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Pre-Apprenticeship Course Ends 2018 On A High

19 December 2018

A group of young aspiring engineers finished 2018 on a high, landing jobs at the end of a five-week Pre-Apprenticeship Course.

The course ran throughout November and early December at Campbelltown TAFE. During the course, the group learnt basic measuring, cutting and welding techniques, using a variety of tools and machinery. The students attended TAFE four days a week and then spent the other day with a My Gateway host employer, getting real experience on a jobsite.

My Gateway’s Field Team Leader, Steve Horn, said the program was a big success, with 10 out of the 13 students receiving job offers post-course. The attitude and determination of the students also impressed him.

“Their attendance and punctuality during the course was exceptional,” Steve said.

“To see the growth in their communication skills and how they worked and gelled together as a team. The whole group showed respect to the TAFE teachers and their on-site supervisors.”

Steve said the course gave the students an opportunity to learn about several trades, as well as the importance of safety on a jobsite.

“The way the course was designed and the unit of competence selected, gave the students opportunities to have experience in heavy vehicle, mobile plant equipment, electrical, fitting and machining, and heavy and light fabrication trades,” he said.

“During the course, we put a huge emphasis on safety, and educated the students with the importance of following safety processes and procedures in the workplace.”

Student Abbey Lyden said the course was a great way to get some practical experience before moving into the workforce full-time.

“There’s a lot more hands-on experience here than what I would say [happened] in high school, especially on the worksite,” Abbey said.

“They let you do a lot of things instead of just standing back and watching. They [employers] let you have a go, let you screw up and let you fix it. There’s a lot of freedom.”

Fellow student Austin Cahill echoed Abbey’s thoughts on the course.

“It has really taught me what I need to know; it has given me the necessary, basic skills to understand what I will be doing [in this trade],” he said.

Congratulations to the students on completing the course! We look forward to seeing how they with their apprenticeships in 2019.