Apprentices in Action

ATSA/UVS apprentices have been recognised on a number of occasions demonstrating the high quality of their work and their application that is evident every day in the work place.

In 2013 Sebastian Tully a First Year Electro-technology, Electronics and Communication apprentice was awarded the NSW Country Apprenticeship Scholarship. This scholarship supported Sebastian in living away from his home in Foster to work at the UVS Newcastle facility. In June 2104 Sebastian was featured in the Newcastle Herald “Hunter Headshots” together with other apprentices illustrating the dynamic future of Newcastle’s industry and the people that would drive it.

In June 2014 Electro-technology Apprentice Hamish McInnes was a finalist in the HunterNet Group Training “Apprentice of the Year” competition for 4th Year or graduated apprentices. ATSA/UVS General Manager, Jennylee Taylor said that Hamish is an outgoing and dynamic member of the technical team team. “Hamish has impressed us with his abilities and willingness to learn anything that is put before him. Hamish has matured as a tradesperson over time and is a particularly good teacher who is often guiding students that rotate through ATSA workshops doing work experience through the ME program, Hunter Trade College and schools in general”, said Jennylee.

Since start-up in 2000 a total of four apprentices have learned their trade at the ATSA/UVS Newcastle facility, with three managed through the HunterNet Group Training model. The first apprentice taken on was Electronics Technician Joe Smith who started with the company in 2005. In 2006 Sean Maddison joined ATSA/UVS and completed the final year of his apprenticeship. Both Joe and Sean have continued as valued employees and member of the workshop service team, growing from team members to leading service activities on Navy ships. Jennylee said that it was essential that businesses of all sizes continued to provide opportunities for apprentices to train and to learn and that the HunterNet Group Training model was ideal for an SME such as ATSA/UVS. The benefit of long-term retention of well-trained technical employees was a foundation for the ATSA/UVS business model, said Jennylee.

		ATSA Workshop Manager, Paul Montgomery, congratulates Hamish McInnes on his nomination
Sebastian Tully featured in the Newcastle Herald “Hunter Headshots”		UVS Newcastle General Manager Jennylee Taylor congratulates Sebastian on his scholarship