TAFE Gippsland is working with one of the region’s leading vegetable and salad leaf growers to provide English language lessons for a group of international workers.
Pictured: (Back) Teanea Nakao, Bulmer Farms owner Andrew Bulmer, Tiaeke Tairati, Ikake Niumea, Titera Tebakaa and Rudy Soares Belo, with (front) Mweretake Tekiera, TAFE Gippsland teacher Rachel Storer and Buangi Salomia at TAFE Gippsland’s Bairnsdale campus.
Ten Kiribati and Timor Leste team members from Bulmer Farms are one month into a three-month intensive English language course at TAFE Gippsland’s Bairnsdale campus.
The course content, created by the TAFE Gippsland team in collaboration with Bulmer Farms, is providing an opportunity for this specific group to grow and improve their English language skills to support their application for a longer-term visa.
TAFE Gippsland chief executive officer Laura Macpherson said working with Bulmer Farms to accommodate the needs of foreign workers was an example of TAFE’s development of key industry partnerships.
“A key part of TAFE Gippsland’s strategic work is partnering with local industry to provide innovative solutions to various learning and training needs,” she said.
“Providing English language classes to foreign workers will assist with community integration and make life a little easier for them interacting and also when it comes to applying for their Visas.
“This is a great example of TAFE Gippsland being responsive, identifying current and emerging opportunities and provide training services that meet market needs.”
Bulmer Farms Communications, People and Culture manager Jody O’Brien said the course was an important part of a bigger process that will enable their employees to stay in the Gippsland community.
“English is a 2nd or 3rd language for the majority of our Pacific Island employees so getting a better understanding of it will improve their work and personal lives in Australia whilst also providing stability and consistency for our workforce,” she said.
“As part of the application for a visa under the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement ( HILA ), our workers have to score a certain level in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), so this course is helping them improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in English to achieve that IELTS score.
“These improved skills will have multiple positive flow-on effects, with the workers able to confidently step up to greater leadership capability in our business, take a more active role in on-farm safety activities and discussions as well as be a mentor and vital communication link for new employees who arrive each year on seasonal contracts – it’s a big win-win for everyone.
“Bulmer Farms is delighted to be partnering with TAFE Gippsland to deliver this learning experience that has life changing benefits to offer this group of Kiribati and Timor employees and their co-workers – we hope this course is the first of many in the years to come.”