The days of leaving high school or university and settling into a single job for the rest of your life are long gone. It’s now more common than ever to have several career changes. 

According to the University of Queensland, the average person changes jobs ever 2 years and 9 months which means you could easily accumulate about 16 jobs on your resumé before you retire in your mid-60s. 

The big questions for those starting out or having a career change, have always been: What do I want to do? How can I get started? 

In the Territory, it’s never been easier to connect businesses with trainees or apprentices thanks to GTNT Group, which recruits, employs, and hosts apprentices and trainees to businesses in both local and remote regions 

The organisation has been operating for more than 36 years and currently has 280 trainees and apprentices via a range of school-based, full time or part time apprenticeships and traineeships. 

GTNT Group expects that figure to rise in the short term in line with population growth in the Palmerston and rural areas. To meet the increasing need, GTNT Group opened a dedicated recruitment hub in the Palmerston CBD late last year. 

Innovation and Integration Manager, Sherryn Killmister heads up a team of three staff in Palmerston. 

“It’s important to have a recruitment hub that allows that accessibility for young people to be able to just drop in any time; for people of any age to be able to come in and seek career advice and apply for our jobs,” she said. 

“If they don’t have access to a computer or internet at home, they can use our computers here to be able to complete literacy and numeracy testing or update their resumes.” 

GTNT Group services both employers and candidates seeking employment assistance in the vocational education and training sector. 

“We take care of all the recruitment needs for the employer,” Sherryn said. 

“We interview, do the aptitude tests, reference check candidates and refer suitable candidates to the host business. 

“We’re the legal employer. On a weekly basis, the apprentice completes a timesheet, co-signed by their supervisor and GTNT Group pays the apprentice. The following week we invoice the host. 

“We take care of everything for the host in regard to the apprentice or trainee’s superannuation, workers comp and everything. 

“Being their legal employer, if there’s any performance management or disciplinary action, we handle that.” 

Sherryn said the benefit of using a Group Training Organisation (GTO) is the ability to hand back or rotate an apprentice or trainee to suit individual business needs. 

“If a business doesn’t have enough work or the required type of work for the training plan, we can rotate the apprentice to another host business so the apprentice gets the exposure they need for their training plan.” 

Sherryn said historically, GTO apprentices and trainees have a higher completion rate as they are supported from all sides during their training. She noted majority of the completions tend to transition into full time employment with their previous host and are often able to help sculpt the next generation of apprentices entering the workforce. 

Employers can approach GTNT Group with vacancies and the organisation will either match existing job seekers or advertise the vacancy through their website. Schools and career counsellors are also encouraged to connect with GTNT Group on behalf of young Territorians. 

GTNT Group accommodates vacancies in any field, not just trades but business and corporate for both young people or those who may be returning to the workforce after a break or who are looking to progress their existing career. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be taken into account for some vacancies. 

Businesses must be prepared to appoint a supervisor to oversee the trainee or apprentice. This ensures the apprentice or trainee is appropriately supervised, supported and provides a consistent mentor for the duration of their training. 

“We definitely don’t have enough businesses in the Northern Territory compared to the number of people who want apprenticeships or traineeships,” Sherryn said. 

“The problem is businesses not having enough qualified supervisors. But if we don’t start investing in our young people, investing in training and investing in apprenticeships and traineeships, we’re never going to grow our workforce. 

“You hear a lot of businesses talking about growing their own. Taking on an apprentice or trainee who goes on to work in the business and become a supervisor to train the next round of apprentices or trainees is the answer.” 

GTNT Group has other offices in Darwin CBD, Katherine, Alice Springs, and Tennant Creek. The team services all of the Northern Territory including Groote Eylandt and Nhulunbuy. TQ 

CONTACT 

Sherryn Killmister 

Innovation and Integration Manager 

GTNT Group 

Palm Plaza 

2A/17 University Ave, Palmerston 

(08) 8980 0600 

gtntgroup.com.au