The program is an innovative collaboration jointly funded by Prelude FLNG, operated by Shell, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and Charles Darwin University and GTNT Group.

The aim is to create employment and training opportunities for Territorians by offering sustainable employment pathways while also addressing skill shortages.

Twenty apprentices are undertaking an intensive training program, which will include work placement towards two nationally recognised qualifications, Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician and Certificate III Driver Operations.

The qualifications have been identified as addressing skill shortages in the NT and serve to create pathways into the oil and gas and other relevant industries.

GTNT Group will expand the practical workplace experience of the apprentices by offering workplace rotation with businesses in the Darwin region.

The highly regarded group training organisation will use its network of host business partners, key stakeholders and industry representatives to hold employer information sessions to engage industry, secure work placements and create pathways to sustainable employment.

GTNT Group chief executive officer, Kathryn Stenson, says Prelude to the Future has been recognised as a leading model, which is “innovative and adaptive” to any industry and environment.

“The program is sustainable through investment from Shell Australia and local government,” she says.

“The program will continue to positively impact the Northern Territory socially and economically by increasing our local skilled workforce, improving local business capacity and changing the lives of Territorians through an innovative model that creates sustainable employment and training opportunities.”

Prelude to the Future, named after Shell’s offshore LNG project near Wadeye, addresses four social and economic challenges – improving local business capacity; combating skill shortages; creating career pathways; and enhancing community development.

Examples of career pathways can be seen through two apprentices who trained under earlier Prelude to the Future programs and are thriving in their fields.

Jack Higgins, who is working as an electrician at Darwin-based Nilsen NT on the Charles Darwin University business school project in the city centre, has gained a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician.

He was named Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year at the NT Training Awards last year and went on to represent the Territory at the Australian Training Awards.

“I was told at school that I wasn’t smart enough to be an electrician, but Prelude to the Future Program 4 and GTNT Group showed me that wasn’t true and that I can be a valuable employee – they set me up to move forward in my career.

“My job is awesome. It’s good to be with a big company working on big projects.

“Whenever the opportunity arises, I share my experience and talk about the benefits of learning on the job, gaining real world experience, and earning money at the same time.

“If I could go back and tell 15-year old Jack this, I might have been qualified a lot sooner.”

Elisha Wright, who obtained her Certificate lll in Engineering – Mechanical Trade as part of the Prelude to the Future Program 4, has one of the most important jobs in the Territory – keeping the electricity on.

She works as an operator at Channel Island power station for Territory Generation.

“I can’t ever see myself doing anything else,” she says.

Alice Springs-born Elisha, who was a finalist in this year’s Austin Asche Apprentice of the Year at the NT Training Awards, didn’t start her apprenticeship until she was 29, even though she used to work at her family’s mechanical workshop after school.

“I didn’t have the confidence,” she says. “Being a female, I didn’t think I would be accepted. GTNT Group and Prelude gave me the confidence to take an apprenticeship. And the program gave me the skills and made me very employable.”

She praises the support given to her by GTNT Group.

“I can’t fault the service that they provide and also the amazing employment specialists I have had, past and present.

“From the very beginning up until the present, GTNT Group has helped me realise that I belong in this industry and my self confidence has flourished because of it.”

Territory Generation 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.”