Starting an apprenticeship after finishing school can be daunting. Young people face new responsibilities, and the shift from adolescence to adulthood might bring challenges.
That’s where Apprenticeship Support Officers like Sahin Sahinkaya come in.
Sahin is based at Kangan TAFE’s Broadmeadows campus and supports apprentices with work or personal problems.
‘Our role is to support them to make sure they get through their apprenticeship,’ he says.
Sahin connects with an apprentice soon after they start. He works to build rapport and support them through their transition.
Some apprentices start as young as 16, and the experience ‘can come as a bit of a shock,’ Sahin says. ‘They leave school and realise ‘there's a whole heap of work I've got to do through this apprenticeship as well’. It becomes fairly overwhelming for them. That's when we tap in and say, ‘Hey, look, there's support there for you, and we'll get you through this.’
Apprenticeship Support Officers are based on TAFE campuses. They often travel to an apprentice’s workplace or visit them in the classroom. They provide support and referrals for personal issues, learning challenges or difficult workplace situations.
‘They might be feeling anxious or not feeling supported or feeling that (their workplace) is not the right fit for them. A lot of the time, they're too afraid to have that discussion with their workplace, so we can advocate on their behalf,’ he says.
Sahin recently helped an automotive apprentice who was having trouble with some of their teachers. Sahin discovered that the apprentice had learning difficulties that hadn’t been previously identified. He referred them to a specialised support service so they could get the right learning support.
Sometimes Sahin’s role requires creative thinking. Like when he met Anas, an apprentice panel beater who’d recently arrived in Australia from Egypt. Sahin explained the range of social support services available, but in the end what Anas needed was a spray gun for painting cars. Sahin was happy to help.
‘I think of it like, not only do I have an Apprenticeship Support Officer cap on, but I also have this sort of “big brother” cap on – how do I assist this young person?’ he says.
With extensive experience in community services, Sahin is passionate about helping young people. He builds strong relationships with apprentices and connects them with the right support.
Even small things can make a big difference. ‘There's a little pantry here and we can provide breakfast or lunch for apprentices if they need it. We've got trades clothing, like shoes and socks that we can give them as well,’ he says.
Sahin loves his job because he can see the positive impact that he and his fellow Apprenticeship Support Officers have.
‘It's rewarding to know that you've had an impact or you've been able to help someone in their lives in some way,’ he says.
Since 2011, the Apprenticeship Support Officer program has supported more than 169,100 apprentices.
Find out more about the Apprenticeship Support Officer program on the Apprenticeships Victoria website.
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