TWC CEREMONY HAILS 'CLASS OF 2018'

Staff from Total Window Concepts, working directly with the Institute of Tertiary Higher Education of Australia (ITHEA), over a period of 12 months, completed the Certificate IV in Leadership contextualised to their work in the window furnishings industry.

A total of 18 people from diverse roles including customer service, finance and production were recognised at a graduation ceremony at Total Window Concepts in Melbourne in early April. Nine of these had completed and were awarded the Certificate IV in Leadership and nine had completed the first year of the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles and were presented with Statements of Attainment recognising their progress and achievement

TWC Director Development: Mary Campbell commented: “TWC is committed to Australian made and Australian jobs and to the central importance of training and development as core to TWC’s operations. A key aspect of the success of our training has been supervisor and team leader training to support the development programs of our apprentices”. She also paid tribute to longstanding training partner The Frontline Group and the Leadership Program’s facilitator Kerry Bell.

Responding on behalf of his TWC colleagues, Tony Popovic described the program as challenging, adding that balancing assignments with job workload had proven something of a juggling act.

“Completing the program has generated many benefits to each of us personally and as leaders now; we have built our capacity to manage more effectively and are more aware of our responsibilities and the various roles within the organisation and how that all fits together. We are proud of our achievement but more importantly we and TWC are better for it.”

Local member Sarah Connolly MLA, representing the Victorian Minister Gayle Tierney, presented the Graduation Certificates and Statements of Attainment.

“I want to congratulate all of the training participants, at Total Window Concepts for undertaking, and completing your Certificates III and IV. You’ve worked hard over the last 12 months and I’m proud to have been given the opportunity to share in your success.”

Led by the Blind Manufacturing Association of Australia in partnership with The Frontline Group in the 12 months to June, training by the window furnishing industry has expanded on an unprecedented scale. Work by the BMAA since 2015, including the Industry’s Training Summit (WFM July 2017) and development of the industry of a five-year training plan, is now paying dividends with a wide range of programs across Australia in functions such as manufacturing, installation, sales, leadership, logistics, construction, licensed programs, and competitive systems.

“As the industry peak body, we are committed to production in Australia and the highest standards of diverse products and services” said Joe Turner, President, BMAA.