Apprentice encourages others to take up manufacturing

Since speaking at the opening of the Young Ambassadors program for the Office of Manufacturing and Service Industries in November 2005, Glen Vandervelde has been asked to present his success story many times over.

So far this year, Glen, who is a Young Ambassador himself, has addressed large groups of students at schools that are on the fringe of the manufacturing industry belt in Melbourne’s East. He tells male and female students about careers in engineering and manufacturing, and displays great enthusiasm and excitement for the developing field of auto parts and accessory manufacture.

For Glen, the enthusiasm began in 2002 when he enrolled in the VET engineering technology course at Ringwood Secondary College in eastern Melbourne.

The course, run in conjunction with Box Hill TAFE, included a mandatory structured work placement, arranged by the Eastern Industry Education Local Community Partnership. While Glen enjoyed his 80-hour on-the-job component at Stainless Tube Mills, he wrote on his placement application that manufacturing and engineering technology (with a leaning toward automotive technology) were his areas of interest.

Later that year, when ARB Corporation Ltd—an Australian manufacturer of 4WD accessories—was seeking a first-year apprentice, Glen was lucky enough to be offered the position.

As part of completing his four-year apprenticeship, Glen worked in many different divisions of ARB. All his supervisors speak highly of the work he produces and the calm manner in which he goes about his duties.

Glen also acts as a mentor and coach to other young engineering students who are at ARB on a structured work placement.

Since 2002, the Eastern Industry Education Local Community Partnership has supported Glen in his career development.