The Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA) program is funded by the Australian Government and provides intensive support to apprentices and trainees in the first two years of their training in industries that are undergoing structural change.
The program assists in meeting the long-held concerns of Ai Group and others regarding the enduringly low completion rates of apprentices. This issue along with ongoing low commencement rates continues to be a major problem at a time when industry has reported shortages in trades and technician workers and is re-focusing its workforce to meet the challenges arising through digitalization and other advanced manufacturing technologies.
Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA) is delivered by Service Providers across Australia in major cities as well as rural and regional areas. Ai Group has been contracted to deliver services to apprentices in the manufacturing industry under the Program. Ai Group’s apprentice mentors work across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
The tailored support to apprentices has the aim of assisting them to address any barriers they face; improve their retention and increase the likelihood that they will complete their apprenticeship.
An apprentice mentor develops an individual mentoring plan with the apprentice according to their needs. The apprentice and mentor then continue to be in contact either face-to-face or by email or phone until the areas specified in the plan have been addressed.
The issues to be supported will depend on the apprentice but may include:
In the case of a new apprentice, the mentor can be available to assist with any issues as the apprentice becomes established.
Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA) complements other Australian Government support for apprentices, trainees and their employers through the Australian Incentives Program, Trade Support Loans and the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network.
Benefits for employers
Benefits for apprentices
Please contact Peter Staley, Coordinator - Apprentice Mentor Program, for further information or to arrange for an Apprentice Mentor to visit your business and apprentices. Ph: 0419 830 729 or email: peter.staley@aigroup.com.au
Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices (ISMAA) is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
South Australia
Adelaide
Peter Staley
Tel: 0419 830 729
peter.staley@aigroup.com.au
Adelaide
Shawn Matthews
Tel: 0404 019 298
shawn.matthews@aigroup.com.au
Adelaide
Tony Ricketts
Tel: 0430 175 020
tony.ricketts@aigroup.com.au
New South Wales
Albury
Anne Farrah
Tel: 0403 525 689
anne.farrah@aigroup.com.au
Sydney
Colin Pereira
Tel: 0466 175 334
colin.pereira@aigroup.com.au
Newcastle
John Petrich
Tel: 0424 943 032
john.petrich@aigroup.com.au
Queensland
Brisbane
Wayne Lee
Tel: 0419 841 852
wayne.lee@aigroup.com.au
Brisbane
Peter Jasch
Tel: 0407 544 523
peter.jasch@aigroup.com.au
Victoria
Melbourne Southern VIC & Tasmania
Lois Hunt
Tel: 0400 622 165
lois.hunt@aigroup.com.au
Bendigo
Taylor Strachan
Tel: 0448 913 923
taylor.strachan@aigroup.com.au
Melbourne
Russell Gambling
Tel: 0412 885 018
Russell.gambling@aigroup.com.au