Eleven local residents now have TAFE NSW construction skills and are on a path to employment after taking part in the Ginninderry SPARK Training and Employment Program.
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The 15-week program involved unemployed participants undertaking three skill sets at TAFE NSW Queanbeyan as part of a venture with the Ginninderry housing development in the ACT.
The program focused on giving participants skills and hands-on training for potential employment in the growing local construction industry.
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Participant Beau Cox said before joining the program he was having issues at school. "When the opportunity came up to join the SPARK program, I took it. "It has given me the chance to get my white card and some skills to get into the construction industry," he said.
As part of the program, the students designed and poured a concreted path and built three structures to be used in Ginninderry's pilot street library initiative.
TAFE NSW Construction Teacher Gordon Hawkes taught the participants a range of skills from Certificate I and Certificate II Construction. The students also gained their construction safety awareness White Card and an Asbestos Awareness Card.
The participants were taught practical hands-on construction skills at TAFE NSW Queanbeyan and then put those skills into practice to design and build the street library structures and the concrete footpath.
"This is an opportunity for people seeking employment to gain TAFE NSW qualifications and to help them realise they have value in the workplace," Mr Hawkes said.
"I've seen the participants' confidence grow over the 15 weeks and they can see now that they have skills needed in the construction industry. All our students from the previous program, delivered out of TAFE NSW Queanbeyan, gained employment and we recently had a visit from two of them to speak to the current students.
"The opportunities are there for those who want to get something out of this training."
SPARK Training and Employment Manager Emma Sckrabei said this has proven to be a valuable program throughout the region.
"The program has successfully run in Yass, Goulburn, and once before in Queanbeyan. Teachers at TAFE NSW Queanbeyan were able to provide the skills training, tools, and the fit-for-purpose facility.
"As part of the program, the participants learn skills for work as well as what's expected of them in a workplace and how to function in a vocational setting. Communication, personal presentation and building self-confidence are all part of their training," she said.
For more information about construction courses at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.
