The FCIA partners with Ronald McDonald House (RMD) in Parkville to provide unique community training for Victorian and Tasmanian flooring apprentices.

The FCIA is proud of their recent refurbishment of the flooring at the historic family accommodation at Ronald McDonald House Parkville in Melbourne. Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania is an iconic charity, providing accommodation for the families caring for seriously ill children to ensure they can be close to their child’s bedside. Ronald McDonald House Parkville offers a warm and supportive home-away-from-home, giving the whole family a comfortable place to stay while their child is undergoing treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

Ronald McDonald House Parkville gives over 1,300 families every year the gift of being able to stay close to their sick children while being surrounded by a support network of caring staff, volunteers, and fellow families. The House has 51 guest rooms of various sizes, including 3 fully self-contained isolation suites.

The new flooring, provided and installed free of charge by the FCIA and its industry members, provides even greater comfort for the residents, many of whom have travelled large distances from regional Victoria, interstate and sometimes even overseas to provide love and support for their very sick children.

The project was conducted over 5 days from 22nd to 26th July at the 100 year old terrace houses located in Parkville, just around the corner from the Royal Children’s Hospital, near the Melbourne CBD. A team of FCIA flooring apprentices enrolled with the FCIA’s partner RTO, TFIA Business Services, refurbished the flooring in 2 hallways, kitchenette, and large open lounge, dining, kitchen area of one of the family residences at RMH Parkville.

In consultation with TFIA Business Services, the FCIA and our industry alliance partners coordinated this unique and worthwhile community project to provide Victorian and Tasmanian apprentices undertaking the Certificate III in Flooring Technology, with hands-on experience in installing brand new carpet tiles, luxury vinyl planks, and sheet vinyl at no cost to Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania.

A formal handover of the renovated area to the Parkville House took place on Friday 22nd July 2019. Friends of Ronald McDonald House, FCIA Members, and industry stakeholders attended the event. At this handover, the apprentices were awarded their FCIA Apprentice Trade Card, which endorses them to becoming a certified flooring installer after completion of their apprenticeships.

The Chairman of the FCIA, Mr James Hayward, stated “This is a unique program bringing apprentices, Registered Training Organisations, industry, trainers, and the community together to provide genuine career opportunities for young people and contribute to a worthwhile charity.”

“The FCIA gratefully acknowledges the support of our member manufacturers and suppliers, including Polyflor, Shaw Contract Australia, and MJS Floorcoverings, who donated their time, expertise and materials to this wonderful project.

We also thank Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania for providing this unique opportunity, and TFIA Business services for providing professional training and assessment for our apprentices leading to the Certificate III in Flooring Technology. Without the support and contribution of all these stakeholders, the FCIA’s innovative, industry driven, apprenticeship program could not be achieved,” said the Chairman.

The Floor Covering Institute of Australia Ltd was established in January 2017 to address critical skills shortages in the Australian Flooring Industry, and is working with Government, training providers, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and contractors to create a high quality, sustainable workforce for the flooring Industry.

Since its inception, the FCIA has generated approximately 260 apprenticeship enrolments in the Certificate III in Flooring Technology.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the work completed by the FCIA at Ronald McDonald House Parkville. We simply couldn’t afford to replace the flooring without this generous donation of product and services, so to have it donated and completed so professionally has been not only beneficial aesthetically, but also make the House feel more like a home for our families.” Said Peter Bishop, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria and Tasmania.