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Supporting Skills for the Future was an 8-week pilot program that explored the in-demand trades across the construction industry in a bid to address local skills shortages.

The Supporting Skills for the Future project incorporated class and face to face delivery including accredited and non-accredited units in the suite of trades called Wet Trades

The skills-based program was designed to provide exposure to different trades in the Construction industry that were experiencing significant skills shortages. Bricklaying, Plastering, Painting and Tiling are “wet trades” that are critical in every sector of the construction industry that young people may not have been aware of or considered.

Students attended one day per week completing practical based activities with trainers across the Construction streams. Students hung plasterboard and learnt the fundamentals of tiling through laying and grouting subway tiles. They prepared surfaces for painting, learnt line designs, brush work, cutting in and rolling. Whilst building a brick pier, students learnt troweling and levelling techniques. The program incorporated key skill sets including the ‘Prepare to work safely in the construction industry/CI – White Card’ and industry presentations and tours. Students visited building sites to explore and see construction firsthand and to hear from professionals working in these trades.

The graduation ceremony was well attended by students, trainers, and local industry. Post program, students have expressed interest in pursuing work placement/work trial opportunities.

The program was a collaboration between Bendigo TAFE, Campaspe Cohuna LLEN and Industry Training Hub Shepparton and was funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The careers team at Rochester secondary realised a need for their year 8 cohort to begin thinking about the opportunities that were beyond the school gates.

The CCLLEN was approached to assist in coordinating 67 students and half a dozen teachers out into the town of Rochester.

The brief was twofold; have a wide range of industries for the students to engage in and to also see, firsthand, that their town, so ravaged by floods a year ago, is thriving and back doing business.

The CCLLEN canvassed over 20 local businesses to check the capacity to have student groups visit. There was a great reaction from most, those who couldn’t were disappointed that they would miss out this round but happy to "be on the books” for tours in 2024. The diversity of industries included a variety of retail operators, agriculture & environment, medical, hospitality, early years education, automotive, hair & beauty.

The students were provided with "Passports” with each of the businesses they were visiting listed. There was room for the students to pop down answers to questions such as “what did you hear or learn about? Does this business offer work experience? They could also add to a list of things they found interesting.

The students were divided into four groups, two walking and two in buses to outer lying businesses spending a full morning with each group spending time at 6 different industries.

The students regrouped to exchange observations and learnings from the different industries they had visited.

Feedback from the students was very positive. Favorites - the welding businesses, dentist, making playdough and Ag Warehouse. Improvements for future versions - go for the whole day, visit different businesses.

This will be a fine template for implementation in 2024.