Annual Connection skills showcase heads for SouthlandSponsored
The best of New Zealand’s cable jointers and line mechanics will be going head-to-head in Invercargill in September, showing off the skills that keep the country’s electricity connected.
Annual Connection 2023, hosted by Southland’s electricity management company PowerNet Ltd, in conjunction with Connexis | Te Pūkenga, will see cable jointers and line mechanic crews compete in events that put their workplace skills to the test.
This year’s event will be held 19-21 September at Donovan Park in Invercargill, with electrical supply crews travelling from different companies around the country to participate.
Annual Connection is also an opportunity for secondary-school students to see energy supply workers in action and get a feel for what a career in the industry looks like. A supplier expo will showcase new technologies and the three-day event will close with the Connexis Excellence Awards, recognising the country’s top energy and telecommunications trainees.
Connexis | Te Pūkenga director Kaarin Gaukrodger says Annual Connection goes from strength to strength every year and the 2023 event is shaping up as one of the biggest with a record number of teams registering from around the country.
“The competitions are a real thrill for spectators and give the public a chance to see the incredible skills and training these energy supply workers have up close.
“These are the workers who have kept the country connected through some of the recent damaging weather events. Typically, the kind of work they’re doing is often in the backcountry, and at odd hours, therefore a lot of their vital work goes unseen. So Annual Connection gives them an amazing opportunity to demonstrate what they know,” Gaukrodger says.
“Between the competitions and Excellence Awards, Annual Connection is an important celebration of New Zealand’s energy supply and telecommunications sectors.”
The Excellence Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the effort and achievement of the best trainees within the energy and telecommunications sectors, Gaukrodger says.
Award categories include Generation Trainee of the Year, Distribution Trainee of the Year, Telecommunications Trainee of the Year, Transmission Trainee of the Year, Investing in Youth Development and Training and Overall Trainee of the Year.
“Between the awards and the competitions, Annual Connection offers a chance to show off best practice as well as the skills and talent embedded in our infrastructure workforce, while showcasing career opportunities to newcomers and the next generation.”
Gaukrodger adds Connexis is thrilled to have Southland’s PowerNet on board as sponsor this year. “We love taking Annual Connection to the regions, and having the event in Invercargill this year will be a fantastic opportunity to take a closer look at the industry in Southland and understand its unique challenges and opportunities.
PowerNet CEO Jason Franklin says Annual Connection is an opportunity for the wider community to better understand the electrical supply industry and the company is looking forward to bringing a “Southern flavour” to the event.
“We have been involved in Annual Connection for a number of years and wanted to step up to host to give something back to the industry. The event is an opportunity to showcase the skills and experience we have in the sector right across New Zealand, as well as to share best practices and attract new people to the industry,” Franklin says.
“It’s also an excellent chance for industry people from all over the country to experience Invercargill and Southland hospitality.
“Our team members are very excited to be involved and have the first opportunity to represent PowerNet at home.”
Wind farm qualifications
With a significant number of wind farms earmarked for construction and expansion over the next 30 years, Connexis | Te Pūkenga has released two new wind farm programmes as part of NZQA approved wind farm qualifications.
The New Zealand Certificate in Wind Farm Maintenance (Level 3) focuses on the servicing aspects of wind farm maintenance and comprises 60 credits. The New Zealand Certificate in Wind Farm Maintenance (Level 4) focuses on wind farm diagnostic and repair maintenance activities and comprises 80 credits.
“Wind will be a key source of renewable energy in New Zealand as we work toward decarbonisation of the energy sector,” Gaukrodger says. “More wind farms means a demand for more wind farm technicians so we have worked in close partnership with the sector to create qualifications that meet employers’ skills requirements, and help them meet future workforce skill requirements.”
Find out more about these programmes at https://www.connexis.org.nz/energy-qualifications/
New eLearning app
Connexis | Te Pūkenga has also recently introduced Totara, a free eLearning app to support learners on the go.
With the Totara app, ākonga (learners) can quickly and securely access their eLearning programmes, courses, and assessment activities on their mobile, allowing them to continue their training whenever and wherever it suits them.
“We know that our learners manage their lives through their mobile phones, so it makes sense that we allow them to manage their training on their mobile as well,” Gaukrodger says.
“We understand our learners have busy lives, balancing their learning around their work, whānau, sport and recreation activities. By providing their learning material on the free eLearning app Totara, learners can access their training material on their smartphone wherever they are. This will allow them to better manage their downtime to get through a quick session of learning whether that is before work, on their lunchbreak or in their out-of-work hours.
“By using the app via a smartphone, eLearners literally have everything they need for success at their fingertips.
“A critical part of our role at Connexis | Te Pūkenga as a training provider is to remove as many hurdles to success as possible for our trainees. We are thrilled to be able to offer access to Totara and take another step to improving and standardising the learning experience for everyone, no matter their training circumstances.”
Totara is currently available for Wind Farm Maintenance Level 3 and Infrastructure Works Level 2, with more programmes available soon. The app is available free through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Inside Annual Connection
Justin Quigley – WEL Networks
Annual Connection 2022, winning cable jointer
"Don’t overthink everything and just stick with what you know.” That’s the advice for those entering skills competitions at this year’s Annual Connection from 2022’s winning cable jointer, Justin Quigley.
Read more: https://www.connexis.org.nz/news/team-work-makes-the-dream-work/
Aiverson Leonardo – WEL Networks
Annual Connection 2022, winning line mechanic team
Aiverson Leonardo says the skills competitions at Annual Connection are a great opportunity to connect with others working in the energy sector.
“You get to meet a lot of other people in the industry and really get to experience the line mechanic community. Even though we were all competing against one another, at the end of the day everyone would just get together and chat it up.”
Read more: https://www.connexis.org.nz/news/the-art-of-winning/
