Sunshine Coast young people will have the chance to see what it would be like to be a builder, plumber, arborist, cabinet maker as well as checking out a myriad of other trades at the ‘Careers in Trades Day’ on Tuesday (23 April 2013).
Organised by Queensland Youth Industry Links (QYIL) in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council and Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre (SCTTTC), the Careers in Trades Day will see about 70 young people talk to industry professionals about work placement opportunities and apprenticeships available on the Sunshine Coast.
And the Sunshine Coast youth unemployment (16.3%) sitting at more than 4 per cent above the national average (12.6%) for February, the careers day couldn’t come at a better time.
QYIL Partnership Broker Lee Shea said it was often difficult for young people on the Sunshine Coast to get work without having to leave the region so QYIL, the Council and the Trades Training Centre were aiming to display the many trade opportunities available.
“There are literally hundreds of different trades, and many people may not think about as options so the day is all about exposing the young people to more of them,” Mr Shea said.
The young people attending, from nine Sunshine Coast high schools, are taking part in their first year of study at SCTTTC studying a Certificate I in Construction, Certificate II in Resources & Infrastructure and Certificate II in Sustainable Energy.
SCTTTC Manager Strategic Innovations Tracie Warry said the Careers in Trades Day was an important opportunity for young people.
“It’s wonderful to have support from our local industry and employers, providing such a valuable learning opportunity as our students explore their options and career paths,” Ms Warry said.
The day will include sessions on careers in building and construction; plumbing; plastering; refrigeration and air conditioning; engineering design; engineering structural steel; smart housing; cabinet making; landscape construction as well as the civil cadets.
“Students will hear from industry professionals what each of the different careers is like and have the opportunity to ask questions,” Mr Shea said.
The young people attending will also see a presentation and how to best promote themselves to employers when applying and being interviewed for jobs.
Mr Shea said the employers participating on the day would include representatives of the Sunshine Coast Council and trade industry bodies as well as 15 local industry professionals.
QYIL is the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region provider of the Partnership Brokers Program, funded by the Australian Government, to build partnerships with schools, businesses and community groups and develop partnerships at a strategic level which influence the region’s response to Youth Attainment and Transition. The National Program consists of more than 1,450 active and self-sustaining partnerships involving more than 4,700 partner organisations. New Partnerships continue to form every week across Australia.
