Rivergate Congratulates the Apprentice of the Year
Robbie Beale with Jasmine Willoughby, 2020 Apprentice of the Year.
A new category was added to this year’s Australian Marine Industry Awards: Apprentice of the Year.
Among an impressive line-up of seven finalists, two contenders are employed by Aus Ships Group: Jasmine Willoughby and Robbie Beale.
Jasmine is a Second Year Apprentice undertaking her Certificate III in Engineering-Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking/welding). Robbie is a Third-year Apprentice, undertaking a Certificate III in Sheet Metal Fabrication.
The Judges chose Jasmine Willoughby as the inaugural Apprentice of the Year.
Rivergate, Aus Ships, TAFE and East Coast Apprenticeships are thrilled to congratulate Jasmine on her Award and unanimously praised her for her dedication, motivation and passion for the trade.
Apprentices Robbie Beale and Jasmine Willoughby (centre) with from left Rob Grummitt, ECA, Tommy Ericson Aus Ships Group; Steve Fisher, Rivergate; and Alan Sparks, ECA.
Jasmine is a graduate of East Coast Apprenticeships’ Launch into Work Project aimed at growing the skills base for the superyacht sector. The course was delivered by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech and designed to cover what employers were seeking: apprentices proficient in aluminium MIG welding applicable to boat building and repairs.
Part of Jasmine’s prize is a trip to Amsterdam to attend the 2021 METSTRADE Show as part of the AIMEX delegation, broadening her exposure to the international superyacht industry.
With a Degree in Biomedical Science, Jasmine previously worked as a Pharmacy Assistant and was keen on pursuing a career in Science, but her interest in woodwork inspired her to apply for a place in the Superyacht Welding Program through East Coast Apprenticeships.
Jasmine graduated from the program with a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways. She completed the required work experience with Aus Ships who then offered her an apprenticeship in May 2019.
“My employment at Aus Ships allows me exposure to several different trades so I have also built on skills and knowledge outside of my trade qualification. What I like most about the superyacht industry is that it’s never repetitive. I can apply my skills to all part of a vessel during construction.”
Far from being a “man’s world”, her experiences so far have made Jasmine feel completely at ease among her colleagues. “Everybody is very welcoming. There’s never been a feeling that I wasn’t up to the job. When you love what you do, it really helps to have a positive workplace,” she said.
Elated by her win, Jasmine remains focused on finishing her apprenticeship and attaining a 6G certification.
“I would also like to advance my knowledge of design by undertaking AutoCAD courses. Taking that further and completing an engineering course is something that I’m considering. I would love to take the skills and knowledge from my apprenticeship further into my own business one day.”
Alan Sparks, Chief Executive Office at East Coast Apprenticeships said “Jasmine was among 12 candidates who undertook the Enhanced Pathways Program through ECA, specialising in welding within the superyacht industry”.
The course ran fulltime for 10 weeks with a further two weeks work experience and was offered in a flexible environment at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech, Acacia Ridge Campus.
“Candidates were carefully selected based on looking for career path in the industry, and their attitude and ability to take on the training. The fact that all 12 graduated from the specialist course for industry created by industry is testament to its success.
“We’re keen to run another course which will depend on industry being prepared to take graduates on and through a Certificate III Engineering - Metal Fabrication Apprenticeship. In 2021, we will be looking at running these unique and specialist welding programs for the superyacht sector.”
Also working at Aus Ships as a third-year Apprentice, Robbie Beale is thrilled to be recognised as a finalist in the Australian Marine Industry Awards.
“I’m a humble person, but it’s nice to know my progress has been recognised,” he said.
The decision to enter the marine industry occurred “later in life, after deciding I wanted to do something that was creative and really hands-on”, said Robbie.
“After High School, I worked in retail and fast food, then warehousing, but I wanted to try something that was more challenging.”
He undertook a few months labouring work in carpentry until late 2017, when he took up the opportunity to learn boat building and aluminium metal fabrication as an Apprentice at Aus Ships.
Now, aged 26, Robbie is thrilled he chose boat building.
“It’s essentially many trades in one,” he said. “I’m involved in fabrication, fit-out, from plate boats to catamarans and superyachts. I can be working on a 25-metre catamaran one day, and the next day working on construction of an amphibious vessel. Every day is different and there is always something new to learn.
“The Aus Ships team is so supportive and dedicated. They have a highly professional set-up, cutting edge tooling and facilities. There are no short cuts. But at the same time, they are very forthcoming with praise and there’s amazing camaraderie.”
The guidance and skills transfer from a multi-generational team have been the highlight of the past three years.
“I always believed in the apprenticeship model, and working under the wing of tradespeople is the best way to inherit great skills and knowledge from tradespeople with different backgrounds and work experiences.
“One of the biggest advantages of working with a variety of tradesmen with various trades is that each of them works differently. This really helps tackle problem solving and gives tasks more perspective and direction as I learn more than one way to do the same job.
“Another advantage to the apprenticeship program I find is going to TAFE. TAFE digs deeper into the specifics and detail of my everyday tasks, which really helps fine tune the end result of the job.”
Like Jasmine, Robbie aspires to one establish his own business.
“I’d like to operate by own business in metal fabrication, specialising in marine, caravans, trailers and 4x4s. They are a great hobby of mine and are a big part of my life, which is what gives me the passion to enjoy my current job.
“The opportunity to work at Aus Ships has truly made me realise I have found my calling and that when done correctly the apprenticeship model really works. As they say ‘You’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do’.”
Aus Ships Group celebrating the launch of the Hayman Island transfer vessel, SUN HARMONY.
With its interests vested in attracting talent to the superyacht industry, Aus Ships had a pivotal role in identifying the need for a program to source candidates and assist them in being ‘job ready’ and a contributing member of the team from day one.
Aus Ships Group worked with ECA Maritime College in assessing candidates, providing briefing and training sessions throughout the training program, and hosting three of the candidates for workplace experience as part of the program.
According to Tommy Ericson, Aus Ships Group Director “All participants in the program showed a very high level of enthusiasm, likely a result of the stringent application process and the fact that they needed to dedicate 12 weeks of their own time without income.
“By the end of the three-month program, their skills evolved significantly from technical skills to operational practices, making them work ready by the end of the program.”
Since starting employment with Aus Ships, both Apprentices have worked on a number of superyacht refit and repair projects as well as commercial projects, workshop based and onboard the vessels in numerous locations.
“Both Robbie and Jasmine show great potential to become senior trade professionals in the marine industry,” Tommy stated. “Their commitment to their own development and that of their team is exceptional. The broad skills they are learning will pave the way to move up in our business and likely lead to their own in the years to come.”
Full list of 2020 Award Winners here.