Rae Bonney with Chris Burkitt - Holmesglen Apprentice Central - October 2019

Quality apprenticeships can provide great purpose for many young people making the transition from school to work, which, may positively impact mental health and sense of worth. Best practice training and mentoring can also boost apprenticeship completion rates which are as low as 53 per cent in Australia. Holmesglen Apprentice Support Centre, established in 2016 has grown to become Apprentice Central, a collection of Apprentice Support/Engagement Officers and administration staff who go on-site and in classrooms to talk with employers and apprentices about mental health, mentoring, financial and learning support. This team have quickly established as a “tool of trade, and received Gold at the 2018 World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) Awards of Excellence ceremony. Industry veteran and key collaborator at Apprentice Central, Chris Burkitt, is joined me to share more about this life saving initiative and a whole lot more about what it feels like being Chris Burkitt. Remember, it really is OK to not be OK!!