Page 12 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

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News • In Focus
5
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
I-CAR GOLD TRIO
THREE MORE BUSINESSES UP THEIR TEAM’S SKILL LEVELS WITH FIVE STAR ACHIEVING GOLD FOR THREE SITES SIMULTANEOUSLY.
STAR PANELS GROUP HAS
been awarded I-CAR Gold
Class Collision status for each of its three sites.
“My staff are my biggest asset, with the growth and success of my busi- ness and repair shops depending hugely on the high level of training they re- ceived, it was an easy and positive choice to sign up for the Road to Gold program. [It] offered a new and intense approach to learning, while developing new skills and role-specific training for technicians,” said Fred Sleman owner of 5 Star Panels with sites in Tullamarine, Airport West
and Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.
“I would highly recommend the I-CAR
training program for its high level of role-specific training, accreditation, and insurance company transparency.
“We at 5 Star Panels are proud of our commitment and accomplishment to I-CAR’s Gold Class recognition which provided an added competitive edge in the challenging auto collision repair industry.”
Brisbane Collision Centre in Rocklea, Queensland has also achieved Gold status. “We are very pleased to have achieved Gold Class as a team at Brisbane Collision Centre and are extremely grateful for all the help we have received from I-CAR,
Car-O-Liner, Axalta and their distributor, Queensland Paint Supplies. They have al- ways stood behind us and provided sup- port since establishing our business.” said owners Michael and Juliette Woodcroft.
“The various training delivery options offered by I-CAR worked well for us so as not to disrupt the work day too much. Al- though some staff preferred to train dur- ing work hours, it was great to have the flexibility to do it after hours which suit- ed management better. We are very proud of all our staff who have helped us achieve Gold Class, especially for learn- ing with us despite some online training being a bit daunting for them at first.”
Finally Riviera Panels in Bairnsdale, Vic- toria can display its Gold plaque. Manager Darryl Webb says: “We initially started training because we recognised I-CAR’s Road to Gold Program courses provided much-needed training in an ever-changing automotive repair industry. Then it became
compulsory for Suncorp preferred repairers and we sped up our training regime.”
“The I-CAR courses we did were relevant to our business. We used Virtual Classroom courses to upskill older trades- people on newer vehicle technology. I ac- crued points from previous Industry Training Alliance (ITA) training and found it easy to sign up for more I-CAR courses. The online delivery options al- lowed us to work around a busy schedule and get our staff to do the training. Some struggled with the computer side of the online training but have come out of it with more confidence using them.
“The steel welding certification course was very beneficial for our heavy collision expert and he has stated it was hard but well worth the extra effort. Being regional, the cost to travel into Melbourne for this live hands-on skills development workshop was a consideration but well worth it,” Webb says.
TOP: Team Riviera Panels, Victoria.
FAR LEFT: 5 Star Tullamarine.
LEFT: Brisbane Collision Centree