For the first time, TAFE NSW Armidale has delivered a Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program targeted at Ezidi refugees learning English with an interest in the Automotive industry.

Australia is currently experiencing a nationwide shortage of automotive mechanics and this TAFE NSW program aims to get motivated and capable students into an automotive workshop to learn foundational automotive repair skills while fine tuning their English and maths.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher for General Education, Ben Parsons, said learners will gain a Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways as part of the program this year, and potentially move onto further Certificate II and III study in automotive repair in the future.

“These men have come to Australia with no English literacy or language skills, and they have worked really hard to settle into a new life and learn a new language that makes navigating their community easier,” Mr Parsons said.

“The program was created to prepare them for employment and give them practical experience using English within a workshop context.

“We hope to find opportunities for this cohort to work with local businesses, gain experience in a genuine workplace environment, and build professional relationships that might lead to future apprenticeship or employment opportunities.”

TAFE NSW student, Gro Ady, has experience working as a mechanic in Iraq and is keen to get back into the workshop.

“I want to do the same job in Australia,” Gro said.

“I need to improve my English and take some automotive courses at TAFE NSW so that I can get an Australian mechanic’s licence.”

Nawaf Khalaf is participating in the program and said he has been working around cars for six or seven years.

“In Iraq, I worked with cars, changing brake pads and clutches, doing oil changes, and so on,” Nawaf said.

“I recently got a job working part-time in a local heavy vehicle workshop and my boss has said that he will offer me an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic.”