Youth take up trade training

Trade Academy WA will today wrap up its 12-week Certificate II in Construction Pathways course, the first of its kind for at-risk youth in Narrogin.

Upon completion students will effectively knock off their first year of an apprenticeship if they choose to follow a career path in the construction industry and receive their construction white card.

Trainer and assessor Eric Reith said the three-day-a-week course offered students an environment to learn the basics of working with tools while developing an understanding workplace communication and occupational health and safety.

Eighteen-year-old student and self-confessed former troublemaker Pascal Manilambona said he felt more comfortable in the course than learning tool skills on a worksite.

“We’re all here for learning purposes, you don’t have to get all the work done on time because it’s training. It’s helping us build skills for life. With this course, you can learn more in a day, than in two weeks on a construction site,” he said.

For 20-year-old Zak Bidstrup, the course was the first time he picked up tools.

“I wanted to broaden my horizons, things I can use for my own place,” he said.

“All these things will add up once I own my own house and hopefully I’ll be able to get a job out of it.

“Even if you don’t want to get a job in construction, the course is just a perfect thing because you gain skills you might need in your lifetime.

“I’m real glad they’ve done this, otherwise I would’ve been stuffed.”