Made For A Trade
The life of a tradie can be challenging but the rewards make all the hard work worthwhile.
That was the message to students and parents who flocked to the Made For A Trade information session held at the Mercure in Wagga.
The forum launched the new initiative run by Committee 4 Wagga in partnership with Training Services NSW.
Sixty students from high schools throughout Wagga Wagga and neighbouring towns registered for Made For A Trade, which was made possible by the generous support of TSA Management.
Speakers included Justeen Kirk, TSA Management, Kay Hull OAM, Committee 4 Wagga Patron, Mater Dei careers adviser Richard O’Connell, Regional Industry Education Partnerships senior project officer Stacey Suidgeest and Wagga City Council executive director people and culture Fiona Piltz.
“Made For A Trade has exceeded all expectations in its first year,” Committee 4 Wagga chair Adam Drummond said.
Adam was the master of ceremonies for the information session with more than 140 attendees, comprising the prospective tradies and their parents, business operators, TAFE representatives, career development organisations and school careers advisers.
Guests panellists and tradespeople form the Riverina (L-R) Riverina Apprentice of the Year Oswald Herrmann, Truck Art first year apprentice Mackenna Lange and school-based apprentice Lewis Pulver.
Guest panellists were Riverina Apprentice of the Year Oswald Herrmann, Truck Art first year apprentice Mackenna Lange and school-based apprentice Lewis Pulver.
The trio had different stories but a common theme - making a commitment to a trade provided plenty of job satisfaction and financial rewards.
Oswald, who works at Collier and Miller in Griffith, is completing his Certificate IV in engineering.
He told students the best part of a trade is learning skills which are transferable.
Mackenna began her apprenticeship at the end of Year 11 and is the only female on the floor with 40 male colleagues.
The 17-year-old, who has just bought her own car, loves being part of a team.
Lewis is a Year 12 student at Mater Dei Catholic College and also has a school-based carpentry apprenticeship with J & J Higginson.
He feels he has the “best of both worlds” with three days a week at school, one day at work and another at TAFE.
Committee 4 Wagga patron Kay Hull provided the vision for the program and gave the introduction at the forum.
Speakers included Mater Dei careers adviser Richard O’Connell, Wagga City Council executive director people and culture Fiona Piltz, TSA Management’s Justeen Kirk and Regional Industry Education Partnerships senior project officer Stacey Suidgeest.
Stacey, who played a pivotal role in organising Made For A Trade, gave an outline of where the program was heading with on-site work visits planned for the latter school terms.
The Made For A Trade information evening was well supported by students and parents alike.
Made For A Trade is proudly supported by TSA Management.