The Northern Territory news Wed 22 Aug 2018
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2018-08-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/301480
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/368561
16 BUSINESS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22 2018 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 A few words of advice from an accountant transformed a husband-and-wife company. Darwin Sheetmetal & Laser Cutting was started by Peter Grandey in in 1996 and taken over by his daughter Trish and son-in-law Ashton Simpson in 2009. The company was doing well but the new owners wanted better. So they asked their trusted accountant for advice and he encouraged them to use a popular Northern Territory Government initiative called the Business Growth Program. The program, which is managed by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, offers information, funding and development services to improve the performance, profitability, Nathan Powell at work with Power and Water colleague Rohit Khan employment levels and market penetration of Territory businesses, notfor-profit organisations and Aboriginal enterprises. It is part of the Governments comprehensive start.run.grow initiative, which helps Territory businesses get off the ground or expand. Trish and Ashton accessed the program several times, each with fantastic results. The Business Growth Program paid for them to bring in a consultant to implement ways to improve their work procedures, safety, customer liaison and work health. We were able to give the way we operate a complete overhaul, Trish says. They used the grants to bring in a consultant to work out ways to make the business more efficient and competitive and then put in place those recommendations. The Business Growth Program has been invaluable to us, says Trish. It has helped our business grow into a moderate-sized company, keeping Territory manufacturing where it belongs. Our consultant helped accommodate many ways of performing better for our customers. As a growing company, recommendations included DSM creating and implementing more specialist and specific roles for the team, and also stock and sell quality stainless and aluminium sheets direct to the NT. Darwin Sheetmetal & Laser Cutting specialises in sheet metal, stainless steel and aluminium fabrication, and laser cutting, across several industries, including the NT construction industry, oil and gas, mining and local government. All of our staff are long-term, says Trish. Its not easy to recruit and retain talented staff in the Territory, so weve created a fantastic and thriving workplace a company in which our team has the opportunity to develop and help Darwin Sheetmetal build the Territory. Ashton and I would thoroughly recommend the Governments comprehensive start.run.grow initiative, both for businesses in similar manufacturing fields and beyond. For more information on the Business Growth Program visit startrungrow.nt.gov.au Nathan Powell was 37 when he decided to quit his job as a police officer and become an electrician. Policing is a great job but its very stressful, he says. I wanted to do something for myself and my young family. Nathan is a finalist in the Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year Award. The award is the highlight of the NT Training Awards, the Territorys premier training awards administered by the Northern Territory Governments Department of Trade, Business and Innovation. Nathan, who works for the Power and Water Corporation, was nominated because he has been outstanding in all aspects of his training. He succeeded in his ambition to finish his apprentice Finding a new career through training ship by his 41st birthday. His final exams were a couple of days either side of Cyclone Marcus, which meant a lot of last-minute swatting and a lot of overtime with Power and Water making sure Top Enders were safe. Nathan, who was supported during his training by Power and Water, GTNT and Australian Apprenticeships, says becoming a sparky was a straightforward decision he had enjoyed making gadgets as a child and his dad was an auto electrician. He has won stage 2 and stage 3 of the GTNT Apprentice of the Year awards, was a finalist in the 2017 Master Builders Apprentice of the Year and is again a finalist for the 2018 Master Builders Apprentice of the Year. The former detective senior constable is now studying for a diploma in electrical supply. I thoroughly enjoy working for Power and Water the job is challenging, youre always having to think. Im learning so much. The father-of-three says its never too late to learn a trade. If youre thinking about becoming a tradie, talk to someone in the industry to make sure thats really what you want to do. You cant go wrong having a good trade behind you. But dont become a tradie because you can. Do it because you want to. Tickets to the NT Training Awards Gala dinner are on sale now. Visit trainingawards.nt.gov.au Borroloola school team in Darwin as part of the leadership program start.run.grow. assisting in the growth of NT businesses Welder Brett Cawdrey at work at Darwin Sheetmetal ... the company says help from the NT Governments Business Growth Program was fantastic Borroloola students benefit from leadership program Indigenous students are matching their love of football with a love of learning. The Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre named after the legendary Indigenous Territory footballer has had many successes since it opened in 2015. More than 700 students from 21 remote communities have taken part in the Centres leadership program. But the organisation is not resting on its laurels and has launched a new program focused on education leading to a job. The original leadership program harnesses the power of football to inspire students to attend school and make good behavioural choices. It focuses on 1213 year old students with a strong emphasis on the importance of completing secondary education. Students engage in footballthemed literacy and numeracy sessions daily throughout the program, and experience a range of teambuilding and leadership exercises. There is an expectation that students will continue to role-model this leadership to their peers after returning to their communities, further enhancing the reach and impact of the program. The new five-day program is based on the core elements of what has proved a successful model, but will focus on the newly developed Employment Pathways Curriculum for students aged 14-17 developed in partnership with the Department of Education. Twelve boys and girls attending the new-look program are from Borroloola School. Centre programs manager Rychelle Vines says: The aim is to help the students grow in confidence and motivation, and to make school relevant to work. The initiative is funded by McAr thur River Mine, which is also the platinum sponsor of the Skills, Employment and Careers Expo, run by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation. Students will engage in job-readiness lessons, including telephone skills, occupational health and safety requirements, and resume writing before applying to complete an introduction to work experience at AFLNT, NORFORCE and Aboriginal Broadcasting Australia. They are also touring Charles Darwin University and going to Parliament House to meet Cabinet Minister Gerry McCarthy, who was principal of their school for six years. The students who were chosen by Borroloola School based on their good attendance and behaviour will wrap up the new leadership program by attending the Skills, Employment and Careers Expo. The expo has been travelling the Territory and ends at Darwin Convention Centre 8.30am-2.30pm on Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturday. Entry is free. For more information on the Skills, Employment and Careers Expo, visit skillsemploymentexpo.nt.gov.au