Workstar

Chemical Awareness - Know your substance

IMP Printed Circuits are leading the Australian manufacturing industry by using flexible online learning to educate its production process workers in the prevention of injury caused by the misuse of chemicals and ignorance of chemical safety.

IMP worked with Workstar to tender for the seeded funding to the value of $50,000 from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework to develop the application of eLearning for workforce development. Workstar and IMP were one of 17 successful organisations/RTO partners to receive funding in 2007 under the Industry Engagement project.

The project allowed the introduction of eLearning to an industry where little was done previously, with the project being supported by other business in the electronics manufacturing industry such as Electrolux, Codan, Agrilink and Entech.

The target audience of assembly staff and technicians covers a cross-section of experience and skills. Therefore to meet the diverse learning styles of the audience, the eLearning program offers learners three levels of interactivity, from a basic level catering for non-technical or low literacy employees using mainly audio, video, images and limited text, to a third level with more interaction and user input to engage more technically savvy learners.

The content was also linked to the competencies to a number of units with the Metals and Engineering Industry Training Package.

"This project will be used to demonstrate to management that eLearning is not just a viable option within the organisation, but an important part of modern learning and training delivery" Training and Development Manager of IMP, Kim Kemeny said.

Click here to see a see a demo of the Chemical Awareness module.

To find out more about this project, or to enquire about business and industry eLearning initiatives, please contact Jason Sultana, jason.sultana@workstar.com.au.

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Europcar and Workstar on the road to success!

One of the world's most popular car rental providers, Europcar Asia Pacific, in conjunction with eLearning partner Workstar, has recently launched its customised learning solution called Wheels: The road to success. In November 2007 the solution was rolled out to 30 locations nationally as part of a 6 month road test. In May 2008, following the successful conclusion of this road test, the platform will be launched to all 140 locations in Australia and New Zealand, with a view to expanding to other Asia Pacific locations in future phases.

Wheels has been developed to meet Europcar's key business needs: consistency and timeliness in the delivery of training; reduced cost of training across geographically dispersed locations; visibility and measurement of training initiatives; and increased staff retention.

The initiative delivers custom content developed to ensure all staff demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to deliver an exceptional and efficient customer experience. Europcar are also utilising Workstar's "off-the-shelf" retail content to help staff develop a range of complementary competencies. PC Applications Training modules will be included to improve staff computer skills.

Europcar will initially release four simulation modules covering different components of their online booking reservation system, Cars+. Three of these modules will be built internally by Europcar. To enable the Wheels team to create effective simulation modules, Workstar ran a series of Instructional Design workshops to train their Subject Matter Experts (SME's) on Instructional Design general principles and best practice, plus how to use ShadoCMS and Captivate applications.

In the leadup to the launch of Wheels, Europcar discovered that staff were crying out for timely, structured, formal training. As a result of this need, staff have required little or no incentive to get them online and completing the compulsory module. 88% of assigned users attempted the custom content module assessment within the first month.

In readiness for the National rollout, Workstar will develop launch kits for Europcar to provide to all locations. These kits aim to increase staff buy-in and motivate Location Managers and staff to login, complete the compulsory online modules and utilise the platform resources to support their ongoing professional and personal development.

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Workstar reward star trainees!

The 'Trainee of the Month' award is part of Workstar's Club Rewards scheme, a scheme that is used to create a community for Workstar's 4000 Trainees, reward them for their outstanding achievements and create stronger relationships between trainers and trainees.

The award not only recognises trainees for their participation and completion of their Accredited Course, but also for their efforts and achievements through the course of their training. To be nominated, students must fit a criteria based on the Department of Education, Science and Technology's Australian Trainee of the Year Award, which is presented to the most outstanding Australian Trainee.

Since its inception in May 2007, Workstar have acknowledged the outstanding efforts of seven of their trainees.

Winners include Christine Chapman from Red Rooster QLD, Katie Walters from TGI Fridays VIC, Ian Tatum from Motospecs QLD, Emily Marshall from Fairbrother TAS, Andrew Jilbert from Stratco QLD, Tara Allen from 1001 Optical NSW and Alison Medlow and Chris Cope from Kitchen Connection.

All of these trainees have not only received good results in all areas of assessment but have also a desire to constantly continue their development and have shown leadership skills by leading other staff by example or encouragement. Some have even shown initiative to organise their own workshops to help facilitate learning in their own workplace.

Congratulations to all these trainees!

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