Cert III Auto Mechanical light vehicle.

Being able to re-engage with apprentices, who for one reason or another decide to drop out of the program, is a passion of MIT business development manager, Anthony Bonaccorso.

“Our retention methods give us the care factor,” said Bonaccorso.

“Following up on a cancellation can literally turn someone’s life around.

“When they understand that we really do care, that we can find a solution for them, and that we can and do organise all of the funding and so forth, then those who really do want to stay with the industry can do that, even when they might have thought that one shot was their only chance,” he explained.

“For example, Thomas Hayes is a young, enthusiastic automotive student who is keen about the industry and this trade. After we contacted him about his cancellation, he took the initiative to get himself organised and he found a way to attend our in-house training, which led to an early placement with a new employer,” Bonaccorso added.

Pro Tune Performance – dyno, parts, injection
Ph 3265 7555
Mob 0448 500 800
Owner: Jamie Eade
58 Delta St., Geebung 4034

High performance apprentice

May’s MIT student of the month was Casey Spencer of Bay City Honda, Nissan & KIA, in Hervey Bay.

Spencer, trained by MIT technical trainer Terry Palfrey, said that whilst he has been working as a mechanic for eight years, it was only recently that he undertook the Cert III Auto Mechanical light vehicle in order to reach qualification.

“My biggest achievement was three years ago when a customer brought in a new FG F6 Falcon with 600 kilometres on the clock,” said Spencer.

“The customer told me to ‘make it better’ and money was no object,” he added.

After a month of research and two intense days of work by Spence and his team to strip the car of all if its un needed parts, followed by four days to rebuild it, then two more days to have it tuned by one of the world’s top Ford tuners, the car, according to Spencer, “was and still is a car that I and many others could not believe was possible from it was to what it had become.”

MIT trainer Terry Palfrey said that since commencing his apprenticeship, Spencer has continued to impress both him and Spencer’s employer by never walking away from any difficult job.

“Casey always stays back to finish jobs and he always happy and polite to everyone,” Palfrey said.

“He has rebuilt several performance engines, calculated formulas for engine rebuilds and has refitted gearboxes, diffs and transfer cases on many later model cars.

“Casey has also become very knowledgeable in using scan tools and diagnosing E.F.I. problems and he always has his workbooks done on time. He has certainly helped this dealership’s Nissan dealer rankings, concluded Palfrey.

In recognition for his achievement, Casey Spencer received a 24pc 3/8in 6pt. Flank Socket Set, donated to the Student of the Month program by Force Tools – www.forcetools.com.au

Frontline Management

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge required to perform effectively as a manager, team leader or workshop manager. It will develop your skill base and knowledge and create a greater awareness of management practices.