Manny's take on Director Karen Williams

Karen Williams

Director Karen Williams runs the financial and RTO side of the business and has been doing so since she and John started up in Augusta in 1998.

Prior to opening CTS Karen managed two regional Telecentres in the South West for approximately five years and was an Internet and Computer Studies lecturer for TAFE. She spent time working and travelling around Australia during the 1980's and 6 years in Papua New Guinea. Whilst in PNG she taught music, played keyboards in a band and played the piano for international and local school choirs in Tabubil.

An advocate for not-for-profit organisations, she has delivered their programs and helped with fundraising. She is an active board member of Pathways and the current Vice President for the Bunbury chapter of the BNI. Prior to that she held the position of BNI Education Officer. AND she also manages to fit in being a member of the Network South West Business Club - she arrives late to work every second Friday as they all have breakfast together at the Lord Forrest Hotel!

Both Karen and John are passionate about their business and I have watched them grow from strength to strength. They and CTS are well known and respected through-out the training community and they continue to attract training and coaching contracts with many local and national companies.

When not working Karen enjoys dreaming up all sorts of fun team activities for staff get togethers, spending time with her family, kayaking, playing the banjo, piano and any other musical instrument she can get her hands on, bike riding, walking and cheering on the West Coast Eagles. Go Nic Natanui!!!!

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Mayhem at the Office!

We have had a really "trying" week at the office, just let me tell you about it!!

At about 1.30pm on Thursday 2nd February 2012 our phone lines and internet access just ceased to exist! A contractor in the Bunbury area damaged two Telstra cables which severed landlines in east and central Bunbury. Reports tell us that between 500 and 1500 customers were affected.

Eventually Telstra were able to divert one of our phone lines to a company mobile so we have had one line in to the business. If you have been trying to contact us but just haven't been able to, we apologise. For those of you who managed to make it through, well done!!! However, our internet came back up on Saturday night so you can reach us at any time on training@ctsconsult.com.au .

Although still not operating at our usual level we are finding innovative ways to continue to work as productively as possible and we are hoping that all our services will be restored by Friday this week. But last Thursday and Friday Karen and Sally just lost the plot - hopefully those of you they talked to managed to make some sense of what they had to say!

With no students around this week - the SHREP ones were here last week - Manny spent time trying to decide which course he should enrol in next. With safety being his passion, I am assuming something in the Occupational Health and Safety area but we'll just have to wait and see.

Don't forget, call us for all your OHS, Business, HR, Management and Resource Processing training needs.

CTS - where your training matters

Manny celebrates Australia Day 26 January 2012

Manny made time and took the opportunity to laze by the pool when Australia Day was celebrated last week.

Waving the flag

Kicking back

A paid day off mid-week certainly suits his lifestyle and was a great opportunity for him to take a 4 day break - not that he really needs one - he spends most days he is not helping Sheryl, Orlando, John and Rob slumped at his desk or chatting to the clients! The staff kitchen takes a bit of a battering as well!!!

Seriously though, he also took time to reflect on the fact that the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and to check out who was on the Australia Day 2012 Honours List.

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Manny's take on Learning and Development Consultant John Bromham

John Bromham

John started at CTS in July 2010 and from day one has been flying in and out of Bunbury so we have hardly ever seen him! He is a coach and mentor for mining companies and also turns his hand to training in the nationally recognised qualifications in Management and Metalliferous Mining and the Skill Set for Mining Supervisors undertaken by our students.

When not with his students on or off site he can be found flying regularly to Port Hedland and Newman to assist in the facilitation of the SafeStart component of the BHP Blue Leadership Program. With all his flying back and forth across Australia and throughout WA he has amassed a HUGE number of frequent flyer points which he and his family will be happily using for an extended holiday later in the year. Way to go John!

He also helps John Williams and Orlando Fazzolari with their Thinksafe and OSH audits and some of the OSH Consultancy work.

Having a military background and a knack for getting himself in to interesting, sticky and odd situations, John tells a pretty good yarn and can have us laughing so much that our sides will ache (my sides are quite large so I do get a mega dose of aching!). Ask him about the parachute jump and see what you think!

Last year 2 students completed their qualifications under John's guidance - one in the Cert IV in Frontline Management and one in the Cert IV in Metalliferous Mining (Processing).

As John Brom lives in the Pilbara for approximately 20 days a month, he is seldom at home to do those things that Lesley his lovely wife has on her list. "Most women write lists and most happily married men do the jobs on them." John said. It could be that John knows that Lesley's list is getting longer so that's why he stays away so much!!

Seriously though, John is a family man who enjoys being with them when he is not working, throwing the ball for his mammoth of a dog, Rex, gardening, painting, doing whichever job on Lesley's list takes his fancy and the odd meal and movie in the Bunbury CBD.

CTS - where your training matters

Manny's take on Managing Director John Williams

John Williams

John Williams is the Managing Director and guiding force of CTS, a business he started with his partner Karen Williams in 1998 whilst residing in Augusta, WA.

Prior to opening the business John worked in leadership and development within the mining industries in Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Western Australia. John has been very successful in gaining mentoring and coaching contracts with large organisations and he and the Learning and Development Consultants (but never me!!) spend a lot of time off-site in Port Hedland, Newman, Indonesia, Brisbane, Sydney, New Zealand, Mackay, within the South West and remote mine sites in WA and the NT. More contracts are in the pipeline to commence later in the year so if you call to speak to the trainers and they are not on-site this will be the reason why!

Even though John is currently spending 50% of his time off-site, he still conducts one-on-one and classroom training in nationally recognised qualifications. Last year 10 students completed their qualifications under John's guidance - one in the Certificate IV in Frontline Management, one in Cert IV in Human Resources, 3 in Cert IV in Career Development, 2 in Cert IV in Employment Services, one in the Diploma of Drilling - Water Well and 2 in the Advanced Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety. He also spends time conducting OSH consultancy and auditing contracts.

John is currently scheduled to facilitate the training for our next Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. These classes run from 20th to 24th February and 19th to 23rd March so if you would like to benefit from John's expertise please enrol as soon as possible as the course is already half full.

John's qualifications include the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, the Certificate IV in Human Resources, the Diploma in Frontline Management, the Advanced Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety and the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning). His professional memberships include the Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

When not working in the business, John enjoys kayaking, golfing, fishing and enjoying the occasional glass of red wine when camping around the south west. His next adventure is to travel and camp on the Holland Track so be sure to ask him how it all went next time you see him!

CTS - where your training matters

Manny's take on Receptionist/Administration Officer Angela Bruce

Angela started at CTS in March 2011 after completing a couple of months of "trialling" office work to see if office work was for her. Fortunately she liked working with us, so Coles loss was CTS's gain!

Ange is the first point of contact for most of our clients and students, so if you have called us in the last year you are sure to have heard her voice! She goes out of her way to assist our clients as much as possible and is pretty good at keeping the rest of us in line as well.

When not greeting clients and students, manning the reception area and organising our training room, she is busy completing her Certificate III in Business. Outside of work she enjoys camping, hanging out with her mates and travelling all over Australia. In addition she has 2 dogs who follow her everywhere - Ziggy and Milly.


CTS - where your training matters

Upcoming classroom training in Cert IV Training and Assessment

Classroom training dates for Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 in the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment are now available. Cluster 1 concentrates on six units of the qualification with the remaining four units being covered in Cluster 2.

Take the plunge and enrol today as places are limited - 50% of the places have already been filled so we only have 6 places available.

Cluster 1:  20/02/2012 to 24/02/2012
Cluster 2:  19/03/2012 to 23/03/2012

Call us on 9791 6611 or email training@ctsconsult.com.au to make an enquiry.

CTS - where your training matters

Manny's take on Learning and Development Consultant Lisa Donaldson



Lisa Donaldson

Lisa started with CTS in July 2009 and has proven herself to be a valued member of our team as she is truly multiskilled, turning her hand to just about anything she is asked to! She is our Traineeship Co-ordinator and is currently developing and implementing our on-line learning programs utilising the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS). In addition, she is a trainer and mentor for Cert II, Cert III and Cert IV in Business, Cert IV in Small Business Management, Cert IV in Business Administration, Cert IV in Frontline Management and Cert IV in Training and Assessment.

Her time is spent both on and off site as she has students outside the Bunbury area and also flies regularly to Port Hedland and Newman to assist in the facilitation of the SafeStart component of the BHP Blue Leadership Program.

As CTS flexible students can enrol at any time throughout the year, Lisa is pretty busy meeting students both on site at CTS and in their workplace, as well as keeping them on track to complete their qualifications by phone or by email.

Last year 12 students completed their qualifications under Lisa's guidance - one in Cert II in Business, one in Cert III in Business, two in Cert IV in Business, one in Cert III in Frontline Management and 7 in the Cert IV in Training and Assessment. 

Being the Traineeship Co-ordinator keeps Lisa very busy as she has to ensure adherence to strict government guidelines and only once she is satisfied that CTS has achieved these requirements will she give Admin the go-ahead to produce the qualifications. Last year Lisa kept track of more than 60 trainees and has now received notifications to commence additional students, most significantly in the newly funded Safety Officer traineeship.

Lisa's qualifications include the Cert IV in Training and Assessment, the Cert IV in Business, the Cert IV in Small Business Management and the Cert IV in Frontline Management.

When not busy on CTS's behalf, Lisa likes to spend time with her animals (cats, sheep, chickens and ducks!), hitting the open road on her motorbike, socialising with her friends and enjoying time in the garden.

"Hi Lisa

My time with CTS has been very adventurous, to say the least.  I have had loads of personal problems, specially when I had serious complications when my son was born.  That is when the staff at CTS rallied around and made sure that I had all the support I needed. 

Lisa drew the short straw when Annette left, with having to get me through.  That she did. !!! I couldn't of asked for a more patient and understanding teacher.  These ladies did their utmost to help me understand the course.  Lisa went way beyond the call of duty holding my hand coaching me every step of the way. 

I will always appreciate and admire Lisa for how she helped me achieve this qualification.  What a great role model. !!!

Thanks Lisa and the CTS Team for all your support over the time, and also for the great support when I was in coma after my son was born. I'll never forget you all !!! 

the very

Kindest Regards

Shane

Trainer and Assessor :)"

CTS - where your training matters

Manny's take on Learning and Development Consultant Orlando Fazzolari

Orlando Fazzolari

Orlando started with CTS in July 2010 and since then has become a very valued member of the team - he can turn his hand to most safety related issues and is our lead OSH trainer. He is the trainer and mentor for Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and also facilitates the Quality Auditing Skill Set.

His time is spent both on and off site as he has students and clients outside the Bunbury area. He flies regularly to Port Hedland and Newman to facilitate the SafeStart component of the BHP Blue Leadership Program.

CTS flexible students can enrol at any time throughout the year, so Orlando is kept pretty busy when on site meeting, calling and emailing his students. Along with John Williams, John Bromham and Sheryl Clarke he also undertakes ThinkSafe audits for small businesses, predominately in the south west area. He is also part of the team that undertakes our OSH consultancy work and is a back-up trainer for our 5 day Safety Representative Course so yet more to keep him busy!

Last year 36 students completed their OSH qualifications under Orlando's guidance - one in the Cert III, 17 in the Cert IV and 17 in the Diploma. One student completed their Diploma of Quality Auditing. Photos of some of our graduates and their testimonials can be seen on our website, but a few are shown here.   

Jon Miller - Dip OSH

 

Julie Gaunt - Dip OSH



We anticipate Orlando will help even more students in 2012 as we have recently taken on a number of Safety Officer traineeships (lots more in the pipeline - sorry Orlando!) and our on-line OSH enrolments are proving very popular.

      

Andy McDonald - Cert IV OSH



Nu Phanupen - Cert IV OSH



Orlando's qualifications include the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, the Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and the Diploma in Quality Auditing. 

 

Outside of CTS Orlando is kept busy being lead singer for local band Top Shelf, playing golf and enjoying leisure time with his family. 

  


"Hi Orlando

Thank you so much for your very welcome notification of my sucessful completion of Cert IV in OHS.

It has been my pleasure to be associated with CTS, an organisation I would have no hesitation in recommending as a training provider to any person or organisation. The professionalism shown by all staff is of a very high standard and in my opinion is enviable amongst your fellow providers.

I also take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to you. I consider myself very fortunate to have had you as my Facilitator and, especially, my mentor, you assisted me greatly to overcome difficulties that i considered too great to allow me to carry on and complete the work. I can honestly say that i am most fortunate to have had a very fulfilling association with you and look forward to continuing with further possibilities.

Kindest Regards

John"

CTS - where your training matters

Enrolments still being taken for Safety Rep Course from 30/01/12 to 03/02/12

Our first Safety Rep Course for the year is being held between the 30th January and 3rd February at our Bunbury offices - 92 King Road.

Our interactive five day course provides the essential knowledge and skills that elected Safety Representatives and other relevant supervisory/management personnel require to work within legislation. By completing the course and being found competent in the assessment set at the end of the week, you will gain partial completion of the Certificate III in Occupational Health and Safety (BSB30707) and receive a Statement of Attainment for 6 of the 12 units with your Certificate of Attendance. If you decide not to undertake the additional task you will still receive your Certificate of Attendance for completing the course.

The cost of the course includes 5 days of training, a comprehensive workbook, free assessment against six nationally recognised units of the Certificate III in Occupational Health and Safety and morning tea, a light lunch and afternoon tea on all 5 days of the course. As a BONUS and in the interests of promoting safe work practices we are giving all participants on this course date a FREE St John's First Aid Kit for their car once all course fees have been paid and the course completed.

PLUS you may be eligible to receive a subsidy through the Construction Training Funding.

Places are filling fast as we had a heap of calls last week for this course date so call us now on 9791 6611 so you don't miss out!

CTS - where your training matters

Manny and the CTS staff ready to take on new challenges in 2012

Started back at work this morning  - admin support were also back this week, they took lots of phone calls so plenty of training coming up - no more time for relaxing for quite a while by the look of it! The trainers start back on Monday.

Had a fantastic holiday down south fishing and catching up with my mates. Windy Harbour was absolutely spectacular so I recommend the Windy Harbour camp ground to you all.

Will update you soon on upcoming course dates and the current CTS staff so you know who to ask for when you call!

Any one want to tell me about their holidays?

CTS - where your training matters

Manny's final words for 2011

Thought I would just wish you all a very happy and safe festive season and let you see me in my new hat! Thank you very much Lisa for my pressie!

I'm really looking forward to 2012 as there are lots of exciting things coming up at Combined Team Services so there will be plenty to fill you in on. So, don't forget to come back in January to check it all out!

CTS - where your training matters

Christmas Greetings from Manny!

Check out what me and the guys at CTS get up to!  Here we are dressed up as elves having loads of fun. http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/HLSCi2Z2DMHavy8n?cmpid=ey_url
(My mate is on annual leave and while Manny's mate is away Manny plays!!)


CTS - where your training matters

Fully grown moustache - looking good!!

As it is now the end of Movember, I thought you would all be interested in seeing Manny with his fully grown moustache! Tomorrow will see him having to shave it off but as he quite likes himself with one he is sure to grow another.

CTS - where your training matters



Fun at our Christmas Party

Twenty of us had fun at our annual Staff Christmas Party held at the Yallingup Maze last weekend. Just over an hour after piling on the bus we were at our venue - I am not sure how much more our driver Sheryl could have coped with as there was really off-key singing all the way!

The events and timing on the day was organised by Amanda from the Yallingup Maze. After morning tea on the verandah she organised us in to six teams of three members - the Pink Skulls, Stars, Sea Creatures (Jelly Dudes), Geckos, Waves and Pitt Pass. One member of our party was the adjudicator watching for cheating from the tower and Manny was the official spectator (not that he saw much, he just couldn't make it up all those stairs!). There was a lot of yelling, doubling back and misinformation bandied about between the teams and I felt sorry for those people not in our party trying to complete the puzzle as everyone sped pass them on the race to the finish. The winning team was the Pink Skulls but we know they cheated somehow! It took them just 32 minutes to complete the puzzle with last place getter's, the Waves, taking 40 minutes. We all agreed that we had the best fun ever!

We had pre-ordered our lunch from the menu so it wasn't long before we were all tucking in and sitting around reminiscing about our exploits of the morning. Amanda then brought us over some puzzles to attempt and some of them were very very tricky! Those that were more athletic played cricket in the park whilst those that didn't want to be defeated by the puzzles kept on solving them.

By mid-afternoon we packed up to leave but a necessary toilet stop about halfway home had us dropping in to see one of our staff members on maternity leave. Just imagine her face when 19 people turned up to use the facilities!!!! She took it in her stride and we were soon back on the bus and heading  to Bunbury.

More food was waiting for us at the home of the owners for those who wanted to stay for a BBQ so the party continued for quite a few more hours. Manny didn't even make it off the bus, he fell asleep on the way home and just kept sleeping until he was dropped back to his Confined Space the next morning.

  

Variety is the spice of the CTS Christmas Party and each year we do something different. Some of the more recent ones have been a Pirate Murder Party, Collie River Cruise with Dinner, Bunbury's Amazing Race and the Etmilyn Diner train. Thank you very much to Karen and John for treating us to this years fantastic day out. But, I can't wait to see what unfolds next year!

CTS - where your training matters

Movember at CTS

Being a predominantly female company, it has fallen to Manny to be the CTS face of Movember.

Helping Sheryl at the November SHREP course

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Australia and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

Many thanks to everyone who supports this very worthwhile cause.

This is Manny's effort so far for the month, don't forget to check him out at the end of November!

CTS - where your training matters

Invited but not present at the BNI meeting

I was shocked to discover that although an invitation had been issued for me to attend the latest BNI meeting, that the invitation had not been passed on. Aside from the fact that it would have got me out of my Confined Space, it was a great networking opportunity that I MISSED - plus they have a scrummy breakfast at the meetings!

Imagine further my horror when I discovered that my followers had been asking after me and, through no fault of my own, I had disappointed them. Another member of the BNI, Spencer Signs, gave a presentation on their signage with emphasis on the fantastic benefits to be had advertising on company cars. All of our vehicles have had the Spencer Signs treatment and we have been very happy with the favourable response we have received. Call them on 9726 2250 if you want more details and tell them Manny sent you!

Here are some of the photos taken on the morning - you will notice I am not starring in any of them!!

Spencer Signs and CTS Cars with Owners

3 BNI members show their company cars with signage

CTS - where your training matters

How many photos can we take in a minute? - 11.11.11

The ABC posed the question of "How many photos can we take in a minute?" to capture a slice of history. Due to daylight saving and our multiple time zones it will be 11.11 somewhere in Australia for 10 minutes, which is pretty cool if you think about it!

I will be taking a photo of whatever Manny is up to at 11.11 today and uploading the photo to the blog as well as adding his photo to the ABC Facebook Page. There are some great photos on there already, you should check them out and then come back here and look at ours later!

This is what Manny was doing - he was just hanging around in the Confined Space Entry training area harness just waiting for his students to appear!

Using the harness in the Confined Space Training Facility

Manny's photo has now been updated on the ABC Facebook page - some of the photos are really great, you should check them out and "like" Manny if you do!!

CTS - where your training matters

Goldfields Minerals Processing Project - Rob Brogan, Lead Trainer

Although Manny and I are mainly involved in the training of Confined Space Entry (CSE), Working Safely at Heights (WSAH) and the Safety Representatives Course, other trainers and staff at Combined Team Services (CTS) have skills in different areas. Rob Brogan is primarily involved with our Resource Processing mining clients and is working on a major project to train 40 employees in either the Certificate III in Resource Processing or Certificate IV in Resource Processing from the one site. He makes regular flying visits to the Goldfields (in a very small plane!) to see the students and he sent me these photos showing one of  the bigger "toys" he stumbled across. He was most impressed that his head didn't touch the top of the tyre! Rob's time on site is spent observing, mentoring and training the students and customising the manuals to take in to account the various working conditions and site specific equipment. He is also available at our Bunbury offices on a regular basis for project work and catch-up time with his other students.


I'm just not tall enough

Hopefully there is no driver in there!

Before joining Combined Team Services, Rob worked at the Greenbushes mine site of Talison Minerals as a Process Operator but by the time he left he had also spent time as the Plant Co-ordinator.

Being passionate about safety and emergency response, Rob completed his Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety last year and is heavily involved in his local community having completed his Bush Fire Fighting Training and is a volunteer for his local Fire Station.

He enjoys passing on his knowledge to others so who knows what avenue he will pursue next! All of us at CTS enjoy his Scottish sense of humour so hopefully you will see him on our blog for some time to come.

CTS - where your training matters

Training in Confined Space Entry last week (26/10/2011)

Last week Sheryl and I conducted training in Enter and work in a confined space (RIIOHS202A) for a class at our Bunbury offices. The small class size was great - we had four guys from the same company - so they each spent a lot of time with Sheryl working in the confined space! They did an outstanding job of rescuing me (my size sometimes makes me a bit harder to manoeuvre) and were happy to have a photo taken with me showing how it was done.

CTS - where your training matters