For National Skills Week, Queenslanders are being encouraged to “RE-THINK” the careers available through vocational training, via support for apprentices and trainees in a variety of sectors such as refrigeration.
National Skills Week, which runs from August 23 to August 29, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the power of vocational education and training and the wide range of qualifications that lead to rewarding careers now and into the near future.
“Wherever you are in Queensland, you deserve the opportunity to get world class training to help you get the right job,” minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said.
“There has never been a more important time to do this, and that’s why the Palaszczuk government put investing in training and skills at the heart of our $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
“This includes free apprenticeships and free TAFE for under 25s across 165 priority skills areas including construction, health and disability support services. And the figures show that it’s paying off: 45,700 apprentices and trainees started in the last financial year, which is a huge 56.6 per cent rise on the year before.”
One of the apprenticeships on offer was with Woolworths Group. Katie Hammill-Lovett, 19, secured one of 15 apprenticeships out of nearly 500 applications for Woolworths.
“In a traditionally male-dominated industry where women make up just 1 per cent of the workforce. I am proud to be breaking the mould as I start off my trade career in refrigeration and air conditioning,” Hammill-Lovett said.
“I wasn’t sure what career path to follow after finishing high school, but my mum encouraged me to look into a trade career after seeing I had similar skills to my older brother who’s a qualified tradie.
“I decided to do a Certificate II in Electrotechnology at TAFE Queensland. This gave me great insight into the industry, but importantly gave me the foundation skills I needed to start applying for apprenticeships.”
After six months, she is now thriving in her new trade career and said that her experience so far at Woolworths has been amazing.
Queensland is also the national leader in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, with 57 per cent of the national total.
“We have invested over $220 million into renewing and revitalising TAFEs across Queensland since 2017,” Farmer said.
“And from this year, we are investing another $100 million. This will ensure our thousands of apprentices and trainees have world class facilities to train in and get the skills they need to change their lives.”
Vocational education and training is vital to Queensland’s economy.
“We know that if you get the right training, you’re more likely to get the right job,” Farmer said.
“I’d encourage every single person reading this to go and look up all the rewarding, lucrative and prestigious career opportunities available through vocational education and training.”
For more information about National Skills Week, visit nationalskillsweek.com.au.
To learn more about subsidised training opportunities available to eligible Queenslanders, visit desbt.qld.gov.au.