Kangan Batman TAFE’s apprentices win three out of five STARS scholarships
01 January 2003
Garth Woodcock from Ringwood, Louy Sakkal from Doncaster and Jonathan McIntosh from Sunbury are all students at Kangan Batman TAFE’s Vehicle Painting Department and are the lucky winners of an Akzo Nobel STARS scholarship.
In November 2002, Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes Australia in partnership with the Australian Paint Manufacturers Federation (APMF) gave out five scholarships to first-year vehicle painting apprentices to boost the under supply of young apprentices in the industry.
The STARS or Specialist Training Automotive Refinishing scholarship is a part of a concentrated effort by industry manufacturers to entice new blood into the collision repair industry. On the other hand the recipients gain acknowledgment for their hard work and dedication to their field as well as most needed financial assistance that also includes prizes worth thousands of dollars. The scholarship recipients received cash payments of $2,400 each, split over the three remaining years of their apprenticeship.
To be eligible for nomination the applicants had to meet strict selection criteria which included their attendance, their progress record, special achievements or overcoming any kind of disadvantage which might be physical, social, cultural etc.
This is not the first time that Louy Sakkal has won a major award, last year Louy represented Kangan Batman TAFE at the regional WorldSkills competition where he won a gold medal in his field - this competition encompassed 62 trades. WorldSkills run regional, national and international competitions every two years. Louy then went on to represent Kangan Batman TAFE at the National WorldSkills competition held in New South Wales where he secured fifth place.
Louy is an adult apprentice and works for Parkes Body Works in Richmond. He switched from a Business Management Operations course to vehicle painting to follow his dream of one day owning his own business.
“I’ve always been good with my hands, working on cars has been a hobby since I was young and I know that owning a business in this industry for me is a very realistic goal.”
“The scholarship and winning the Victorian WorldSkills competition has given me a lot of recognition in the industry. Winning these awards I feel makes me a good role model for other budding young apprentices to enter and stay in the trade.”
18-year-old Garth Woodcock’s thirst for knowledge and the drive to gain entry in the automotive industry is reason enough for his selection. Whilst still at school Garth approached Blackburn Motor Body to do voluntary work during his holidays.
According to Melissa Roberts from Blackburn Motor Body, Garth’s abilities are rare for a first-year apprentice. Garth is capable of running his own jobs from paint preparation and all the way through to paint spraying, de-nibbing and cutting.
“It is unheard of that a first-year apprentice has been able to advance at such a fast pace. Garth has an unbelievable thirst for knowledge and has advanced exceptionally well.”
“We foresee Garth as being a long-term and exceptional employee at our organisation,” she says.
These words speak for themselves about the excellent quality of work achieved by these young apprentices. On the other side of the coin, Kangan Batman TAFE ensures that the apprentices receive the best hands-on-training in preparation for the real world.
Kangan Batman TAFE is Victoria’s largest training provider in auto-refinishing. Apprentices from all over Victoria utilise the high standard of training in the field. Flexibility of training includes workplace assessment which means that the teachers can assess students in the workplace.
