It is not often in today’s society that you hear of a company going out of their way to care for their young employees. But this is exactly what has been shown by John from Evo Masonry PTY LTD.

At Heathmont College, students in our VCAL program operate in three distinct and different areas; at school, at work and at TAFE. Our partners at atEAST manage the work placements and TAFE placements and have done this for the past 20 years. It is a model that works well for all concerned: students, staff, employers and educators. Evo Masonry PTY LTD is one of the companies who employs students undertaking their study in a VCAL school-based apprenticeship. They have proven to be a caring company who see their employees as much more than just a workforce.

A few weeks ago, a VCAL student of Heathmont became unwell while at work and was sent home. His employer knew some of his family circumstance and at the end of a long day, wanted to check on his young employee’s condition. The employer, John Thierauf, called his employee but with no answer decided to attend the home. Upon arriving, he found no one home and was worried for his employee’s wellbeing. He called the atEAST contact who then called a College contact. A ‘phone tree’ was set up as all parties tried to locate the young student and his family. The student/employee was located at the hospital and John set off the visit his employee in hospital and support the boy’s family, all the while keeping atEAST and the school updated on the boy’s condition. John visited the employee in hospital over the next week, as the boy was admitted and received medical care in ICU and supported the boy’s mother through the ordeal.

Why is this important you may ask? Why does it matter? It matters because in a world where you can be anything, in a world where there are so many opportunities to focus on yourself, John Thierauf and Evo Masonry showed first-hand how kindness costs nothing but means everything. The young employee has since recovered from his health scare and has returned to school, work and TAFE but he returns knowing that he is far more than just a name on a ledger; he means something and can now pay this forward when the time is right. The principles of Positive Education and the PERMAH (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments, Health) pillars are alive and well in the community and we would like to take the time to thank John and all at Evo Masonry for the care they showed, for the meaning the drove, for the engagement they provide and for strengthening the positive emotions and relationships for their staff, our students and the wider community with whom they engage.

So, who are Evo Masonry? They are a new company with many years of experience in the trade of bricklaying. The working director Adele is a staple of the company breaking down a large stigma that bricklaying is a male only trade. John is the leading hand with a vast knowledge of the trade and a sizable amount of emotional intelligence.

They have told me; they try to make work a place that’s enjoyable and somewhere their employees are excited to be every day; pushing everyone to do the best they can, in and out of work! This is especially true when it comes to the young apprentices; being able to guide them through such an important time of their lives transitioning to young adults is a key focus for the human side of the business. Being involved in their actions outside of work and having them know they are cared about in and outside of the workplace has been shown in spades.

Evo Masonry specialise in high end projects but are not limited to them, they also do insurance brickwork and restorations catering to the eastern suburbs and surrounds of Melbourne CBD. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram or email on evomasonry.services@gmail.com

Our thanks go to John and Adele at Evo Masonry for the care and compassion shown to our student as well as the lessons they teach on a daily basis.

Arts and Tech

Year 11 Visual Communication Design