Ventia has received the Industry Partnership Award at this year's Frankston and Mornington Peninsula VCAL Awards.

Hosted by the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Local Learning & Employment Network and the Peninsula Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) Association virtually, Ventia received the 2021 Industry Partnership Award for our ongoing support to school students in the region through our facilities maintenance contract with Mornington Peninsula Shire.

This includes:

• Hosting students on work experience and structured workplace learning across a number of areas, including horticulture, conservation and land management, business and auto mechanical
• Employing a school-based apprentice in horticulture and a First-Year apprentice in conservation land management
• Attending school career expos and meeting with students to talk about career opportunities in Ventia
• Being a host employer of the Mindshop Excellence program for the past 10 years. The program enables students from Balcombe Grammar to participate in five days' work experience at Ventia's Mornington site, where they work on a team project in a workplace environment. The students undertake desktop research, learn problem-solving skills and present their ideas that may be implemented by Ventia.

^{Pictured: Sam Carson - Gardener, Katrina Harrison - Horticulture and Projects Manager and Lewis Mills - Gardener} 

Providing training and job opportunities

Ventia Project Director Erin White said the company became involved in the program about 10 years ago to engage with the community and provide training and job opportunities to young people in the area.

Ventia aims to make a positive impact in the communities we serve, and providing work experience, training and meaningful career opportunities is one way we can give back to young people and the region. 

Padua student and recipient of its Excellence Award, Blain Blight, was a school-based apprentice with Ventia on its Mornington Peninsula Shire contract. 

Ventia Horticulture and Projects Manager Katrina Harrison said Blain joined the company as a work experience student through the VCAL program in 2020, completing one day a week with the landscaping team.  

"Blain showed great enthusiasm from the beginning and a willingness to listen and learn from the team," Katrina said.  

At the end of 2020, Blain approached us to continue working with Ventia through a school-based apprenticeship program and we were happy to keep him on the team this year.

Ventia maintains the Mornington Peninsula Shire's open spaces, parklands and buildings, and undertakes bushfire, tree and vegetation management to protect the unique landscape of the area.

The Frankston and Mornington Peninsula VCAL Awards celebrated the achievements of 60 students from all VCAL schools and providers across the region in Victoria, in three award categories of Excellence, Encouragement and Industry.

Read more about our work with the Local Learning & Employment Network and our Seymour Youth Employment Partnership.