Page 10 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

NEWS
10
PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
TWO MORE GO GOLD
I-CAR AUSTRALIA GOLD CLASS COORDINATOR
Gary Wood has announced that Fix Auto Wollongong and Masada Prestige Paint and Panel in Alexandria in New South Wales have been awarded the prestigious I-CAR Gold Class Collision status.
“I am delighted to announce that Rod- ney and the team at Fix Auto Wollongong have achieved I-CAR Gold Class recogni- tion. We developed a training plan for them and they have achieved the accredi- tationwellaheadofschedule,”Woodsaid.
“It is a great privilege to be the first repairer in the Illawarra region to be
RUOK?
MTAA SUPER AND R U OK? HAVE DEVELOPED
a set of resources that encourage people in the motor industry to better support each other during life’s tough times.
The new initiative comes as an analy- sis of insurance death claims by MTAA Super members over a six-year period found that claims relating to suicide made up 13.5 per cent of the total.
The ‘It takes a real workmate to ask R U OK?’ campaign aims to help workmates get past what can feel like an awkward conversation when talking about emo- tions and life’s challenges. It also hopes to remove the barriers that might stop people from offering or asking for support.
The new resources include a practical guide to asking R U OK? of workmates,
awarded the I-CAR Gold Class accredita- tion. We have strived to provide Gold class service and quality repairs for all our clients, and this new accreditation makes it official," said Fix Auto Wollon- gong’s Rodney Tannous.
Wood commented on Masada Pres- tige's achievement. “It is a credit to Mas- ada Prestige that they have completed the training required in such a short pe- riod of time. Participating in virtual classroom training, the I-CAR steel welding certification and ITA training with their refinish company has dis-
designed to help people manage these conversations safely, sensitively and ef- fectively. They also include free down- loadable posters and digital assets.
MTAA Super CEO Leeanne Turner said, “We spend a lot of time at work, so workmates are well placed to notice the signs and changes that could indicate someone’s doing it tough. This campaign better equips our members to
notice when someone’s struggling and have the con- fidence to reach out and sup- port them – long before they’re in crisis.”
R U OK? CEO Brendan Ma- her said, “We believe the re- sources we have developed with MTAA Super will build an individual’s confidence to have regular conversations about life’s ups and downs.
played their commitment to training, ensuring that all staff members are equipped to safely repair today’s vehi- cles,” he said.
“We at Masada Prestige Paint and Panel are very proud to have achieved I-CAR Gold Class. The team found the training enjoyable and very interest- ing, everyone involved showed inter- est in future courses to improve their skill levels. I-CAR was able to deliver thetraininginarelaxedenvironment that suited everyone.” said Masada's Brian Porter.
“We don’t have to be experts to sup- port a workmate who’s struggling. Lis- tening and pointing people toward help- seeking pathways if it’s needed, can make a big difference.”
The new online resources (posters, flyers, website) and help-seeking information can be accessed at ruok.org.au/motortrades
ABOVE: Mark Czvitkovits (with Movember mo) and the Fix Auto Woolongong team. LEFT: Masada Prestige finished their road to Gold well ahead of schedule.