Our Inaugural Trainees

Workplace Relations & Services (WR&S) participated in the NSW Department of Education and Training's Traineeships for People with a Disability initiative. Two Trainees have been recruited. One is studying a Certificate IV in Business (Human Resources) and the other, a Certificate IV in Information Technology (Technical Support) and are expected to complete their qualifications in June 2004. On completion of the traineeship, the trainees will be employed in ongoing positions within the University. It is hoped this initiative will be repeated in other parts of the University in 2004.

Scott Shoesmith, who is hearing impaired, is our new HR Trainee. He has previously worked as a data entry clerk for Dept of Sports and Recreation; a merchandiser for Coca Cola Amatil Pty Ltd; a sub contractor plasterer for national Ceilings Pty Ltd; an apprentice plasterer for Modern Drywall Interiors Pty Ltd; a shop assistant for Valore Cellars. His previous training includes: Information Technology, Cert 3; Drawing Fundamentals, Cert 2; Computer Applications for the office. He is currently doing Human Resources Certificate IV in Business (Human Resources). His goal is to complete his studies and become the Assistant Director of HR in any organisation. He likes working in a University environment because people are easy going, have a good attitude to learning and further education and the provision of thorough on-the-job training is good. He has also found that universities have a strong commitment to fairness and EEO principles. He loves body boarding, travelling up and down the east coast searching for hollow waves with his mates and going on surf missions overseas.

HR trainee Scott Shoesmith can be reached by e-mail scott.shoesmith@mq.edu.au.

Joseph Freund, who has a physical disability, is our new IT Trainee. He has previously worked with Windows based PC on a part time basis from home. Working at WR&S has been an enlightening and enjoyable experience for him, as Apple Macs are the main "tool of trade" there, and he considers this opportunity to work with Macs as a most pleasant holiday away from Windows based PCs. He wishes to continue being up to date with the trends and technologies in the fast moving world of IT. He finds working at Macquarie University to be very enjoyable, although his friends keep reminding him "you're not supposed to have fun at work"! It comes as no surprise, then, that he enjoys almost anything sci-fi; his favourite sci-fi series are Babylon 5, Star Trek (any); his hobbies include digital photography, graphics manipulation; he is interested in astronomy, natural sciences, and fractals. Wishes he could fly into space to experience weightlessness, but realises that he will have to be content with the brief experiences of levitation one can get sitting on the back seat of a late running 611 bus in the afternoons, as it flies over our campus speed humps.

IT trainee Joseph Freund can be reached on extension 9744 or by e-mail joe.freund@mq.edu.au.