Prelude to the Future demanded a lot of smart thinking and hard work – but nobody doubts that the five intakes have been tremendously successful.

The initiative is jointly funded by Prelude FLNG, operated by Shell, and the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.

The program is delivered by GTNT Group in partnership with Charles Darwin University.

Shell, operator of the offshore Prelude FLNG facility, which has a supply base in Darwin, backed the program as a way of creating employment pathways for Territorians in the gas industry and other fields.

The Territory Government recognised that the training would play a part in developing Northern Australia by easing the NT’s skills shortage in a practical, cost-effective way.

GTNT Group Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Stenson says the four-way partnership is a “unique model” and has been “amazingly successful”.

“We’ve seen it change people’s lives for the better,” she says.

The program has surpassed national employment rates, with more than 83 percent of participants securing sustainable employment after phase one of the program compared with the 78 percent national average.

“And it’s not just the participants who benefit – their families are also living better lives,” says Kathryn. “Some of them are now buying their own homes, something they wouldn’t have dreamed of not long ago.”

The Territory wins by gaining skilled, tax-paying workers.

Twenty-six of the participants have gone on to become apprentice leaders, which includes supporting, mentoring and inspiring future Prelude to the Future participants and other young apprentices.

All the Prelude to the Future graduates have grown in confidence.

“When they started, they didn’t know how to talk to a manager,” Kathryn says. “The training increased their confidence and they soon became capable of writing resumes and having conversations with employers.”

Kathryn says program participants also supported each other during training.

“It was fantastic to see all these beneficial changes.”

Graduates across the programs have gained qualifications in trades ranging from automotive, warehousing and logistics to electrical and engineering.

The program has produced many award winners with the most recent being  Thomas Richardson, runner-up in the Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 NT Training Awards.

The Prelude to the Future program won the Chief Minister’s Award and Industry Collaboration Award at the NT Training Awards in 2015 and 2016.

GTNT Group never sat on its laurels and always strived to make the next intake better than the last.

Ensuring that GTNT Group continues to respond to industry demand, the fifth intake was designed to address an ever-growing international demand for dual-qualified trades.

The program gave the participants the opportunity to gain a Certificate III in Electrical Fitting, and a Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Technology.

“It means that an employer doesn’t have to send out two people to a job that has a fitting component and an electrical component. The employer, in effect, gets two for the price of one,” says Kathryn.

GTNT Group, Prelude FLNG, Territory Government and Charles Darwin University are looking forward to a continued collaborative partnership offering employment and training programs to Territorians while addressing industry skill shortages.

ELISHA FITS THE JOB PERFECTLY

Prelude to the Future participant Elisha Wright secured a mechanical fitting apprenticeship with Territory Generation.

Company chief executive Gerhard Laubscher says: “The Prelude to the Future program meant that Elisha arrived at Territory Generation well equipped to start her apprenticeship role. She possessed a practical understanding of the gas industry and mechanical equipment, including knowledge of plant and equipment applications.

“Territory Generation values apprenticeship training schemes such as Prelude to the Future for many reasons. In particular, they support us in ‘growing our own’ by encouraging Territorians to build a career while living locally, and encouraging local businesses to invest in local people through employment, training, mentoring and motivation.

“Elisha is a shining example of the value of the Prelude to the Future program, and we at Territory Generation are proud to have the opportunity to guide an apprentice of her calibre. We look

forward to supporting her ongoing growth and development.”

“Elisha is a shining example of the value of the Prelude to the Future program, and we at  Territory Generation are proud to have the opportunity to guide an apprentice of her calibre. We look forward to supporting her ongoing growth and development.”

“It was fantastic to see all these beneficial changes.”

Graduates across the programs have gained qualifications in trades ranging from automotive, warehousing and logistics to electrical and engineering.

The program has produced many award winners with the most recent being Thomas Richardson, runner-up in the Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 NT Training Awards.

The Prelude to the Future program won the Chief Minister’s Award and Industry Collaboration Award at the NT Training Awards in 2015 and 2016.

GTNT Group never sat on its laurels and always strived to make the next intake better than the last.

Ensuring that GTNT Group continues to respond to industry demand, the fifth intake was designed to address an ever-growing international

demand for dual-qualified trades.

The program gave the participants the opportunity to gain a Certificate III in Electrical Fitting, and a Certificate III in Automotive Diesel Technology.

“It means that an employer doesn’t have to send out two people to a job that has a fitting component and an electrical component. The employer, in effect, gets two for the price of one,” says Kathryn.

GTNT Group, Prelude FLNG, Territory Government and Charles Darwin University are looking forward to a continued collaborative partnership offering employment and training programs to Territorians while addressing industry skill shortages.