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NEWS AND E V ENT SVOLUME 8 _NUMBER 3

S E P T EMBER 2 0 1 4

Maritime programthrows lifeline totroubled youth“School held absolutely nointerest for me and I just couldnot see the point of bothering toturn up.”For 15-year-old Michael, high school waslittle more than an environment where hisconf idence was routinely sapped and hisself-esteem undermined.

Illiteracy, unstable home lives, substanceabuse, health issues and personal turmoilare just some of the catalysts for students toretreat from school life.

When Michael’s regular absenteeism andnon-existent grades came to the attention ofthe Department of Education, he wasintroduced to Challenger Institute.

For more than a decade the Maritime YouthProgram (MYP), conducted at Challengerand funded by the Education Department,has been throwing a career lifeline tostruggling high school-age students likeMichael.

Students who complete the six-week MYPcourse attain a Certif icate I in FishingOperations and a Recreational SkippersTicket.

The Education Department’s ParticipationUnit identif ies students who might benef itfrom the MYP. Sometimes the schools alertthe unit to students who requireintervention. Other students, includingthose who have moved to new suburbs andnot engaged with their new local school, areidentif ied when they turn up at youthcentres, charities or other support agencies.

Challenger marine and logistics lecturerAndrew Ings has orchestrated and witnessedthe difference the course can make to thelives of the teenagers who stick it out.

“We've had young people who have barelyattended high school turn their lives aroundcompletely,” he said.

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Welcome to the September edition of Waves.

A message from the Challenger executive team

Cover: Certif icate III in Sports TurfManagement graduate Luke Cooney.

This column comes from the Challengerexecutive team, who have all spent timeover the past couple of months in theCEO’s chair while Liz Harris has beenenjoying some well-deserved longservice leave.

The upskilling of the executive teamforms just one part of the institute’sfocus on growing the collectivecapability of its people throughproviding relevant learning and careerenhancement opportunities for all staff.

Following the same theme, on page 9you can read about Sew Leng Puah, aformer Challenger engineering studentnow teacher at the institute’s AustralianCentre for Energy and Process Training.

Ms Puah, who is thriving in her newrole, was encouraged by her lecturers toapply for a teaching positon at thecentre based on her positive trainingexperience and achievements in herstudies.

It’s the discretionary and unwaveringeffort of all Challenger staff that hasresulted in a period of great success andrecognition across the institute.

In particular, the hospitality and tourismtraining area has added yet anotherprestigious state award to an alreadyvery full trophy cabinet.

The area’s Quinlan’s Training Restaurant claimed its fourth consecutive Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering HOSTPLUS Award for Excellence (WA) at the recent awards ceremony. Quinlan’s has won Best Restaurant in a Training Institute category every year since the award’s induction, testament to the hard work and dedication of hospitality staff and students (page 8).

The personal achievements andcommitment of Challenger students inrecent weeks has also been exceptional.

Again in the hospitality area, Challenger apprentice cook Morgan Keyte is representing Australia this month in the international Chaine des Rotisseurs Jeunes Commis competiton in South Africa. Morgan out-cooked six national competitors representing each state in Australia to earn this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (page 6-7).

Another young chef in the making,Taylor Wood, has been recently namedWA School Based Apprentice of the Year2014 at the WA Training Awards. Taylorwas among just 13 winners of individualand organisation categories chosenfrom a competitive f ield of 42 f inalists(page 6).

Taylor joined a strong team of fourindividual Challenger f inalists acrossthree categories at the awards.Challenger’s international area was alsoa f inalist in the International TrainingProvider of the Year 2014 category. It’sthe f irst time the institute has enteredthis award category and to be selectedas a f inalist in the f irst year of applyingis an outstanding achievement.

And to round off this purple patch ofsuccess our cover model this month,former Challenger student now cricketpitch curator Luke Cooney, has takenout Australia’s premier award for turfgraduates (page 5).

These accomplishments don’t gounnoticed and ref lect the high qualityand diversity of training and ongoingsupport provided at Challenger.

We hope you enjoy reading this editionof Waves.

The executive teamChallenger Institute of Technology

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“Some have gone on to pre-apprenticeships at majorshipbuilding companies in Henderson, others have foundwork on f ishing boats and with boat refurbishment f irms, orthey’ve found employment on the Rottnest Express and inother maritime and marine industries,” Mr Ings said.

Some students go on to complete the Certif icate II inFishing Operations or other maritime courses at Challenger.

For these successful students, careers as deckhands in theresources and f ishing sectors can await, while a handfulhave gone on to obtain integrated ratings and master classcertif icates that allow them to skipper large commercialvessels.

The collaboration between Challenger and the Departmentof Education provides an opportunity to tailor individualpathway plans for each of the young people to follow afterthe course.

Education Department engagement and transitions managerJoel Woods said the students’ diff icult backgroundssometimes elicited respect for the daunting obstacles theyhad overcome and dealt with in their lives. For others, a lackof conf idence had created a cycle of academic failure thatneeded to be broken.

Challenger lecturer Andrew Ings providesguidance to a Maritime Youth Program student.

“Education Department and Challenger representativesmeet regularly to discuss the course, what is working,what can be improved and to ensure that the expectedoutcomes from the funding are being achieved,” MrWoods said.

“The Maritime Youth Program is unique in WA andprovides an opportunity for our at-risk and disengagedyoung people to access a course that would usually beout of reach.

“With funding availability and Challenger's support, wehope to continue with this important program,” hesaid.

During a lesson on a Challenger training boat inFremantle Harbour, student Michael summed up howthe course changed lives.

“For the f irst time in my life, I feel like I am achievingsomething. The guys doing the course are now mymates and we’re not embarrassed in front of each otherif we get something wrong – it’s going alright foronce.”

“For the first time in my life, I feel like I amachieving something ... it’s going alright for once.”

Michael, 15, Maritime Youth Program student

Ryan clutches opportunity to accelerate career

“I grew up on a farm, so I’ve been aroundmotorbikes for most of my life,” he said.

“I want to be a motorcycle mechanic andhopefully have my own business one day.”

Ryan is enrolled in Challenger Institute’smotorcycle technology training course at itsstate-of-the-art Kwinana automotive campus.

Lecturer Peter Arthurell said the course allowedaspiring motorcycle mechanics to sharpen theirskills and car mechanic apprentices to broadentheir experience.

“It is part of the light automotive technologycourse, where students can choose to do car ormotorbike mechanics,” he said.

The course started last year when KawasakiAustralia donated equipment, including a1000cc road bike, to the institute.

“We’ve had great support from Kawasaki, sothe students get hands-on working withmotorcycles,” Mr Arthurell said.

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He said the Certif icate III in Motorcycle MechanicalTechnology was in its early days and creatingexcitement within the industry.

“It’s a nationally recognised motorcyclequalif ication delivered in an area of high motorcycleusage and demand,” he said.

The course prepares new employees and developsexisting workers performing mechanical work in theautomotive motorcycle service and repair industry.

Among the broad range of skills taught arediagnostics and the repair of electrical systems,testing and repairing motorcycle mechanicalsystems, transmissions and cooling systems,effective communication and health and safetypractices.

Hands-on: Lecturer Peter Arthurell withstudents Daniel Bucciarelli and Ryan Boyd.

Ryan Boyd loves anything to do with motorcycles and the 20-year-old is preparing to work in the area he is most passionate about.

Sports fields are Luke's turfA love of sport and the courage to look beyondeconomics has led to Challenger Institutestudent Luke Cooney winning Australia’spremier award for turf graduates.A graduate of Challenger’s Certif icate III in Sports TurfManagement, Luke’s National Australian Sports TurfGraduate Award was recently presented at a lavishceremony on the Gold Coast.

As part of the prize, Luke, now the cricket curator forHale School in Wembley Downs, will attend a sportsf ield conference in the United States and industryevents around Australia.

During the judging process Luke was required to delivera presentation and f ield questions from a panel ofjudges that included legendary former Adelaide Ovalcurator Les Burdett.

It’s the second time in three years a Challengergraduate has claimed this coveted award, followingRory Bairnsfather-Scott’s win in 2012. Rory went on towork as a groundsman at the WACA cricket ground.

The def ining moment in Luke’s new career came whenhe was in the third year of an economics degree.

“I was dreading the idea of spending 80 hours a weekstuck in an off ice making other people rich. At thesame time, the English curator at my local cricket clubgot homesick with six weeks to go in the season,leaving the club without anyone to roll the pitches,”Luke said.

“I put my hand up and, with nothing more than theknowledge gained from watching (late televisioncommentator) Tony Greig sticking a key in the wicketand some welcome advice from a WACA groundsman,got through the season.

“The next season the club offered me the role ofcurator, which I accepted with open arms, and a careerin the turf industry was born.”

Cricket pitch preparation is a craft that takes years tomaster and one in which Luke is quickly forging a namefor himself. He completed his apprenticeship during af ive-year stint at the University of Western Australiaand now prepares pitches alongside Hale’s director ofcricket, former Australian Test cricket captain KimHughes.

Luke singled out his Challenger lecturers as drivingforces behind his career transition and subsequentsuccess.

“Without a doubt, the best thing about my studies wasthe knowledge, experience and guidance of my lecturersWayne Miller, John Forrest, Jeff Austen and RobWilliams,” he said.

“The Challenger course at its Murdoch campus reallydoes equip you to succeed in this competitive industry.”

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Rolling the opposition: Luke Cooney willtour the United States as part of his

national award win.

An apprentice chef from HamiltonHill is hoping to cook up aninternational title after claimingfirst place in the Chaine desRotisseurs Jeunes Commisnational competition.Morgan Keyte, 20, out-cooked six nationalcompetitors representing each state inAustralia to secure the top prize, which hasseen him travel to South Africa to compete inthe f inal.

The Challenger Institute Certif icate III inCommercial Cookery student is in the f inalyear of his apprenticeship at MosmansRestaurant in Mosman Park.

Morgan said winning the competition was ahumbling experience.

“Participating in this world-acclaimedcooking competition with the calibre of chefsI was competing against was daunting buthighly rewarding,” Morgan said.

Young apprentice claims state’s top awardChallenger student Taylor Woodhas been named WesternAustralian School-BasedApprentice of the Year 2014.The award was announced at the recentWA Training Awards presentation dinner byTraining and Workforce DevelopmentMinister Kim Hames.

“The WA Training Awards is the premierevent that allows us to acknowledge andcelebrate high achievers in the state’svocational education and training sector,”Dr Hames said.

“The Awards’ judges were impressed withTaylor’s enthusiasm for her work and hercommitment to continue building on theskills she has already learned.

“I congratulate Taylor on her exceptionalaccomplishment.”

The Certif icate III in CommercialCookery student has a passion for herindustry and being able to create foodfor people to enjoy. This led her topursue a career in hospitality and tocarry out her school-based chefapprenticeship through HospitalityGroup Training, hosted by Matilda BayRestaurant.

Taylor is a strong advocate for theschool-based apprenticeship, as it hasallowed her to complete her WACertif icate of Education while alsogetting a head start on her career. She iskeen to share the experiences of hertraining pathway with others.

Taylor, a Peel campus student fromWarnbro, was among just 13 winners ofindividual and organisation categories,chosen from a competitive f ield of 42f inalists.

She will now represent WA at theAustralian Training Awards to be held inAdelaide in November.

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Taylor Wood accepts herWA Training Award.

Challenger’s kitchen rules

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“I was only 19 when I competed,making me the youngest and only non-qualif ied chef in the whole event.

“To think I was even considered worthyof entering the competition, let alonewinning it, is incredible. I’m stillpinching myself.”

The competition held at ChallengerInstitute’s student-operated trainingrestaurant, Quinlan’s, involved amystery box of nine ingredients thatthe competitors were required toincorporate into their three-coursemenu.

The chefs were assessed on theirkitchen skills and conduct as well as thepresentation and taste of their dishes.

Challenger hospitality lecturer PhilWestwood said Morgan’s f irst placetitle was most deserved and he shouldbe very proud of his achievements. MrWestwood will be joining Morgan ashis mentor at the international event.

“The competition this year demonstratedthat food awareness, knowledge andpresentation in some of our younger chefs ison par with the rest of the world,” MrWestwood said.

“Morgan is an exceptional young chef whohas a great understanding, passion and skillwith food. I truly believe Morgan has thetalent and ability to go as far as he wants togo in the cooking world.”

After Morgan completes his apprenticeshiphe hopes to travel overseas and gaincooking experience in different countries.

“The best thing about being a chef is thatyou can do this profession anywhere in theworld while being able to experience newcuisines and ways of cooking,” Morgan said.

“My career goal is to be a head chef by theage of 25. It’s ambitious but I’m conf ident Ican do it.”

Morgan will be representing Australia at theChaine des Rotisseurs Jeunes Commisinternational competition in Durban in SouthAfrica this September. Young chefs frommore than 20 countries will be participatingin the prestigious annual event, which hasbeen running since 1977.

The Chaine des Rotisseurs is an internationalgastronomic society founded in Paris in1950, with origins dating back to 1248. Thegoal of the society is to bring its memberstogether to celebrate their passion for f inecuisines, and to aid and encourage thedevelopment of young chefs worldwidethrough its national and internationalcompetitions.

Challenger’s School of Hospitality andTourism is a multi-award winning specialisttraining area that prepares students forcareers in commercial cookery, tourism,event management, food and beverageservice, accommodation services and kitchenoperations.

Students receive hands-on experience at theGold Plate Award-winning Quinlan'sTraining Restaurant. The school also offers a range of hospitality short courses.

Morgan Keyte in the Quinlan’s kitchen.

Training restaurant savoursaward number four Challenger Institute’s Quinlan’s TrainingRestaurant has won its fourth consecutiveSavour Australia Restaurant and CateringHOSTPLUS Award for Excellence (WA). Quinlan’s claimed the Best Restaurant in a Training Institutecategory at the prestigious awards ceremony held recently atthe Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Challenger Institute hospitality and tourism program managerLeo Smith said this was a fantastic achievement for theinstitute, especially given this category had only beenintroduced to the awards program four years ago.

“Quinlan’s has won this award every year since its induction,which is an unprecedented achievement,” Mr Smith said.

“This adds to our impressive awards honour list, including ourcoveted place in the WA Gold Plate Awards Prix D’Honneur andinduction into the WA Tourism Awards Hall of Fame last year.

“The quality of our training is unparalleled in the state, andI’m so proud of our hospitality, tourism and events staff andstudents who deserve this highest level of recognition fortheir hard work and dedication.

“The standard of food and service at our training restaurant is verypopular with the local community, and it’s not uncommon for therestaurant to be booked out several weeks in advance.”

Quinlan’s is located at the Beaconsf ield campus and is open forlunch and dinner during institute semesters. Quinlan’s on High,located on Fremantle’s High Street, is also open for a café-style lunchduring semesters.

The Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering HOSTPLUS Awards forExcellence are the most dependable and authoritative guide toAustralia’s best restaurants and caterers. The awards are judged by ateam of trained adjudicators who anonymously visit the venues todetermine the winners.

Logistics program yields results

Project YIELD (Youth Indigenous Education in LogisticsDisciplines), launched recently by the Chartered Institute ofLogistics and Transport Australia Incorporated (CILTA), willassist and mentor Aboriginal students as they enter theworkforce for the f irst time.

The program takes a hands-on approach, helping studentsgain employment within the transport and logistics sectorat the completion of their studies.

The program sources funding from government andindustry, with approved education providers deliveringschool-based certif icate II, III and IV transport, logisticsand warehousing courses.

At the completion of their schooling, the students areequipped with recognised qualif ications and assisted ingaining employment with metropolitan Perth and regionalWA companies.

Founded in 1919 in the United Kingdom, CILTA is today part of aworldwide organisation with more than 30,000 members.

Challenger’s involvement with CILTA’s WA chapter bolsters itsindustry networking capabilities. Challenger offers certif icatecourses in stevedoring and warehousing operations, and certif icateand diploma courses in logistics.

Challenger also collaborates with the WA Logistics Training Councilto provide the Abilities Pathways program, which helps seniorschool students make informed decisions about how to develop acareer in logistics.

Transport and logistics lecturer Stephen Goodlet said Challengergraduates return to their employers with a greater understanding ofprocess, structures and the need for productivity and eff iciencywithin the supply chain, along with new management skillsallowing them to progress into more senior positions within theprofession.

Challenger Institute has partnered with one of the world’s mostrespected international logistics and transport associations toprovide employment skills and education to Year 11 and 12 Aboriginalstudents throughout Western Australia.

Leo Smith and hospitality and tourism directorMargaret Gannaway with the four awards.

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Sew Leng Puah completed theChallenger and ChevronAustralia Women inEngineering program atChallenger’s Australian Centrefor Energy and ProcessTraining (ACEPT) in 2011.

The mother-of-two was topstudent of the course and waspresented with the 2011Chevron Way Award inrecognition of her outstandingachievements.

Ms Puah said completing theprogram gave her both theconf idence and skills toconsider teaching as ameaningful career pathway.

“After I completed theprogram I shared my positivetraining experiences with theACEPT program manager, andhe encouraged me to applyfor a teaching position at thecentre,” Ms Puah said.

“I was very fortunate to begiven the opportunity to teachat ACEPT where I take classesin process plant operations,technology and engineering.”

Ms Puah said the favouriteaspect of her role at ACEPT ismeeting students fromdifferent educational andcultural backgrounds, as wellas supporting more women toenter the oil and gas industry.

“I enjoy helping students gainthe knowledge and skillsrequired to be successful intheir careers, and promoteengineering to women as aunique and rewardingpathway into the resourcessector.”

Ms Puah has aspirationsto be involved indeveloping new trainingprograms for ACEPT inpartnership with industrybased on the success of theChallenger-Chevron Womenin Engineering model.

“In my experience, industry-supported programs reallyhelp provide the skilledworkers required by theresources sector,” Ms Puahsaid.

“The training experience atACEPT in particular is veryrelevant to industry becauseof the centre’s uniquesimulation and plant facilities,where students are exposedto ‘real life’ work scenarios.”

Former student engineers teaching careerA former Challenger Institute engineering student lovedher course of study so much she is now teaching it.

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The 35-year-old from Warnbro has forsaken the resourcesindustry for what he says will be an even more rewardingcareer in nursing.

Luke decided to take the plunge and study nursing atChallenger Institute’s Murdoch campus after more than 20years in the oil and gas sector.

He has completed a unique hospital-based nursing programrun by Challenger in partnership with St John of GodMurdoch Hospital (SJGMH), which students can undertakein one year.

“My working life began at a mining f irm with no set planother than just hoping to make some extra cash while Idecided what I wanted to do as a career,” Luke said.

“I have always been very grateful for the opportunitiespresented to me throughout my career, however, I wasbecoming increasingly dissatisf ied with my job and decidedit was time for a change.”

Challenger director health and community services AndreaQuintal said the Diploma of Nursing course was the onlyone of its kind in Western Australia.

“It is conducted entirely within a hospital setting andstudents are able to complete the course in 12 months ratherthan the standard 18 months,” Ms Quintal said.

“The diploma course is perfect for students like Luke who aremature-aged or returning to study and need to be able toadequately balance work-life commitments.

“The practical nature of the course is also another bonus asstudents are able to determine very quickly whether nursing isthe right career path for them.”

SJGMH workforce director Leanne Merchant said delivery ofthe program in a hospital environment allowed courseparticipants to experience “hospital life” and better equipthem to deal with the realities of the workplace.

Luke said he had not looked back since training withChallenger and would further his nursing studies this year atuniversity.

“I highly recommend enrolled nursing as an entry into thenursing profession,” he said. “It has been a great steppingstone for me coming from a completely unrelated f ield tomake the transition into a new career.

“As for day-to-day on the job, I love meeting new people andhearing their stories. It’s also nice to go home at the end of ahard day knowing that you helped make the day a littlebrighter for someone who is going through a rough patch.”

For successful oil and gas company director Luke Boston, the financial rewards ofhis profession were not enough to deter him from pursuing his dream career.

Career change swapsenergy for empathy

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Auto training on track for world renown11

Thirteen students from nineinternational locations have beenquick to take up the opportunity,enrolling in the Certif icate III inLight Automotive MechanicalTechnology course at ChallengerInstitute’s state-of-the-art Kwinanacampus.

Challenger automotive lecturerTravis Jenkins said the studentsalso had the opportunity toprogress to higher levelqualif ications, such as certif icateIV and diploma.

“There are a number ofopportunities for students upongraduation,” Mr Jenkins said.

“There are signif icant skills shortagesin general maintenance, as well asspecialty areas such as automatics,diagnostics and electrical, so jobprospects are good.”

Indonesian student ChristopherTanuwijaya is a fully qualif ied chefbut found himself drawn to theautomotive f ield.

“It’s my passion; there’s things aboutcars I am fascinated by, such as f indingout how things work and learning howto make cars go faster,” he said.

Recently, Christopher and fellowstudent Tian Hang from China weregiven the chance to pit-crew atPerth’s Barbagallo Raceway. Thestudents changed tyres and measuredthe temperature and tyre pressure ofthe competing race cars.

“The best part was getting to knowhow a mechanic works in a real-life situation. My dream is to oneday work with racing cars inFormula One,” Christopher said.

Challenger’s f irst internationalautomotive students are fromChina, France, Hong Kong,Indonesia, Ireland, Philippines,South Korea, Taiwan andZimbabwe.

(L-R) Lecturer Travis Jenkins withautomotive students Tian Hangfrom China and ChristopherTanuwijaya from Indonesia.

Challenger Institute’s world class automotive training in WesternAustralia is being offered to international students for the first time.

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challenger.wa.edu.au

Waves Magazine

To advise of a change of address please telephone (08) 9239 8301.

All other enquiries should be directed to theEditor, Waves Magazine.

Phone: (08) 9239 8301 Fax: (08) 9239 8555Email: media@challenger.wa.edu.auWebsite: challenger.wa.edu.au

Waves Magazine articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement.

INDUSTRY TRAINING AREASApplied Engineering/Oil and Gas

Building and Automotive TechnologyBusiness and IT

Community Services, Health, Sport and LifestyleFoundation and Cultural Studies

Hospitality and TourismMaritime Studies

Science and the Environment

SPECIALIST CENTRESAustralian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research (ACAAR)Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT)

COURSE INFORMATIONPhone: 1800 001 001

New language course speaks to Mandurah professionals

Challenger Institute will be able to providepeople in the Peel region with theirInternational English Language TestingSystem (IELTS) qualification with the start ofa new course.The preparation course aims to help people improvetheir English and attain the required IELTS levels tostudy and work in Western Australia as well asgetting their permanent residency.

The 15-week course is open to all visa types,including regional work visas, permanent residentsand Australian citizens.

Challenger’s English as an assisted languagecoordinator and lecturer Cheryl Cullen said thecourse was run in Perth but having it in Mandurahwould mean students with restricted timetables,children or those who did not want to travel couldtake the course.

“Most of the people who take these courses areprofessionals who need a high-level Englishqualif ication to be able to advance their careershere,” she said.

“Many of the students who have taken Challenger’sother general English classes have moved on toregular vocational education courses. English is astepping stone to further training and a bettercareer.”

Claudia Ester Juan was alreadyqualif ied as an accountant and aprimary school teacher before shemoved to Australia but will undertakethe IELTS course to f inish requalifyingso she can work.

“Taking this course will also help withmy conf idence when I do enter theworkplace.

“I’m also doing a recognition of priorlearning course at Challenger, where Ido the classes that are different to theones I learned already, such as anAustralian tax law unit.

“It’s great to have this available inMandurah, as there’s a strong needhere.”

Lecturer Cheryl Cullenassists IELTS studentClaudia Ester Juan.