“O’Connors has long been committed to apprentices and the philosophy of growing our own and have now formalised this into the REDSTART Apprenticeship Program,” O’Connors HR manager Lisa Day said.
“We want this program to attract the best possible candidates and applicants accepted into the program each year to be rewarded through a first-class apprenticeship program filled with incentives only on offer to the REDSTART trainees.”
REDSTART apprentices will attend TAFE NSW in Wagga Wagga, which has a dedicated Case IH training centre where apprentices will have the opportunity to complete their training working on the latest product range from Case IH.
All successful candidates will be enrolled into the Certificate III in Agricultural Mechanical Technology, which includes CASE IH specific training at the dedicated facility.
Automotive head teacher Wayne Sibrey is responsible for delivering the program to REDSTART apprentices.
“No other training organisation or facility offers this type of dedicated ag mechanical training,” Mr Sibrey said.
“We have a partnership with Case IH who supply the latest machinery and components for the program, ensuring our students are given access to the most up-to-date and advanced equipment.
“We know that apprentices need to have hands-on experience in real-world environments and we deliver that on a 140-acre working farm.
“The farm allows us to implement faults, test and repair in the workshop and test drive under real in-paddock conditions. We can install and program GPS Systems and simulate real life scenarios.”
Other incentives include a Kincrome toolbox and tools valued at $5000, additional internal training, and REDSTART conferences involving all apprentices who come together for activities, training and professional development.
Corey Bell, a qualified service technician at the O’Connors Warracknabeal branch in the Wimmera region of Victoria, completed his apprenticeship within the dealership.
“Work as a diesel mechanic for O’Connors is hugely rewarding and satisfying,” he said.
“We’re given the responsibility and autonomy to problem solve and diagnose faults to find the root cause of the client’s issues and to implement the solutions as required to rectify the problems.
“Working with such high-tech and powerful equipment and knowing that we are part of the support mechanism that ensures that farmers can continue to grow the food we need to feed the world is a great feeling.”
Applications for the 2022 REDSTART program are now open.
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