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About

What does MIGAS stand for?

Manufacturing Industries Group Apprenticeship Scheme

ABN: 392 316 19354

MIGAS recruits and employs apprentices and trainees, then places them with Participating Training Companies (Hosts) for their training period.

MIGAS adapts a training program to suit individual business needs.

MIGAS monitors the performance of each placement to ensure that safe, high quality training is received and high quality work is produced.

MIGAS organises apprentice and trainee formal theory training (e.g. TAFE), deals with all paperwork requirements, organises the payroll and Superannuation, takes care of Worker’s Compensation, and provides on-going HR advice to both the Participating Training Company and the apprentice/trainee.

MIGAS rotates the apprentice or trainee into other Participating Training Companies if the current Participating Training Company doesn’t have enough work for the placement, a large enough range of training areas, or if there are issues in the workplace.

The term ‘Group Training’ refers to an arrangement where apprentices and trainees are employed by an organisation that takes primary responsibility for their training and employment (MIGAS) but places them with other businesses called Participating Training Companies or Hosts.

Group Training is particularly useful for small businesses which:

• Find it difficult to commit to employing an apprentice or trainee for the entire training period;
• Have a narrow range of work, so cannot provide the range of experience required by the apprenticeship or traineeship; and
• Prefer a Field Officer to manage their employment and training responsibilities, for example recruitment and payroll.

 

MIGAS take the risks away from employing and managing apprentices and trainees by providing a full HR service to your business.

Our Story

Create the dream

The MIGAS dream is that we create new beginnings for the youth of Australia and give them a head start in their careers through apprenticeship, traineeship, and school-based opportunities.

We are a resourceful and capable company that is reputable in all HR areas, and supply high quality service to all companies, large and small, across the nation.

We are at the top end among our competitors, and highly respected as an established Group Training Organisation.

We are passionate and enthusiastic for the alliance between industry and training, and further the training agenda by actively contributing and being involved in training initiatives, pre-vocational courses, career’s days, and trade exhibitions.

Our workforce is professional, efficient and compassionate, and directly represents MIGAS as a company which makes a difference to people’s lives.

 

What is the story?

MIGAS was established on the 3^rd of June, 1988.

In July 1999, a new CEO was appointed by the Board of Management with an aim to build the company. After a complete restructure, and with only seven staff and a will to take the company forward, the CEO, David Brown, and his team set about improving the quality of service delivery both internally and externally.  At that stage the company was struggling for cash and it became a hand-to-mouth proposition to keep the company running.

Over the next six months the team worked long hours and long days to carry out a number of strategic initiatives and to set the company on a course of growth.

Over the next three years the company started to experience some rapid growth and a reversal of their poor reputation, to one of being a well-run and well-organised Group Training scheme.

Today, MIGAS has offices from Townsville to Melbourne, employs in excess of 700 apprentices and trainees, has completed many thousands of apprentices, and is recognised Australia wide as a quality supplier of Group Training activities. We now employ 60 staff who are all dedicated to the development of apprentices and trainees across the East coast of Australia.

 

What do we believe in?

This is the core belief of MIGAS and the staff. We believe in our mission statement. It forms the foundation of who we are and what we are trying to do.

It’s not just offering career opportunities to young people where we make a difference, but in the emotional support, the mentoring and sometimes the discipline we provide as an organisation that makes a difference to the emerging work force of Australia. We make a difference when we participate in Careers Fairs, feedback to Government, feedback to parents regarding the performance of their relations, and the on-going support we give to our own MIGAS staff in not only their professional life but their personal life as well. We often make a difference to our Host Companies as well, not only in the placement, development and assessment of our apprentices and trainees, but in that we provide professional support in many areas of their business.

 

What’s our passion?

Our passion is for the well-being of our apprentices, trainees and school-based employees, the security, comfort and happiness of our internal staff, the benefit of Industry both locally and nationally, and the honour of our company – to uphold the values MIGAS stands for.

The following MIGAS Values support and expand on the MIGAS mission statement:

• We value honesty, commitment, professionalism and hard work;
• We lead the Group Training community in service and quality levels;
• We are a dynamic outcomes driven organisation;
• We support our team members;
• We care for and nurture our apprentices and trainees; and
• We give professional, ethical support and service to our clients.

 

What’s our belief?

We believe in one united front in industry and training; forming a partnership alliance with the companies of Australia to:

• Make career opportunities readily available to young people and encourage a new generation of trades people
• Keep the workforce of Australia driving forward through hard economic times
• Give the right information and advice about HR issues to all employees and employers

 

What is the perception we want to own?

The perception that we want to convey is one of a caring and committed organisation that strives for professionalism, high standards of service, and compassion for all our employees and stakeholders.

 

What culture do we want to communicate?

The culture we want to communicate as a company is based on our mission statement.

MIGAS creates an open family environment for its internal and external staff which reflects directly upon the company as a whole.

The culture we have created is one of rewarding the hard work for our employees, not only internally but externally. Every year MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees celebrates the success and achievements of our apprentices, trainees and school based trainees, by holding a MIGAS Awards Night. This night is in recognition of the hard work of the apprentices, trainees and the Host companies, and to highlight the benefits of vocational education through apprenticeships and traineeships to industry within our community.

MIGAS also enters our apprentices and trainees in local and national competitions, programs and awards, and encourages them to volunteer in industry career days such as the WorldSkills Try-a-Trade exhibition and the Hands-On Expo.

Our latest initiative is a two day Apprentice Support Program (ASP) that has been created by MIGAS to recognise the wealth of talent and commitment that exists amongst the group training network of apprentices and trainees.

The ASP is aimed at improving the life skills of apprentices and trainees that have been identified as “high performers” by their HRDOs and host companies. It consists of two days and two evenings of intensive personal and professional development for 3rd and 4th year apprentices, and trainees who are close to completing their traineeship. Selection is by joint nomination by the host and HRDO.

 

How do we measure our success as a brand?

MIGAS has a presence across three states in Australia – Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. We successfully service hundreds of businesses from Townsville in sunny North Queensland, right down to Melbourne in Victoria.

We measure our success on the responses we get from our employees, clients, friends and family.

Below are a number of testimonials which have been given to us without any encouragement.

“We have found MIGAS supportive from the first point of contact.” – Malcolm Ovenden, Hills Air-conditioning, Liverpool NSW.

“We appreciate the fact MIGAS is always readily available for discussion and appreciate how high your professionalism is. We are impressed by your thorough knowledge, cooperation and loyalty.” – KANE Electrical & Communications Pty Ltd, Tuggerah NSW.

“Staff at MIGAS Apprentices and Trainees are reliable, friendly and always deliver great customer service. We have always been able to rely on their flexible and courteous service.” – Sasi Virtanen, Worthington BMW, Gosford NSW.

“They have conducted business in a professional, personal manner ensuring our needs are met at all times. The simplicity in hosting a MIGAS apprentice is attractive to any employer.” – Danny Tubman, Southern Engineering Services, Port Kembla NSW.

“I have always found the staff from MIGAS to be very efficient and thorough when dealing with both TAFE and us… We will continue using MIGAS for all our future apprentices.” – Brian Barker, Sunshine Coast Council, Sunshine Coast QLD.

“We have used other providers in the past, and now have a long-standing relationship with MIGAS. They have taken the time to get to know our industry, and more importantly our business, to ensure the apprentices they find are suitable to our business.” – Jamie Currie, Arborglen, Glenorie NSW.

The strength of our brand and the measure of our service is illustrated by these testimonials.

 

Elephants dance with elephants

MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees works together with some of the largest and most successful companies across Australia. We strive to be the best, which means best service, best attitude, and best clients.

MIGAS has built relationships with brands such as Caltex, Hedweld Group of Companies, Haden, Dalkia, BOC, The HeyDay Group, Johnson Controls, Hastie Services, and Wormald. We work together with these industry leaders to create the trades people for industry and for Australia’s future.

We also work on a smaller scale, building relationships between local industry, training and education sectors. Part of the MIGAS difference is having the flexibility to adapt our services to fit large and small businesses easily. Our customers will comfortably tell you that we address each and every one of them equally, while maintaining individuality and suitability to meet their needs.

 

Raise the roof – create world class standards

The goals of a Group Training Organisation are:

• To create Australian apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities
• To ensure continuity of employment for those people indentured in an Australian apprenticeship or traineeship
• To enhance the quality of Australian apprentices and trainees and broaden their knowledge by offering many different training opportunities

MIGAS not only meets these goals but exceeds them, and does so with compassion, consideration, and confidence.

MIGAS is confident that our service levels exceed the national standard, that our compassion comes from the heart and not from a training booklet, and that our understanding of training and industry working hand-in-hand is very important.

 

Build a brand council

MIGAS stands for nothing less than Making a difference and we strive to make that difference in all aspects of our work and community.

It is one thing to advertise on television, or to hear a commercial on the radio to reach your audience. On the opposite end of the marketing scale is word of mouth advertising and service with a smile. MIGAS has the ability to work hand-in-hand with customers and industry partners at the level of service they need.

We have numerous examples of where clients and apprentices and trainees have appreciated the extra effort of each and every one of our field staff, administration, accounts people, or Management team members, but we thought we’d give you a small taste:

“Brad Dumbleton, our MIGAS representative, is always a phone call away and is a regular visitor at Arborglen. Brad ensures both the apprentices and the employer are happy, and resolves any disputes effectively and in a timely manner.” – Jamie Currie, General Manager Arborglen, Glenorie NSW.

“I have had Brad Dumbleton as my supervisor for the past 2 years. He has always listened to any questions & followed the processes needed to give me any answers needed. He is always happy & goes about discussing any issues that may arise in an appropriate manner that I felt comfortable with. Brad is confident & informed about his job & I would suggest that any other apprentice would have a positive outcome in their apprenticeship with the support of Brad.” – Stephen Farrell, MIGAS Mechanical Engineering apprentice, NSW.

“As parents of children entering the workforce and having to deal with all the complexities that children do, Brad has made that path for our children easier, they have progressed with confidence with his support & knowledge that they can approach him about anything… As parents Brad always made himself available to us and nothing was any problem… We would have no hesitation in encouraging other parents to approach Brad about anything and for the parents to feel confident that their child/ren are in good hands with Brad as their supervisor.” – Pete & Kay Taylor, parents of MIGAS apprentice Stephen Farrell, NSW.

 

Build the tribe

The MIGAS family doesn’t only include internal staff. MIGAS apprentices, trainees and school-based employees, Host company staff, business partners and Board affiliates make up the family who are Making a difference.

We have found that apprenticeships and traineeships can lead into very promising career paths and that by establishing our beginnings as a company we can highlight the wheel-of-life that keeps on turning. David Brown, Chief Executive Officer of MIGAS, kicked off his career in a Fitting and Turning apprenticeship. MIGAS Queensland State Manager, David Eley, completed an apprenticeship in Fitting and Turning. CESCO Purchasing Officer, Nick Mills, completed a traineeship with MIGAS, was awarded MIGAS Trainee of the Year in 2000, and went on to become a successful and leading Warehousing supervisor that now hosts MIGAS trainees in his workplace.

The MIGAS family shows that with dedication, commitment and support, young people can reach for the sky in their future career choices. We like to base our teachings on our own life examples, not out of a textbook.

 

Always return to base camp

MIGAS ensures each and every one of its members keeps in mind our mission statement. With each step we take towards Making a difference in people’s lives we remember who we are and why we are doing what we do.

Why we are different?

Although we are among the top companies in the Group Training industry, our service levels can’t compare. We bring experience, advice and compassion to the work-bench, and provide on-going support to anyone that needs it or asks for it.

Why we are better?

Our internal staff are knowledgeable not only from textbooks and training courses, but from real-life experiences.

What are our values?

Our values are clear and concise so that we know who we are, our customers know who they’re dealing with, and our heads and hearts are in the right place.

What is our story?

MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees is a not-for-profit Group Training Organisation with a difference. We place apprentices, trainees and school-based employees into apprenticeships and traineeships that will secure their future careers and earn them a qualification they deserve. We service hundreds of businesses up and down the East coast of Australia by giving them the quality apprentices and trainees they need and moulding future generations of trades people to fit their workplace values.

MIGAS joins the forces of industry and training together to build a better future for Australia.