Apprenticeships, Employment & Training Provider | VERTO
VERTO is an award winning, not-for-profit organisation assisting businesses and individuals with all their apprenticeship, employment and training needs. Our expertise covers a range of areas including Aboriginal services, Australian apprenticeships services, disability services, employment services and vocational training to help businesses, individuals and local industry to thrive. Our mission is to positively impact the lives of individuals and communities and we’ve built a track record of exemplary customer service over 35 years, built around an ethical approach.You'll find the team in over 40 locations across New South Wales.
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How we can all help Regional Australia to recover
By Ron Maxwell - CEO
Long before this year's disastrous bushfire season, many of Australia's regional communities were already doing it tough, feeling the full impact of the drought. The recent bushfire crisis has really highlighted the need to help our regional communities, and there are many ways we can do this, from government responses to our own individual actions.
VERTO operates in regional communities across New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, many of whom are facing uphill battles, with drought and bushfires having a raft of emotional, economic, and social impacts. Having lived and worked in Central West NSW, this is a topic close to my heart. Many people I know, some of them VERTO team members and clients, are contributing all of their income to keeping cattle alive and family-run farms afloat in the face of dire water shortages.
We can't bring the rain to these drought-stricken communities or undo the devastation wrought by fires, but we can all play a part in boosting local economies and helping communities to continue to fight.
Government grants can have a wide-ranging impact
When handled correctly, regional grants can change the fortunes of a community. The impacts can go so much further than just the immediate project. Take, for example, a community that receives a grant to build a clubhouse at a local sporting venue. The initial build creates a number of local jobs and work opportunities, from architects to builders. This gives local businesses a boost and can help locals to develop new skills.
Once finished, the clubhouse can create opportunities in hospitality, hiring the space out, running a cafe, or simply encouraging more visitors from outside the community to come to sporting events and spend money. The flow-on can create jobs in tourism, hospitality, and events, to name just a few. It's about so much more than just the clubhouse building itself.
It must be about quality, not quantity
In order to have maximum impact, government grants must reach the right people and the right projects. In recent years, it has sometimes seemed to me to be more about quantity than quality – often inadequately funding a huge number of projects, instead of fully-funding a few critical ones and supporting them through to completion to realise the community benefits.
Helping a community to kick off an event or festival, for example, can be resource intensive, but a successful event can transform a community. A recurring event can have so many positive impacts, creating jobs, bringing in tourist dollars, and uniting the community with a shared sense of identity and values.
Individual initiatives have a big part to play
Government grants take time to issue and often get caught up in bureaucratic process, but we need to get behind regional Australia now. Individual initiatives, like Buy from the Bush and Empty Esky, are something we should all be getting behind.
These initiatives are all about getting out and visiting our regional communities, trying local produce, and supporting local growers, producers, and artists. It can make a real difference. As Buy from the Bush founder, Grace Brennan, said in her Australia Day address, it's not about charity, it's about investment.
Diverse regions with so much to offer
The best part about these grassroots campaigns is that they are not just about parting with your hard-earned money, they're about buying amazing experiences. While "regional Australia" is often talked about as a singular entity, the reality is that it is diverse, made up of tens of thousands of small towns, each with their own distinct culture, voices, produce, and environment.
Visit almost any town in regional Australia, and you will find a local restaurant or café that is serving the best of local produce, fresh off the farm, and likely half the price of an equivalent experience in a capital city.
While we wait for government responses to make it through the bureaucratic process, get in your car or on the train, and explore our great regions. You'll have some amazing experiences, help to rebuild communities, and create employment opportunities by supporting local farmers and businesses. It's a win/win.
Female Apprentices Break New Ground In Regional New South Wales
An apprenticeship is a great career path, one that is open to all Australians, however, there is no denying that some trades have long been considered male domains. This view is changing, as we see more women challenging assumptions and breaking new ground.
Apprenticeship Network Provider, VERTO, works across regional Australia, matching apprentices and employers, such as Sharni, the first female apprentice at Albury-based kitchen and cabinet manufacturer, QA Kitchens.
QA Kitchens have a strong apprenticeship program and have worked closely with VERTO to find apprentices for the last five years. The company says that Sharni has been an asset to the business and its culture. At the conclusion of her work placement, Sharni was offered a permanent role.
"Sharni’s initiative and attention to detail complement her potential to add to our business culture,” says Deanna, Director, QA Kitchens.
“If you are hesitant to put on a female apprentice you simply shouldn’t be,” she says.
VERTO Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, says that while recent growth in female apprentices is promising, the conversation needs to change.
“We need to rethink how we talk about trade careers with our girls, both at school and at home,” he explains.
“If we can succeed in this, we have the potential to grow and advance Australia’s trade industries, keep the skills shortage at bay and give a boost to our economy.”
VERTO Hosts Drought Relief Training
Last month VERTO delivered a number of training programs targeting drought affected areas in New South Wales.
The program aims to support youth in drought affected areas, with VERTO offering the funded training in Cobar, Gilgandra and Oberon in regional New South Wales.
The CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry (’White Card’) course offered in Oberon launched the month long initiative as part of the New South Wales Government’s Youth Drought Strategy and ACE Community Services Obligation program.
18-year-old Jayme attended the Oberon course, as a precursor to her starting her apprenticeship as an electrician.
“VERTO’s White Card course helped me to increase my knowledge and skills in safe work practices, and gave me a better understanding of my responsibilities on site,” said Jayme.
“I think regional drought affected communities such as Oberon would really benefit from more training, it’s a fantastic initiative.”
VERTO’s Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, can see real benefits for the community through these courses.
“The current drought has inflicted a terrible toll on many regional communities across New South Wales,” Mr. Maxwell said.
“Training opportunities, such as the courses offered in Cobar, Gilgandra and Oberon, can in a small way help individuals in these areas to gain the skills they need to find work and it’s something we’re incredibly proud to be involved with.”
VERTO provides Training Services across New South Wales, offering over 30 full qualifications and short courses tailored to suit the needs of each participant.
Gail Upskills To Follow Her Career Dreams
Gail is a client of the jobactive program which VERTO delivers on behalf of the Australian Government in Central West New South Wales. She has always had a passion for music, teaching privately for many years. After recognising a need for early childhood music, she came to the VERTO Parkes team hoping to turn her passion for teaching music into a full time venture.
Even with a lifetime of musical knowledge and experience, Gail knew she needed to complete training that would provide her with the right skills and qualification so she could understand the different elements of teaching music.
VERTO’s Workforce Development Consultant, Shalee, helped to secure financial support through the jobactive Employment Fund. This funding helped Gail to travelling to Sydney to complete her Level One Teacher Training in Music Education.
Gail has already seen the benefits that this training has brought to her career in music, and is grateful for the opportunity the funding provided.
“This training has already proved invaluable in my day to day teaching practices,” said Gail.
“The generous support VERTO gave meant that I was able to stay close to the venue and network with fellow educators, gaining a full and rewarding experience.”
Gail also praised her relationship with VERTO and how it helped her achieve her life-long dream of running a successful small business.
“I realised that if you really want to build a business and promote yourself, having a mentor there is invaluable,” said Gail.
“Knowing that once a month I had the chance to show VERTO what I had done was how I kept on top of meeting my deadlines and reaching my goals.”
Gail’s business Musica Arioso has become so popular around the Parkes region that she is about to hire her first employee. She also hopes to further her education, with a music therapy qualification in sight.
If you would like to find out more about the jobactive program, and how the VERTO team can help you, please call 1300 4 VERTO (1300 483 786), visit verto.org.au or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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