22 November 2023
Training Minister Simone McGurk and Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard visited a group of our Bricklaying Job Ready program students at our Clarkson campus today to see how the State Government's free pre-employment pathway is helping meet the demands for bricklayers in the local building and construction sector.
In a sign of the program’s success, Minister McGurk was pleased to see that all the students at Clarkson had secured apprenticeships with ABN Group upon completion of their course.
The Bricklaying Job Ready program is part of the State Government's Fee Free training initiative and was developed in consultation with WA industries to deliver short and sharp training with wrap-around support for job seekers and young people, enabling them to upskill or reskill in industries with a need for skilled workers.
The Job Ready program is also delivered Fee-Free across a range of other industries with skill shortages to ensure Western Australians, particularly First Nations people, young people, people looking for work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, people with disability, and women facing economic insecurity, can access affordable training to help them get into jobs.
Of the more than 2,530 participants who have commenced Job Ready programs, which includes 440 in bricklaying, more than 1,125 participants have secured employment in the industry or gone on to further training.
To date, nearly 32 per cent of Job Ready participants are women, 29 per cent are aged under 25, 19 per cent are First Nations people, and 25 per cent undertook the training in regional WA.
Program participant Dylan Campbell said he had enjoyed the program and was excited to undertake his apprenticeship at ABN Group.
“To be able to look at what you have done after you have finished a job, it makes you feel so good,” he said.
Training Minister Simone McGurk said the Job Ready programs were fast, free entry-level courses that enabled students to overcome cost barriers to training, allowing them to gain the skills they need to enter the workforce.
“The program includes additional wraparound support and on the job training, which has led to some fantastic outcomes for participants and employers – particularly in areas like bricklaying where we know there is a strong demand for workers,” she said.
“Developing our building and construction workforce is an absolute priority for this Government – so we can get boots on the ground and people into their homes faster.
“It has been great to hear first-hand from participants about their experiences, especially how fee free courses have supported them to overcome barriers to training - and to land jobs.”
Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard said with Perth's northern corridor forecast to be in the top areas for population growth, the Bricklaying Job Ready program at Clarkson was doing its part in helping to meet the local demand for workers.
“It's great to see this free program delivering training for in-demand jobs and getting homes built in our booming northern suburbs,” he said.
The State Government's Fee Free and Lower fees, local skills (LFLS) initiatives provide free or low-fee training across a range of building and construction courses and skill sets.
You can register for the Bricklaying Job Ready program on the Jobs and Skills WA website or contact the Job Ready team on 6551 5049.
For more information on Fee Free and low-fee training at NMTAFE, visit our dedicated website or contact your nearest Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 or click here
Photo:
North Metropolitan TAFE Managing Director Michelle Hoad, Training Minister Simone McGurk and Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard with our Bricklaying Job Ready program students.