NISSMAP, an innovative automotive skills partnership program between the WPC Group, Nissan Australia and TAFEs across Australia, was announced winner of the 2016 Australian Training Awards “Australian Apprenticeships Employer Award” on 17 November in Darwin.
The Nissan Mentored Mentorship Program (NISSMAP) places automotive technician apprenticeships throughout Australia, with apprentices completing accelerated training at state-of-the-art TAFE facilities across the country.
Kangan Institute is the preferred NISSMAP TAFE provider for Victoria and Western Australia. The program enables apprentices to work alongside a dedicated WPC Group mentor while they complete a competency-based accelerated apprenticeship qualification in 2.8 years (a process which usually takes four years).
WPC Group General Manager Andrew Sezonov said “we are delighted with the recognition and spotlight on advancing the cause of skill-based education through mentored apprenticeships.”
Kangan Institute’s executive director of automotive, construction and industrial studies Phill Murphy said “we are pleased to partner with the WPC Group and Nissan in this innovative partnership that has seen countless apprentices advance into bright careers within the trade.”
Ashlee Poole, who was awarded Kangan Institute’s Apprentice of the Year in February, is one of many success stories.
Currently working at Nissan Traralgon Automotive Group, Ashlee is completing her NISSMAP training at Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence and hopes to be a Nissan master technician after her studies.
“I chose this trade because I’ve got an interest in automotive. The industry is always going somewhere different everyday so I can never stop learning,” she said.
“Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence is the best school in Australia. The facilities they have here, the technology… everything is up to date. The teachers are just so supportive and I definitely recommend anyone who’s looking to get into TAFE and to get into the automotive industry to give Kangan Institute a go.”
