Back to Media

    Media release

    TAFE NSW Cootamundra | 9 April 2025

    Female construction work stands at a construction site looking through a device on a tripod.

    TAFE NSW program shapes the new generation of tradies

    “With demand for tradespeople in the Riverina region growing and the current workforce ageing, the future looks bright for young tradies.”

    Andrew Nichols

    An innovative program is connecting Wagga Wagga school-aged students with TAFE NSW and giving them a taste of a career in construction.

    Twelve Year 10 and 11 students from Cootamundra High School recently participated in the TAFE NSW Cootamundra Trade Readiness Carpentry Program.
    The students spent a week learning hands-on skills and basic theory that underpins the carpentry industry. As part of the program, participants put their newfound skills to the test building a storage unit.

    With the population of the Riverina region expected to increase by 22,000 persons over the 10 years to 2041, initiatives like the Trade Readiness Carpentry Program are critical in attracting young talent to the sector and meeting the region’s infrastructure demands.

    Group of student tradies standing together smiling at the camera while wearing high visibility t-shirts.

    Andrew Nichols, TAFE NSW Team Leader – Building and Construction, said, “With demand for tradespeople in our region growing and the current workforce ageing, the future looks bright for young tradies.

    “The Trade Readiness Carpentry Program gives school-aged students an entry point into a rewarding industry where they learn practical skills in a workshop environment and gain confidence handling tools.

    “The Program is a catalyst for sparking career conversations. With guidance from our teachers, who’ve many years of experience under their tool belts, we’re able to put them on the right path,” Mr Nichols said.

    For 16-year-old, Ben Piffero, the Trade Readiness Carpentry Program has inspired him to turn his passion for woodwork into a full-time career. “I’ve always liked working with my hands and doing carpentry work with my cousin in the school holidays got me thinking about becoming a builder.

    “I really enjoyed the program because I got to refine my skills, think in a completely different way and work as a team to build a storage unit.

    “By speaking with my TAFE NSW teacher, I learnt more about study pathways that can get me into the building industry after I finish school. This experience has motivated me to take the next step,” Ben said.

    Catherine Alderman, Career Advisor, Head Teacher Wellbeing and Engagement, Cootamundra High School, believes the Program has broken down stereotypes and connected students with hands-on careers. “The Trade Readiness Carpentry Program at TAFE NSW Cootamundra has been hugely successful in engaging our students though practical learning and problem solving.

    “Building foundational skills has not only empowered a wide range of students, but it’s also provided them with new career opportunities in an industry that they now know is accessible to them,” Mrs Alderman said.

    Funded by the NSW Department of Education’s Trade Readiness Program and coordinated by Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP), the initiative is designed to tackle skill shortages and encourage more young people to consider careers in construction, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

    Media contact: Holly Simpson, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000

     

    Read our stories

    To keep up to date with what’s happening in TAFE NSW, read more of our stories.

    Read stories