TasTAFE has partnered with industry to deliver the NextGen Trade Training Program, building a cubby house for the Children’s Ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The 8-week project was guided by TasTAFE’s Martin Killick at the Master Builders Tasmania HQ in Hobart.
“The overall aim is to give these participants the skills and confidence to go out and take the next step towards working in the construction sector,” Mr Killick said.
“This program gives them not only those entry-level units of competency that are necessary, but also the hands-on component, where they actually learn how to do things, and can make mistakes in an environment where it doesn’t really matter.”
“It’s about developing teamwork. There are 13 participants in this course, and each one of those has shown up every day, which is quite remarkable.”
The participants have come from various backgrounds including some still at local schools in Years 11 and 12.
The structure the participants have been working on is impressive: a large 2-storey, timber-frame design, with cement-sheet external cladding – designed by Podmatrix.
At the end of the 8-week program, the participants will walk away with accreditations in units of competency including:
- Construction Industry White Card
- Communicate in the Workplace
- Use Hand and Power Tools
- Work Safely at Heights
- Confined Spaces
- Restricted Height Scaffolding (over-18s only); and
- Forklift Licence (over-18s only).
The 13 participants marked the end of the hands-on part of the program with a graduation ceremony.