Cameron Childerhouse – iSkills
Investing in Youth Training & Development
For Cameron Childerhouse, being a trainer is not a 9 to 5 job.
Cameron, who is a Tech Standards and Development Capability Specialist for iSkills in Mt Maunganui, says his is the perfect job for people who get satisfaction from seeing others grow and develop, but it’s not an easy job.
Cameron’s commitment to his work is backed up by iSkills Operations Supervisor Bronwyn Bradley, who has nominated Cameron in the Electrix-sponsored Investing in Youth Training & Development category of the Connexis Industry Excellence Awards.
Bronwyn says Cameron often goes beyond the call of duty for the trainees he works with. As an example, she cites his work with 60 youth trainees who he was helping complete the Gateway programme, to transition from high school to jobs in the infrastructure sector. She says Cameron’s support included travelling regularly to ensure all the trainees were on track and receiving tailored support. “Cam went above and beyond to ensure all students attended every session of the training by collecting them from home, so they did not miss out on any experiences.”
She says Cameron is actively involved in reviewing course material with subject matter experts as well as industry stakeholders and bodies, and mentors not just learners but other training facilitators. Cameron is studying himself, towards an Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) qualification.
Cameron, who has a technical background working in the electrical supply industry, says he was drawn to training when he could see a gap between training materials, delivery techniques and getting engagement from learners. “I started by trying to introduce little bits of daily training to my staff. From there the feedback I had from learners told me I had to get out of the field and into the training environment full time. From there I haven’t looked back.”
He says industry training has opened up a whole new world for him. It has “completely expanded my thoughts and the field that I can influence”.
“I can be in a classroom face-to-face with a new trainee line mechanic one day, to working with an asset owner the next, reviewing training material. My career has expanded 100-fold.”
He adds that it is seeing people achieve that remains the most rewarding part of his job.
“It’s amazing to see someone who once thought ‘I don’t think I can do that’, to taking them to a level they can be really proud of. I also like meeting new people and seeing how much they love doing their job to the best they possibly can. I think this industry is in good hands.”
The Connexis Industry Excellence Awards are a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and expertise it takes to succeed in the industry. They will be held online on Monday 6 December from 7pm. They will include a keynote speech by Minister for Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister Hon Grant Robertson and will be hosted by broadcaster Jason Pine.
