Nickname? Dawesy. Where do you live? Mount Barker. Do you play sport? Lawn Bowls. On the weekends I enjoy? Playing with the kids in the great Outdawes, Camping and Fishing. Your first car? Mini Moke. First job? Milking Cows on a farm.

Who is the funniest in your team? Clearly me. Who works the hardest? The whole team is incredibly hard working. What will people say at your funeral? Do you think his got a tab running at the bar. What makes you feel old? Going to my 20 year school reunion recently. If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you take? Fishing Rod, Swag and Eski

Favourite holiday destination? Fiji as for the way it makes you slow down and relax “Fiji time”. I love the smell of? A freshly mowed lawn

The last twelve months have undoubtably posed challenges for everyone in business, and the MLSA has not been any different.  With that said, now more than ever, it's important to acknowledge our wins.  As such, please find below a summary of some of the MLSAs achievements in the past year, none of which would have been possible without the continued support of our Members.

As you're likely aware, the MLSAs purpose is:

• CONNECT - To connect consumers to MLSA Members & Sponsors
• EDUCATE - To support members to continually improve their skill and craftsmanship
• ADVOCATE - To elevate the public perception of the landscaping industry in SA; and
• GROW - To cultivate industry opportunities - A task that has consumed a lot of the last year!

CONNECT
In order to connect consumers to MLSA members & sponsors, we have transitioned the entire organisation to a new website and Association Management System (AMS).

It was a mammoth task to say the least, but the new AMS makes it simpler for:

• Members to engage with the MLSA and other members directly and indirectly,
• Job seekers to reach out to potential employers, and 
• Consumers to understand more about the landscaping industry. 

EDUCATE
Staging face-to-face events to support you to continually improve your skill and craftsmanship certainly looked different in the past year. But with change comes innovation, so restrictions spawned the creation and introduction of The Lunch Wrap series; 30 minute online sessions held at lunch time so you could log-on from wherever you were. All of these sessions were supported by MLSA Sponsors, and having been recorded live, now form part of a resource library available to Members at any time.

The MLSA Awards of Excellence continue to represent the pinnacle of excellence and craftsmanship in landscaping. That's why we’ve invested significant time and energy into the creation of brand new Awards of Excellence entry platform that is set to launch very soon. Reviewing and updating the Awards of Excellence entry process in this way allows more Members to gain the recognition they deserve, whilst protecting against any potential criticism of the anonymity of the judging process.

ADVOCATE
Just like so much of what we do, the Awards of Excellence go a long way to growing interest in the Landscaping industry, but this year our industry development efforts have been broader and more far-reaching than ever before.

The Landscaping industry is in a skills shortage, which is an issue that will take time to navigate and address. That's why we've been undertaking a lot of advocacy this year!

In the past twelve months, we have:

• Participated in the formation of Australian Industry Clusters to ensure the representation of Landscaping in both the horticulture and construction streams.
• Contributed to consultation on the Agribusiness, Horticulture and Conservation Land Management training package to ensure the Landscape Construction subjects reflect the current needs of the industry.
• Engaged with the South Australian Department of Education about the changes to VET in schools and associated visibility for landscaping as a career path.
• Advocated for the creation of skills clusters so that young people in school can gain exposure to landscaping; and
• Have spoken to anyone who'll listen at both the Federal and State levels of Government, about the complexities of the Landscaping industry.

All whilst executing another round of the Introduction to Landscaping pre-apprenticeship program and engaging with job-seekers and school students whenever possible.

GROW
Encouragingly, the most recent round of the Introduction to Landscaping Program saw fifteen energetic job seekers upskilling and joining the industry via employment with MLSA Members. In fact, eleven of those fifteen participants are now set to undertake Traineeships - the best result we've seen from the program to date!

Whilst the funding received to execute the Introduction to Landscaping program has now concluded, I'm busy talking to the Government about opportunities to offer a similar program in order to continue supporting employment.

As we move toward the end of the 2021.22 financial year at warp speed, I encourage you to speak to myself, Celeste or Joanne about your aspirations for the coming year. As always, we are keen to create solutions that support your business, so let us know what's important to you right now.

Once again, thank you for your support and connection to the MLSA. I am truly grateful to be able to work with each of you.  Whether you're a long-serving or brand new supporter, you are undoubtably one of the MLSAs VIPs!

I am truly excited to see what FY22.23 has in store, and as always, I encourage you to reach out at any time.

Kind Regards,
Amanda

From 1 July 2021, if you're an employee, sole-trader or contractor and you pay for a COVID-19 test for a work-related purpose, you can claim a deduction.

To claim a deduction for the cost you incur to pay for a COVID-19 test, you muust:

FIND OUT MORE

Up Close and Personal with Caroline Dawes

You love the smell of? I love the smell of rain on a warm day and it sounds great too. Favourite holiday destination is? love Bali and Noosa. Anywhere with a beach is great. My biggest indulgence? My car - but I took an 8 week sabbatical last year in QLD which felt really indulgent. What is your favourite movie?  Caddyshack - so many memories attached to that one.

From left to right: Caroline Dawes featured in The Advertiser; Caroline's son Tom Landscaper at Sortino Collier; Caroline and one of her clients

The MLSA extends a very warm 'welcome to the landscaping industry' for our newest Introduction to Landscaping participants.⁠

As the MLSAs Introduction to Landscaping program kicked off for 2022, we welcomed 15 enthusiastic Participants to the Landscaping industry.  These eager newcomers undertook a 9-week intensive program to kick-start their careers, and given strong industry demand it’s not surprising that all of our carefully recruited participants have recieved employment with MLSA Members, with all but two entering training contracts.

⁠⁠It has been a pleasure seeing their progress and enthusiasm throughout the program, and we wish our newest Student Members all the best for a rewarding and successful career!⁠

Hear from some our 2022 Participants NOW

Addressing the skills shortage evident in the Landscaping industry remains a top priority for the MLSA, but doing so isn't possible without the support of Members. As such, we extend a very special thank you to the following MLSA Members who have taken on Trainees from this outstanding group of participants:⁠

⭐ @adelaideinnovative⁠
⭐ @ambleside_landscapes⁠
⭐ @botha_landscape⁠
⭐ @dirtworklandscapes⁠
⭐ @garden_partner_⁠
⭐ @john_leathart_landscapes⁠
⭐ @landscape.techniques⁠
⭐ @sage_outdoors_au⁠
⭐ @sairrigation⁠
⭐ @sawaterscapes⁠
⁠

Looking for a new team member?
Reach out to the MLSA at any time for support.⁠

Up Close and Personal with Josh Hooper, LT

Josh guarantees high quality and an enjoyable experience for the client – known as ‘#theLTdifference’

What is your nickname? Hoops. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Anywhere with consistent surf right out the front. Favourite place to travel? Indonesia. On the weekends I enjoy? Spending time with my wife and kids, in or near the ocean. Your first car? An Orange 1975 Honda Civic given to me by my Pop, which I then gave to my sister. Hidden talent? Not too bad at juggling...

Who is the funniest in your team? Bretto – he does some great impersonations.  Who is the most creative? Brad & Luke, our designers, are equally as creative and make a great team.  What makes you feel old? When I see the birthdates of our younger employees!!  

If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you take? Surfboard, wax & zinc.  Favourite animal? Our 9 month old Cavoodle puppy, Summer.  My biggest indulgence was? Recent renovation of our family home - it was worth it!

The South Australian Government has announced that from 12.01am 30 April 2022, the requirements for all close contact arrangements will change. 

From this time, all close contacts of COVID cases will no longer have to quarantine for 7days. However, given the risk of infection is higher, close contacts must for the 7 days following the close contact exposure:

• Undertake 5 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) during the 7 day period
• Wear masks when leaving the house
• Not attend high risk settings (hospitals, aged care)
• Notify employers and educational facilities of their close contact status
• If symptoms develop, undertake a PCR test and quarantine until a result is received
• Close contacts should also:
• Avoid non-essential gatherings
• Avoid contact with people at risk of severe illness.

People who test positive for COVID are still required to quarantine for 7 days. 

Stay safe and well, and please do not hesitate to contact the MLSA if you require any assistance. 

Up Close and Personal with Amanda Balmer of Award Winning WAX Design

"I believe in creating landscapes that bring joy to people and generate opportunities for people to connect with nature"

Where do you live? Kensington SA. Do you play sport? If walking the dog could be considered a sport, I am quite experience in the art! I also enjoy yoga and have recently started working out with a personal trainer, as I have found motivation for exercise is easier when you have someone else encouraging you along. 

Favourite place to travel? I am not really good with a ‘favourite’ anything, but I enjoy travelling and sharing new country adventures with our family, it especially excites me that our teenagers have inherited our sense of adventure and intrigue in discovering new cultures and environments. On the weekends I enjoy? Tending my bees, I became a qualified apiarist 2 years ago and find the beehive brings both my garden and our family so much joy, along with some wonderful seasonal honey. Hidden talent? I am a qualified Reki Master

Who is the loudest in your team? I am so lucky to work with such an awesome team, and each individual brings their own talents and personality to the WAX family. Mauricio is from Columbia and brings a passion for plants, food, coffee and pastries. Blake is our artist in residence and his youthful exuberance keeps us fresh and focused. We have recently welcomed Carina back to our team with her green thumbs, as our permaculture and sustainability expert. Kieran is ready for the next challenge as always and is itching to spread his wings and travel now that our borders are opening up, so the studio will be much quieter without his infectious laugh and cheeky demeanour. Warwick is the most dedicated landscape architect I know, determined to work in the profession since he was 13 and has brought his years of experience working in the UK and Middle East to our practice in Adelaide. Who is the most important team member? Our most important team member is Charlie, our morale officer and studio dog who has a busy day looking for treats and anyone who has a free moment for a pat. 

Favourite Flower or plant? I love working with native plants and championing their beauty, diversity and suitability for our south Australian climate. Favourite wine region is? I feel blessed to live in Adelaide and have such an amazing variety of wine regions to choose from, but my heart is the Barossa as we were married there. I’m most comfortable when? I am out in nature, tending my vegetable garden, walking in the bush or spending time at the beach.

The Australian Government's Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement (BAC) scheme has supported businesses since October 2020 by providing a 50 per cent wage subsidy to organisations that take on a new apprentice or trainee.

This initiative has been important for businesses and employees during the COVID pandemic. It has provided relief on wages and directly addressed skills shortages by creating a pipeline of skilled workers to support sustained economic recovery.  The scheme was scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2022 but has now been extended to 30 June 2022, and I encourage all MLSA Members to consider the benefits of taking on a trainee, which go far beyond finances. 
 
Through the subsidy, any business that engages an Australian apprentice before 30 June 2022 may be eligible for a maximum of $7,000 per quarter for a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Up Close and Personal with Lee Gray, Lee Gray Landscape Design

Lee Gray has over 20 years experience in the landscape industry and is passionate about designing beautiful gardens and functional spaces.

What is your nickname? My 4 year old niece and nephew call me Aunty Leelee. Its the nickname I’m most proud of. Do you have a pet and what’s their names? My pet is a 3 year old black pug called Doug who enjoys barking at the vacuum cleaner and ignoring mice. What is your dream Job? Designing Landscapes and beautiful gardens has always been my dream and I’m so lucky to have created a career from my passion. On the weekends I love watching my boys play sport. My youngest currently plays for 3 basketball teams.

What was your first Job? My Grandma would pay me twenty dollars a day to help prune her roses and fruit trees. If you were stranded on an island, what three items would you take? A barista, a coffee machine and a lifetime supply of roasted beans. Who is the most famous person you have ever met? When travelling interstate I have enjoyed spending time talking with some of Australia’s best Landscape Designers. What is your favourite SA region? the Fleurieu peninsula – I love all the great restaurants and visiting family at Victor Harbor.

What is your favourite sound? I love the sound of the coffee machine grinding the first beans of the day with a close second being the sound of the rain dripping from gum leaves during a storm. When are you most comfortable? Near a toasty fire, under a warm blanket and wearing thick socks. What is your biggest indulgence? My biggest indulgence is my shoe collection. You can never have enough! Who is the most creative in your team? As a sole trader I am definitely the most creative, funniest, and hardest working member of the team!

My garden is my sanctuary, a place of calm and peace. Lee Gray, Lee Gray Landscape Design