Page 122 - Australian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2020

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BEST PRACTICE AWARDS
PAINT&PANEL NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
YOUNG ACHIEVER
THIS YEAR’S WINNER HAS OVERCOME EXTREME ADVERSITY AND HAS BECOME AN IDEAL APPRENTICE WHO IS HIGHLY VALUED BY HIS RPM MANAGER.
OMID AMIR
W ITH NO WORLDSKILLS OR colour matching competi- tions its been an unusual year and these competitions give youngsters in the industry a chance to shine. Many young people have been severely impacted by the pandemic and we’ve heard of quite a
few apprentices quitting.
This year’s winner Omid Amir, 20
years old, has overcome a harrowing
past and has found a place to thrive within the AMA Group.
Amir arrived in Australia in 2012 after escaping religious persecution in Iran. The family was smuggled out and found on an unseaworthy boat by the Austral- ian navy.
After spending four months on Christ- mas Island the family was granted refu- gee status and relocated to Brisbane. The family struggled to find employ- ment because of visa obstacles and a lack of opportunity.
AMA offered Amir an apprenticeship at Gemini Wacol as a spray painter ap- prentice in 2019.
A change in government legislation meant the family had to relocate again to South Australia in 2019 – much to Amir’s relief AMA was able to transfer his apprenticeship to RPM Parra Hills in Adelaide.
His manager Andrew Wetton says: “This guy has get up and go. When he was told to move from Queensland, he finished on the Friday and drove from Queensland to South Australia over the weekend and started work Monday morning at 7.30am as asked. Omid has good attention to detail. He goes the ex- tra mile and asks if there anything he can do for you. He will take the initiative to find more work to do in batches in pep and priming work.
If he doesn’t know something he does not assume and learns how to do a job better next time. He listens to instruc- tions – unlike many other apprentices his age.”
SPONSORED BY
ABOVE: Amir was delighted at the recognition from his employers and the judges.