Dual award winner: Guo-Jie Lay
At the recent Box Hill Institute of TAFE automotive awards ceremony, VACC Auto Apprenticeships apprentice won two awards. Guo–Jie was awarded with the first prize for Level Two Studies for Certificate III in Automotive – Light Vehicle Mechanics.
He was also the winner of the prestigious Pursuit of Excellence Award for his studies in the Certificate II pre apprenticeship course.
“I was really shocked when they called my name out for the Level Two Light Vehicle Mechanics awards and I was even more surprised when I won the Pursuit of Excellence award,” Guo–Jie said.
“Just to be nominated for the awards and to attend such a nice evening is fantastic and I’m very happy that I have been able to win two awards – it’s like I’ve been dreaming.”
When Guo–Jie finished Year 12 at Secondary School, he went on to study for a Bachelor of Computer Science course at Monash University. However, after two years of studying this course he knew his real career passion was to be a motor mechanic and develop his hands on skills.
So he stopped the University course and proceeded to undertake a pre apprenticeship course at Box Hill Institute. He thought this would give him a better chance to be successful for a Certificate III full time apprenticeship.
VACC Auto Apprenticeships Field Manager Steve Tye Din said Guo–Jie has just turned into a second year apprentice motor mechanic and currently works at Nunawading Toyota in Nunawading.
“Guo–Jie is a keen, diligent and hard working apprentice. He has a cheerful personality and gets along well with all his work colleagues.
I’m very pleased that the teachers at Box Hill Institute have recognised his efforts towards his School studies and he can look forward to a successful career in the automotive industry,” Steve said.
Guo–Jie is happy that he started an apprenticeship and feels the automotive industry has a lot to offer him in the future. “My broad goals for the rest of my apprenticeship are to learn as much as I can as the cars are getting so technologically advanced.
"When I finish my apprenticeship I intend to do more advanced courses and go on to become a Toyota Master technician,” he added.
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WorldSkills Winner: Sam Cosentino
In a recent day long event at Chisholm Institute’s Dandenong campus, VACC Auto Apprenticeships apprentice Sam Cosentino won the regional award for the Motor Mechanics category in the WorldSkills competition.
Worldskills is an organisation that provides young people an opportunity to gain new skills, compete against their peers in their chosen trade and fast track their skills and career development.
Over seven hours of competition, competitors undertook a series of repair and diagnosis tasks on identical vehicle parts and systems to demonstrate their trade skills and knowledge.
Tasks included checking disc brake run out, measuring drum brake internal diameters, rebuilding master cylinders and flushing brake fluid systems. Other task sections were inspecting vehicle roadworthiness condition, engine misfire and cooling system diagnosis and timing belt replacement.
Sam is currently a fourth year apprentice motor mechanic working at Central Star Auto Haus – an authorised Mercedes Benz dealership in Berwick.
“I felt very happy and thankful to be nominated and compete in the regional Worldskills competition, but to go on and win the award was absolutely fantastic. I was quite nervous before the start of the competition but once it got underway I was fine because I was too busy concentrating on what task I was doing,” Sam said.
VACC Auto Apprenticeships Field Manager Steve Tye Din who nominated Sam for the competition said he was proud of Sam’s achievements.
“For Sam to compete in this competition against his peers and to win the regional final is a very fine achievement. Winning this competition will inspire Sam to focus on any of his skill developmental needs and this will increase his knowledge and abilities even more. He can look forward to a bright future in the automotive industry and I wish him every success for his future and the upcoming National competition,” Steve said.
The WorldSkills National competition will be held this year at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland from the 7 – 9 May, 2010. Visit the WorldSkills website for more information.
Sam added, “I’m busy studying and building up on my trade skills with the National competition only a few months away. I really appreciate the support I’ve been given from the VACC, my Service Manager Gary Henderson and all my workmates at Central Star Auto Haus.”
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Auto Passion Rewarded: Dion Eleftheriou
VACC Auto Apprenticeships apprentice Dion Eleftheriou was recently awarded as the Audi Apprentice of the Year for his Year Two studies at Audi Apprentice Training School.
Dion is currently a second year apprentice motor mechanic working at Audi Centre Melbourne.
“I was really happy win this award as I wasn’t expecting anything like this. I know I’ve worked hard and I’m always doing some self study in my room trying to increase my knowledge – I feel quite proud,” Dion said.
Dion attended Sunshine Senior Secondary College and successfully completed year 12. He then enrolled into a computer course at university but soon found he was not enjoying it and the love of tinkering with family and friends cars finally got the better of him.
Knowing this was his real passion in a career, he applied to VACC Auto Apprenticeships where he was successful in gaining an apprenticeship with them and was hosted out to Audi Centre Melbourne.
VACC Auto Apprenticeships Field Manager, Steve Tye Din said, “Dion is a friendly and popular person in the workshop. He is progressing very well in his workshop service and repairs skills and I’m very pleased to see him achieve the recognition and win such a fine award.”
With Audi vehicles being so technologically advanced and presenting interesting challenges, Dion commented, “I’m always learning something new in the workshop or when I go to Audi School. My future goals are to continue on at Audi Centre Melbourne when I finish my apprenticeship and keep improving my skill levels and try and stay abreast of the rapid technology change in these vehicles.”
Dion will be officially presented with his award at the all new Audi Centre Sydney dealership in late November.
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VACC HRT Apprentices at Bathurst 2009
As part of an apprentice incentive program VACC has established a partnership with Holden Motor Sport incorporation the Holden Racing Team, Walkinshaw Racing.
The Program allows VACC to nominate apprentices to participate in a voluntary position with one of the race car teams. The two Apprentices who were lucky enough to get pick were Adrian French (right) and Like Zimmer (left), both 3rd-year apprentices at Garry & Warren Smith Holden Oakleigh.
The guys were picked due to their outstanding work ethic and passion for the trade. Both were integrated as part of the HRT Toll Race Team for the full duration of the event including the road trips with the pit crew. They experienced the adrenaline of being part of the winning team of the Bathurst 1000 for 2009.
VACC, Adrian and Luke would like to thank Gary & Warren Smith Holden Oakleigh for giving the guys time off to gain this exhilarating experience and knowledge.
Congratulations Adrian and Luke!
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Apprenticeship Information Sessions for Employers in various Victorian regional centres from November 9-24, 2009. Learn how employing an apprentice can benefit your business, as well as protect you from the worsening skills shortage.
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September 2009 - Hallam college wins training award
HALLAM Senior College has taken out a 2009 State Government Victorian Training Award. The school received the VET Schools Excellence Award for its on-site Trades Training Centre...view article
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Some of our apprentices and partners have been featured in the news!
October 10, 2008 - Media release - VACC Apprentice wins top Australian Scholarship
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And more inspiring stories about automotive apprentices on the government apprenticeships website.
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Read about the 2009 Herald Sun Melbourne Career Expo which was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 24-26, 2009. Some pictures from the event can be found here.
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From 1 July 2009, the Australian Government is introducing a new approach to employment services: Job Services Australia. Read more here.
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The Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) is proud to announce the VACC as their Premier Partner. Over the next five years, the VACC and the Automotive Centre of Excellence will work together to promote and increase the awareness of career opportunities and training within the automotive sector; and VACC apprenticeships. In turn the Automotive Centre of Excellence via naming rights to the VACC Walk will work to establish the brand connection between the peak automotive body for the industry and the peak automotive training facility and increase community awareness of the VACC brand.
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Apprentices might also be interested in other automotive news and events which are listed via the VACC News and Advocacy website.
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