East Gippsland Institute of TAFE and Gippsland Aeronautics

Multi-award winning Gippsland Aeronautics (GA) is one of a handful of companies in Australia, and one of a few internationally, which designs and manufactures commercial aircraft from first principles.

Its aircraft have been purchased by the US Air Force Auxiliary, are sold throughout Australia and exported to some 20 countries.

The company's 110 staff produce up to 25 two-seat GA200 and eight-seat GA8 Airvan aircraft annually, and an innovative training partnership with East Gippsland Institute plays a fundamental role in GA's international success.

Gippsland is recognised as one of Australia’s leading aerospace centres, and the ongoing upskilling of employees is "extremely important", according to Anne Eddie, GA's Human Resources Manager.

"Aviation requires a unique set of skills, mostly in sheet metal, and it's very difficult to get the type of skills we require in this region," she says. About 60 staff have been upskilled since the training partnership was formed in 2005, says Steve Churches, Senior Educator in Industrial and Primary Skills at the Institute.

Certificate III in Production Line Engineering has been delivered to employees with no previous experience or qualifications, with 90 per cent of training and assessment taking place on Gippsland Aeronautic's own production line. Aeroskills Certificate IV in Mechanical, Avionics and Structures is also delivered to staff seeking higher level skills.

The partnership has now impacted on broader aviation training throughout Gippsland, with a new Certificate II in Aeroskills for VET in Schools. The qualification increases employment opportunities for youth in the region while boosting industry competitiveness.

Employers have been keen to employ students who have completed the Certificate and have offered jobs to a number of them. One of the strengths of the program is the degree of practical, hands-on training provided through the work students undertake on an aircraft purchased by East Gippsland TAFE.

"Gippsland is a strong aviation area, and of our group of eight second year VET students, seven have been promised a job," says Mr Churches.

"I wasn't sure what to expect, but I love the aviation training and wish I could do more. The teachers are great and working on a real aeroplane is fantastic. I have decided that aviation is definitely what I want to do. Yungur Aviation asked me to contact them when I leave school if I was interested in joining them, but I am going to join the RAAF where I'll get credits in the induction program for the training I’ve done." (James, VET Student).

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