Siobhain Fyall
The New Zealand forest industry is another step closer to a more sustainable flow of trained workers with the imminent start of the Eastland Wood Council driven Generation Program. Source: Timberbiz
Siobhain Fyall has been appointed program manager and the first course is set to start on October 15, 2018 with another following in late April 2019.
Participants will spend six weeks at a forestry base camp industry introduction program followed by ‘learn while you earn’ work out with contractors complemented with part time courses through EIT Tairawhiti, Turanga Ararau and Competenz.
All the while students would receive pastoral care from First Choice Employment.
The new program is set to produce 12 graduates in the first year, 30 in the second and 60 in the third.
Eastland Wood Council chief executive Kim Holland says the program is a real collaboration between the region’s key stakeholders that ensures trainees are qualified through a real world introduction to the different sectors within the industry.
“It’s a multi-stakeholder approach with industry and training providers working together to ensure that the training meets industry’s skills needs,” Ms Holland said. “We all want to make sure the program succeeds and I believe by doing this it will better prepare the young people and increase the uptake by contractors as they will have more confidence in the abilities of the young people to do the work.
Newly-appointed Eastland Wood Council Generation Program manager Siobhain Fyall has been employed to run the programs. Ms Fyall was appointed in August 2018.
“I hear a lot about the issues they face trying to find workers,” Ms Fyall said. “It comes down to having basic common sense, a good attitude and an understanding of what it is to have a decent work ethic. Finding workers with these basic skills seems to be increasingly hard to find.” S
he has 25 years tertiary teaching experience predominantly with youth, and focused on employment skills and work-based training.
“I am excited to be part of his new innovative approach to forestry training. It offers a contextualized learning and a training environment that will allow our trainees an opportunity to experience working in a real work environment” she said.
Trainees will get a mapped career pathway which will offer choices across different strands of interest in the industry.
“We aim to match the trainee with a suitable employer for their placement,” Ms Fyall said. “The initial six weeks will build their self esteem and confidence by providing robust pastoral care and identify any issues or barriers that may impede on their training.”
