Merriwa team members Scott Auhl (Merriwa Timbers) and Matthew Woodrow (Merriwa Packaging) have been actively engaged in a Victorian Government funded project with the Wangaratta Digital Hub, NE Tracks LLEN and Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company.
The project has been using digital innovation and technology to develop animated training videos for Merriwa’s all abilities workforce and are focussed on safety in the workplace.
Scott Auhl who works in Merriwa’s Timber division has enjoyed being involved in the project and gave us an update on how the project is progressing, “We have made two videos over the last six months but have had a number of breaks during that time due to COVID-19. The training videos are focussed on safety and they show you what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you need to wear when you are at work.
“The first video explains what you need to wear at each division (Contract Packaging, Contract Process packaging and Timber). Each division has different requirements, so the video explains the differences. We used photoshop to create the puppets and we recorded voiceovers to be the voices of the puppets in the video.
“The second video explains the need to be focused at work to avoid accidents. We filmed this at Timbers. The video uses still photos linked together to move behind the puppet. The message of the video is to be aware of your surroundings. It helps our employees to be well rested before coming to work.
“The videos are to help employees to understand the requirements when they come to work. We will also use them in our induction process for new employees.”
Sam and Jan from Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company along with Amanda and Anne from the Digital Hub helped to create ideas for the storyline and have been supporting Scott and Matthew in developing the videos.
Scott continues, “I have learnt new skills working with the computer and animation programs. Being involved in this project has made me feel good.”
The team at Merriwa plan to have a launch event in the new year to showcase the videos to the whole team and premiere the work that has been completed with Wangaratta Digital Hub and Somebodies Daughter Theatre Company.
