Media Release

14 January 2009
Watson’s Kitchen Baking
Apprentices join the New England Institute course for 2009

TAFE NSW - New England Institute launched the Trade Baking Apprenticeship course in
February 2008. The course is designed to address identified skills shortages and boost the
local bakery industry.

The course includes Apprentices from throughout the New England and Northwest region
including Moree, Inverell, Armidale, Guyra, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Glen
Innes, Bingara and now Narrabri.

To meet the needs of the region’s baking industry, students receive workplace training and
assessment throughout their course along with TAFE delivery at either the Tamworth or
Armidale Campuses and Moxon’s Bakery in Armidale.

“TAFE trainers visit the apprentices regularly throughout the year maximizing training and
assessment opportunities for individual apprentices within their own workplaces”, said Ms
Scanlon, Business Consultant for TAFE NSW - New England Institute.

An exciting development is the reduction to two years from the normal three year ‘off the job’
training program. This change reduces travel time and costs and maximizes learning in the
workplace.

This change was developed through extensive negotiations with varying industry
representatives and reflects the New England Institute’s culture of service innovation and
improvement.

Mr. Terry Miller, owner of Watsons Kitchen, Narrabri described the move to the New England
Institute course as very positive.

“We have always had a strong commitment to training for our apprentices. This new system
of delivery is a lot easier on our apprentices and us,” Mr. Miller said. “It is great that the
apprentices are working and being assessed on the job, and no longer have to travel to the
cities for their ‘Off the Job’ training,” he added.

“These apprenticeship baking courses are being offered to meet the specialized training
needs of both local and regional bakeries. They provide employment pathways for our local
young people and support business productivity and regional prosperity,” Ms Scanlon said.

END

Contact: Ellen Scanlon – Business Consultant
Human and Personal Services Faculty
TAFE NSW - New England Institute
Ph: 6768 2061