Hedayatullah Habibi, Electrical Apprentice:
'I was working as a diplomat security for Australian Embassy in Afghanistan. But once I get here, I changed my profession from security. Now I'm a sparky here.
My name is Hedayatullah Habibi, but the Aussies here gave me nickname, they call me Bibster.
I am a second-year apprentice as a commercial electrician hosted by Stowe Australia. My employer is NECA.'
John Taufer, General Manager Careers (VIC) & OHS, NECA Education and Careers:
'NECA Education and Careers is a Group Training Organisation that services the electrical industry.
We're also a registered training organisation that teaches the electrical industry as well, so apprentices and post-trade.'
Ian McKenzie, Victorian Construction Branch Manager, Stowe Australia:
'And Stowe host the apprentice for four years and we manage the delivery, the training, the onsite management of the apprentice.
Habibi's mainly worked on the Big Build project on the underground rail, the metro tunnel.'
Hedayatullah Habibi, Electrical Apprentice:
'So I've been in Arden Station, Parkville Station and Domain Station. I learned from different places. I meet new peoples. And I learn from them
good skills, new skills.'
John Taufer, General Manager Careers (VIC) & OHS, NECA Education and Careers:
'The apprentices will be exposed to such large jobs, that will be around forever.'
Ian McKenzie, Victorian Construction Branch Manager, Stowe Australia:
'I think the reason apprentices should look at companies like NECA to employ them and host them out is mainly because of the direct mentoring,
schooling, welfare they get.'
John Taufer, General Manager Careers (VIC) & OHS, NECA Education and Careers:
'Our successful completion rate, is sitting at around about 93%, which is phenomenal, considered the industry completion rate is roughly 62%.
The secret to that is the wraparound support that we provide the apprentices. So many different things come up in our apprentice's life outside of work,
that we can assist with.'
Hedayatullah Habibi, Electrical Apprentice:
'Actually, I can say NECA is a big family for me, and Stowe is always supportive. Everyone on Stowe, from top to bottom, everyone is helping me, supporting me.
After I joined NECA and Stowe, then I realised these are the big companies and it's a good background for my career.'
Ian McKenzie, Victorian Construction Branch Manager, Stowe Australia:
'Habibi, he's a very hard worker and he's very committed to learning and making it a successful career. So he's been great, and a great addition to the business.'
Hedayatullah Habibi, Electrical Apprentice:
'As I see the Big builds, the wages and these things, are a little bit higher than the other places, other small project, it's really big help for them,
from a skills and also from wages side, it's good.'
Ian McKenzie, Victorian Construction Branch Manager, Stowe Australia:
'We invest in our apprentices to help them through their apprenticeship and ensure that they successfully complete their qualification.'
John Taufer, General Manager Careers (VIC) & OHS, NECA Education and Careers:
'The career potential for apprentices being employed by a Group Training Organisation is almost endless.'
Hedayatullah Habibi, Electrical Apprentice:
'Definitely I recommend this for anyone that they want to join a trade, my dream, when I get my licence, maybe I can open a electrical company and name it Bibster Company. Yeah, maybe I'm going to do this.'
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