The 2008 GTA Partnership Award was presented to AFL SportsReady and First Stop (Swinburne University) at the Career Development Association’s national conference in Hobart, 26-28 March. Each partner organisation received a conference registration (including travel and accommodation) plus a trophy. $1000 was provided to the First Stop Program to spend on careers resources. Click here for information on the winning partnership. L-R Fiona Tunchon (Swinburne), James Barron (GTA), Trevor Bayley(Swinburne), Paul Broderick (AFL SportsReady)  The document “A Spotlight on Valuable Practice” provides a snapshot of 12 exciting school and GTO projects to inform and encourage further good practice.

Click here to download A Spotlight on Valuable Practice

Background

Group Training Australia (GTA) is the national association representing over 150 group training organisations located throughout the metropolitan and regional areas of Australia.

This national network of group training organisations employs over 40,000 apprentices and trainees, Australia’s largest employer of apprentices and trainees.

Group training is an important intermediary between young people and employers. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) March Quarter 2006 Apprenticeship and Traineeship statistics show group training has a significant involvement in School Based New Apprenticeships with 20% of School Based New Apprentices currently employed through group training organisations. School-Based New Apprentices now make up almost 9% of all group training apprentices and trainees with continued growth expected.


Award Objectives

The GTA Partnership Award was established in 2003 to raise the profile of group training organisations (GTOs) with careers advisers and to encourage more collaborative partnerships at the local level.

The award process identifies effective and innovative collaboration between a school or school cluster and a group training organisation. The winning and highly commended case studies are promoted through the group training network newsletter and through careers association newsletters with the aim of sharing good practice and highlighting a wide range of post school opportunities and pathways for secondary students.


Award Criteria

Nominations for the award outline the collaboration, the planning, implementation, challenges, monitoring for improvement and positive outcomes (for students and others involved) of their partnership:

• How and why the partnership was established – identified needs.
• Detail the program activities and how they are meeting those needs.
• The strategies and factors that have contributed to the success of the program or provided learning opportunities.
• What has the partnership achieved for the school / cluster, students, group training organisation, community
• What processes are in place to monitor, assess and review the partnership activities.
• Attach photos or supporting materials where relevant.

Nominations are also assessed against four paths of quality partnering – shared goals, shared effort and culture, shared learning and shared information


Award Prize

The winning school/program representative will receive:

• $1000 to be spent on careers resources/program
• One free registration for the AACC national conference
• Travel and accommodation for one person to attend the AACC national conference
• Trophy presented at the conference.

The winning group training organisation will receive:

• One free registration for the AACC national conference
• Travel and accommodation for one person to attend the AACC national conference
• Trophy presented at the conference.

Closing date for nominations: 19 December 2009