Kangan Batman TAFE and Bunnings partnership a success from the start
10 June 2002
Many people in the community do not realise the wealth of information available to them at their doorstep.
Many want to learn how to do odd jobs around the house, like fixing the gate or repairing their trailers but just donÂ't know where to start.
Welding is one such skill, which they feel is too difficult to learn and the equipment too heavy and expensive.
Realising this misconception, a teacher at Kangan Batman TAFEÂ's Broadmeadows campus decided to form an alliance with Bunnings (hardware stores) Broadmeadows that would benefit all concerned.
Bunnings would benefit by a potential increase in sales of their welding equipment. Kangan Batman would benefit by raising awareness in the community of the training and the number of courses available through Kangan Batman. Many people in the community interested in working on home projects would be the final winners.
The alliance thought up by Nicholas Viney, an Engineering Technology teacher at Kangan Batman involves Kangan Batman teachers, demonstrating in D.I.Y classes at Bunnings the ease and the usefulness of knowing how to weld.
According to Nick Viney the decision to contact Bunnings to form an alliance rose mainly because of the level of interest shown in the community to learn how to do minor welding jobs at home.
“Our Engineering and Technology Department was receiving a lot of phone calls from people within the community asking about courses on how to make their own trailers, gates and even things like bird aviaries.”
“We advised these people that we did not run courses specifically for these purposes but we did run welding courses that would give them these skills. Many of them were surprised that Kangan Batman TAFE offered day and night courses in welding skills and that they could enrol part-time in night courses if they wished.”
Welding machines supplied by Bunnings are used in the D.I.Y demonstrations. The machines sold at Bunnings are lightweight machines that are good for jobs around the house.
33 welding subjects are taught at Kangan Batman TAFE, and some of the subjects fall under the Diploma of Engineering Technology. The subjects cover welding processes such as Oxy Accetylene Welding, Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG), Flux Cored Arc Welding, Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG) and Submerged Arc Welding.
To raise further awareness in the community about welding and how welding machines can be used, the alliance with Bunnings was started.
“The aim of the demonstrations is also to educate people that you can use the machines Bunnings supply at home and we can teach you how to use them,” says Nick Viney.
Three D.I.Y demonstrations have already proven a success. There is another one planned soon, close to FatherÂ's Day. With the level of interest shown by Do It Yourself handymen the demonstrations are here to stay.
Welding courses can also benefit school leavers. Students can enrol in Certificate I in Welding which has a high success rate in gaining employment as an apprentice, if the course is completed successfully.
There are many advantages for mature age students as well, people who are looking at upgrading their existing skills or who want to change over to a very rewarding and successful profession.
