Women prisoners will be rolling up their sleeves from August as new training facilities teach them trade skills for automotive and basic engineering.

As part of the Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility training expansion CIE is in the final stages of converting the old textiles workshop into three new workshops. The first two are an automotive workshop and a basic engineering trade skills workshop.

Mechanics and engineers are in short supply, especially in the Auckland region.  Acting National Manager CIE Ruth Turner says: “The New Zealand workforce will change dramatically over the coming years, especially with the continuation of shortages in skilled labour areas.We need to look strategically at how to meet future and current labour shortages. Many women are probably not aware of the opportunities for them in the auto industry, but the truth is there’s really no repair function that a woman can’t perform. A technical background can open up a number of opportunities in the industry.”

From August, 32 female prisoners will commence training each year in the automotive engineering workshop and study a range of unit standards that will enable them to achieve a Pre-Trade Automotive Engineering Certificate. This Certificate comprises 64 credits towards the 80 credit Level 2 National Certificate in Motor Industry (Entry Skills).

The unit standards cover topics such as safe workshop practices, trade calculations, use of hand and power tools, automotive electrical, fuel and steering systems including fault diagnosis and rectification, plus tyre fitting and balancing.

The Basic Engineering Trades Skills workshop will see 64 female prisoners each year in training that is more introductory in nature. These prisoners will study a range of unit standards comprising 37 credits. The training will cover topics such as first aid; health and safety; the use and care of measurement equipment, basic hand tools and portable power tools; trade calculations, knowledge of metals and fasteners used in mechanical engineering; and mechanical assembly.

Prisoners who complete the course will have the skills required to embark on further training in the automotive or engineering fields. From here they will be positioned to embark either on the Level 2 National Certificate in Motor Industry or the Level 2 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.

“The aim of the training programme is to provide appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities for prisoners to gain employment in the engineering or motor industries upon release,” Ruth says.

It will provide a foundation for progression into diverse roles, including automotive engineering, motorcycle engineering, automotive electrical engineering, automotive dismantling, automotive machinery, accessories and parts salesperson, small engine repair, and power boat servicing.

For the third workshop retail distribution is a likely candidate as it could dovetail into the P119 operation being carried out on site.

See the story about the engineering opportunities for male prisoners.

 

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For more information about CIE or how you can become involved with CIE, please call 04 470 8494 or email cieworktraining@corrections.govt.nz.

ISSN 1174-2909

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