VR safety training boosts employment rates
The New Zealand construction industry is undergoing what Site Safe chief executive Brett Murray says is a digital revolution, with Site Safe and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) “leading the way with virtual reality (VR) health and safety training”.
This programme equips job seekers with crucial skills and boosts employment rates in the sector.
The Site Safe Foundation Passport VR course, developed with SkillsVR, offers an immersive learning experience. MSD job seekers can practice identifying safety risks, selecting PPE, and following safety procedures in a simulated construction site. This safe and engaging training makes construction a more attractive career option.
Murray highlights the VR environment’s ability to assess learners’ knowledge at key points.
“This innovate course is available at Site Safe’s main centres and MSD job seeker sites nationwide. In the past 12 months, over 1500 job seekers have completed the training, with nearly 40% securing employment in construction.”
The programme’s success extends to various construction sub-sectors, with learners finding work in roofing, air conditioning, labouring, recruitment, window joinery, and landscaping. Christine Crawford, Otago employment and training consultant with Corrections, praises the course’s impact, noting a young man’s confidence boost after scoring 97%.
The VR format caters to diverse learners in a supportive environment. Amanda Nicolle, director of MSD’s Industry Partnerships, emphasises the strategic value of such partnerships in bridging skill gaps.
“The number of MSD job seekers obtaining Site Safe passports demonstrates VR’s role in simplifying the hiring process and providing tangible credentials,” says Nicolle.
Murray is optimistic about the future, stating that the partnership between Site Safe and MSD is making a lasting impact by equipping job seekers with skills and confidence, thus transforming lives.
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