Two hundred secondary school students across the Central West will participate in hands-on workshops this term to experience what it’s like to work in a trade.

Twelve schools from Bathurst, Orange, Mudgee, Lithgow, Portland and Gulgong will take part in the trade-readiness workshops which are being delivered by TAFE NSW and funded by Training Services NSW’s Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program.

With major projects such as the Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre, the Cowra Hospital redevelopment and The Gateway precinct in the pipeline for the region, skilled tradespeople are still in high demand, with Jobs and Skills Australia predicting a 6% employment growth in the industry by 2026.

Senior Project Officer for the Regional Industry Education Partnerships program Jacquie Smith said the workshops are a great way for students to get a taste of the real-world skills they will need when it comes to starting a trade.

“The program shows students the variety of work that tradespeople do, introduces them to industry representatives and gets them thinking about work experience and VET pathways,” Ms Smith said.

“This term our program will reach up to 200 year 10 students across the Central West who have shown an interest in a trade, allow them to find out what it's all about, and get their foot in the door through work experience opportunities.”

The workshops will be held at the high schools using TAFE NSW’s Mobile Training Unit, a vehicle that contains all the materials and equipment needed for students to participate.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Construction for Orange, Hugh Foy, said the Mobile Training Unit ensures that students have access to the trade readiness program regardless of where they are located.

“We’re taking the workshops to the schools with the Mobile Training Unit, and we’ll be demonstrating entry-level trade skills such as how to use certain tools and generating awareness around Work, Health and Safety, and critical thinking in construction,” Mr Foy said.

“It’s a two-day workshop and it’s very hands-on, with the students building something that they can take home with them at the end of the day.”

“Participating in the workshop and physically using the tools and building something gives them that practical experience and gets them excited about what they can actually achieve through a trade.”

“We’re looking forward to talking with the students about what they want to do after school and show them what pathways are available through TAFE NSW.”

Media contact: Katie Hitchcock, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, MediaRelease@tafensw.edu.au, 02 7920 5000.