NEC, NT to launch IT apprenticeship program

NEC Australia will team up with the Northern Territory government to launch IT Apprenticeship Hub, a five-year education and training initiative for young and Indigenous NT students.

The initiative will offer a 12-month apprenticeship program designed to provide participants with pathways to employment at NEC Australia or within NT’s ICT industry.

It will commence in 2014 and aim to produce at least 50 work-ready apprentices over the next five years.

At least half of the apprentices will be young Indigenous Australians. In the first phase, 10 candidates will be selected from the NT Student Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SBAT) program.

Apprentices will spend two days per week training at NEC’s Service Delivery Centre and one day a week at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) studying for a Certificate II, III or IV in IT.

At NEC’s Service Delivery Centre, apprentices will spend 15 weeks within NEC field services, 14 weeks on the NEC service desk and 10 weeks in NEC engineering.

On completion, apprentices may be offered continued placement as a School Based Apprentice, a full-time traineeship or a full-time position at NEC Australia.

“The program is designed not only to deliver direct benefits to participating students, but also to develop a training framework and workplace culture that ensures NEC Australia staff can impart knowledge to apprentices effectively,” NEC Australia Managing Director Alan Hyde said.

Pictured: Kakadu National Park