WA top apprentice takes on the big V8s
09/11/2009
The SGIO Apprentice of the Year will further hone his skills at the V8 Supercar event in Perth later this month following his recent return from an international training academy.
Thirty-one year old mature-aged apprentice panel beater and Alfred Cove resident Cameron Clarke will have the opportunity to work on repairing specialist materials including composite plastics used in the V8 races over the weekend as a member of the SGIO Smash Repair Team.
Cameron has just returned from the Car-O-Liner Academy in Sweden, where he undertook intensive training on computer based damage diagnosis and repair processes required for many of the new materials used in vehicle construction.
The Swedish academy is renowned for the quality of its training programs, which aim to enhance students’ knowledge of collision repairs and improve productivity and quality.
Another member of the SGIO Smash Repair Team will be Donna-Marie Albela who was a member of SGIO’s Autobody Scholarship group, which commenced in 2007.
Teachers from Swan TAFE will also form part of the SGIO Smash Repair Team in the role of instructors and mentors to support the apprentices over the weekend.
SGIO spokesperson Rob Cory said the aim of the SGIO Apprentice of the Year award was to attract and retain young people within the autobody repair industry.
“We work with repairers to help make the smash repair industry an appealing career option for school leavers,” Mr Cory said.
“It’s in the interests of insurers and repairers to attract and retain the highest quality trades people within the industry and the Apprentice of the Year program helps us achieve this.”
Apprentice panel beaters or vehicle painters employed within the SGIO repairer network are nominated for the annual award by the WA insurer’s industry partners.
Cameron received the award working in many different industries and deciding to explore the possibility of completing an apprenticeship in panel beating as a mature-aged student.
As the winner of this year’s award Cameron receives financial support from SGIO for ongoing training and career development over the next twelve months.
The V8 Supercar event at Wanneroo’s Barbagallo Raceway takes place from November 20th to the 22nd.