National Apprenticeships, Employment & Training Provider | VERTO Skill to Transform
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 30 years, built around an ethical approach.You'll find the team in 26 locations across New South Wales.
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VERTO Supports AccessAbility Day 2018
14 November, 2018
VERTO has today announced that it is supporting the upcoming AccessAbility day. An Australian federal government initiative, AccessAbility day allows employers to connect with jobseekers with disabilities. The initiative is a voluntary activity that involves employers hosting a jobseeker with disability for a day.
VERTO believes this a great opportunity for local employers to gain an insight into the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, and for jobseekers with disabilities to gain valuable work experience in a workplace or role that aligns with their career interests.
Commenting on the initiative, VERTO CEO, Ron Maxwell, said “We are excited to support the upcoming AccessAbility day. We have a long history of helping those with disability into the workforce, and initiatives such as this are designed to connect both employers and those with disability in a way that enables both parties to gain experience”
“There are 2.2 million Australians living with disability who are of working age, but they are under-represented in the workforce. In fact, the employment rate for people with disability is almost half compared to those without a disability.” Maxwell added.
The initiative is being held from Monday 26 to Friday 30 November 2018. Participants and employers can be involved in AccessAbility Day on any day of that week and it is open to any jobseeker registered with a Disability Employment Services provider.
To register interest in taking part in AccessAbility Day, or to find out more information, employers and jobseekers can contact VERTO on 1300 4 VERTO or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
How we can give our graduates the skills that employers want
By Ron Maxwell - CEO
With the labour force rapidly changing, there's no denying our education systems must shift to meet the changing demands, but it's also incumbent on the individual to recognise the skills they need to succeed, if Australians are to remain competitive in a global job market.
With so many conflicting predictions out there on the future of work, it can be hard to determine what skills will actually be needed – but amongst the mountain of research, in my mind, one thing is emerging: Practical workplace skills will always be highly-valued by employers.
I read an article recently about some homegrown research on the skills employers want, and it found something interesting – there is a sizeable gap between the skills graduates think employers want, and the ones they actually do.
Students looking inward, employers outward
Recent graduates ranked 'creativity' as the number one skill that employers want, employers, on the other hand, went down a far more practical route: Problem solving. And although on the surface this might seem like a small problem, the disconnect can have a flow-on effect, impacting the courses a student chooses, the way they learn, and ultimately, their efficacy in a workplace.
It didn’t stop at creativity; other skills graduates ranked in the top five included organisation and leadership, where employers listed communication and adaptability. The disconnect here is clear; graduates are looking to the skills that are inwardly focused – all about themselves, but employers are looking for the outward-facing skills – all about working with others.
In my opinion, this is influenced by a world increasingly driven by online interaction, immediate response and instant gratification. As a result, younger generations can be more focused on leadership competencies and how to get to the top quickly, rather than the basic skills that will ensure they succeed long-term.
Educational systems need review
I've talked before about how our educational systems, from schools to tertiary, are failing our students in these practical areas, particularly those communication-based skills that all employers want, and in my opinion, the shift to digital learning may exacerbate this.
While moving to an online learning model has advantages in terms of speed and access to education, it is further reducing the interaction needed to build these critical skills. With much of our world, from shopping to socialising, increasingly occurring online, we are reducing human interaction and so it's easy to see why we are losing these core skills.
In any review of our educational system, it is imperative that regulators work closely with industry to ensure that any curriculum, whether delivered online, face-to-face or as part of a blended model, is closely aligned to what employers need. If we fail in this as a country, increases in unemployment and skills shortages are potential outcomes.
Developed in the real world, not a classroom
Although all levels of our education system must adapt if we are to be more forward-thinking, VET does have an advantage. From certificates to diplomas, VET courses are designed to build practical, real-world skills that ensure a graduate is employable, particularly through work placements that enable them to prepare for the realities of the workplace.
Many VET students also have the opportunity to participate in workplace mentoring as part of their traineeship or apprenticeship, and this is another great opportunity to foster and develop the skills that will make them more employable – across roles and industries.
At the end of the day, these skills aren't learnt in a classroom – they are developed through experience in the real world, so individuals and education providers alike, need to look at ways to increase interaction and opportunities to learn on the job, whether through work placements or internship models.
These skills will help us navigate an uncertain future
If researchers are correct, emerging generations will have higher job mobility, so setting them up with skills that aren't industry or role-specific is key to success in the longer term.
I recently read an article that somewhat contradicted this, suggesting Australians are staying in jobs longer, and while thinking about this, I realised something fundamental. Whether or not young people have many jobs or careers, or stay in the same one, we live in a world where change is a constant, so whether you are in one industry, one role, or many – the environment will change around you, so these skills still remain critical for success, no matter what.
Whatever the future of work looks like, with youth unemployment on the rise in many communities, young people facing a tougher job market than ever before, and skills shortages threatening some of our key industries, one thing is certain: Building solid foundations for workplace success is a must.
VERTO Welcomes Apprenticeship Wage Support Program
31 October 2018
VERTO, an award-winning, not-for-profit organisation assisting businesses and individuals with their apprenticeship, employment and training needs, today welcomed the new Federal Government trial program for wage subsidies support for regionally based apprentices, called the Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy.
Having been headquartered in the Central West NSW for more than 35 years, VERTO has a strong focus on regional Australia, with the vast majority of our 40+ offices located in regional areas. As more and more employment opportunities become concentrated in major capital cities, this announcement is a welcome boost to regional employers and apprentices.
Commenting on the announcement, VERTO Chief Executive Officer, Ron Maxwell, said, “We support wholeheartedly the Hon Senator Michaelia Cash’s announcement to further support our regionally based apprentices. Supporting apprenticeships is core to our organisation, and an incentive for employers to take on apprentices in regional areas is exactly the type of program that will boost employment” Maxwell said.
“As a Bathurst local myself and an active member of the Central West community, I know how important employment is to our region. As we operate across NSW, this trial program gives all regions the chance to improve the opportunities available for apprentices in their chosen field” continued Maxwell.
The Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy trial is available to employers who sign-up and commence a new worker (Australian Apprentice) from 1 January 2019 and until 1630 sign-ups have occurred (based on rural and regional population distribution per State/Territory).
How internships could prove a win for us all
By Ron Maxwell - CEO
In today's job market, young people report finding it harder than ever to find full-time employment, yet we are facing skills shortages across many of our key industries.
In any business, but particularly those in industries like hospitality, where the margins are tight, hiring the wrong person can cost the business on a number of levels, so it's easy to see why employers might feel nervous when it comes to taking on a new trainee or apprentice. On the employee side, young job seekers and school leavers might not have a strong sense of what they want to do, so committing to a 12 to 36-month apprenticeship or traineeship can be daunting.
One solution, in my opinion, is to bring together more organisations who have skill gaps and young people who are interested in trying out the industry, under an internship model. Successful internships give young people a chance to trial working in the industry, pick up some technical skills and develop their soft skills and workplace readiness, while for businesses, it’s a low-risk way to trial a new employee and maybe find their next trainee in the process. Essentially, it's a road test for both parties.
It will build workplace readiness and increase employment opportunities
I've talked before about how our younger generations often leave school without the skills that are necessary to succeed in a workplace, such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Exposure to a new industry through an internship will not only give them a chance to trial the industry and pick up some technical skills, it will also provide the opportunity to develop and expand on their general workplace capability.
Often the key to successful recruitment is in cultural fit, but this can be difficult to determine at interview, making it hard to see beyond the skills on a resume and leaving it harder for young people with limited experience to find employment. Internships are a good way to encourage more businesses to take a chance on an inexperienced candidate without the risk of hiring the wrong person for the job.
It will help young people commit to the right career
Traineeships and apprenticeships are a long-term commitment that involve significant investment from both the trainee and the employer. It is a big decision for both parties, so giving them a chance to work together first just makes sense and makes internships the perfect pathway into further study and qualifications.
And if it doesn't work out, that's a learning opportunity for everyone involved. Not everyone is suited to every environment. It can take some young people longer to find their niche, and this is better found out before they commit to an apprenticeship or traineeship. I've seen it before where a young person thinks they might like to work in a particular industry and embarks on an apprenticeship, only to find out that they are not suited or happy in that industry environment. It's a waste of both time and money for the apprentice and the employer alike. If we first offer the opportunity for a young person to trial day-to-day life in an industry this will lead to more informed decision-making for both parties.
It will benefit the unemployed and the economy
It's not just recent school leavers who stand to benefit from this. Think about the impact on young people who have been unemployed for a while. If they are inexperienced and have been through a period of unemployment, the odds are often stacked against them finding employment, only furthering the cycle.
We know long-term unemployment can lead to mental health issues and depression, making it even harder to find work. On top of the individual costs of unemployment, the public purse bears the welfare and health costs it can result in. The key lies in breaking the cycle, and there are many good news stories out there of how local employers have given unemployed job seekers a chance, leading to a win/win situation that also benefits the local community at the same time.
At VERTO, we see day in, day out how employment drives self-worth and the change it can make for the better. So, in my opinion, if there is a chance an internship program can help more people into employment, improving their quality of life, mental health, and feelings of self-worth, while also reducing the economic costs of unemployment, we should be prepared to give it a chance.
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