Ten South Regional TAFE pre-apprenticeship students have been given a significant boost to help them reach their goals.
The students were awarded scholarships to take up Pre-apprenticeship – Certificate II in Electrotechnology (career start) courses, presented by TAFE and Western Power representatives on Tuesday, March 13.
The scholarships cover the students’ tuition and resources fees.
Each student will go through units covering Occupational Health and Safety, operating in a workplace environment and electrotechnology.
South Regional TAFE director of training Pieter van Aalen said pre-apprenticeship training helped students to gain valuable skills.
“In the end, it’s all about getting those people that are really enthusiastic to enter into a pre-apprenticeship, to try a trade, and see if they like it. If they do, then maybe they will go into that area,” he said.
“We have picked a lot of people who could possibly go into apprenticeships in the future, and the course gives them a bit of a running start.
“It’s not going to cost them anything and will give them a chance to concentrate on what they want to study.”
He said the courses would help them to gain employment as apprentices in the electrical industry.
“They get a chance to get their hands on the tools, learn what the industry is all about and learn what it means to work in the industry,” Mr van Aalen said.
“Across the nation, there is a big drop out of apprentices. We and Western Power are trying to somehow stop that process.”
The scholarship program highlights the long-term partnership between the TAFE and Western Power.
Western Power team leader Dave McMillan said the partnership found people interested in entering the workforce.
“There is a bit of a skills shortage at the moment, so it is something for us, as a business, to really focus on and support over a period of time so that we have those skills into the future,” he said.
“It’s about creating a base and looking to the future so we can have that base.”
South Regional TAFE managing director Duncan Anderson thanked Western Power for its support.