Hundreds of students from across the Northern Territory will have the opportunity to gain “hands on” experience in a variety of trade options and explore possible careers during Charles Darwin
University’s annual Try a Trade event this week.
Over two days students will try activities from commercial cookery, horticulture, beauty and hairdressing, to welding, carpentry and automotive.
CDU secondary schools liaison officer Trisha Mellows said the program aimed to provide interactive trade activities that introduced skills and encouraged students to have a go, under the guidance of professional tradespeople, apprentices and registered training organisations.
“Students will have the opportunity to select five different career activities ranging from how to perform professional up-hairstyles, to trying out CDU’s new welding simulator, or learning to propagate seedlings. They will also attend a How to get an Australian Apprenticeship presentation,” Ms Mellows said.
“There is also opportunity for students to look at the extensive VET programs including: electrical, engineering, transport and logistics, and other trades training relevant to the petroleum and mining sectors.”
Ms Mellow said the event also offered the opportunity for students to ask questions about securing an apprenticeship and to gather information relating to the career they are interested in pursuing.
“It is a great opportunity for school students to find out more about professional pathways while they continue to attend secondary school to help them decide if they want to undertake VET in Schools (VETiS) or a School Based New Apprenticeship,” she said.
“VETiS is available at CDU campuses across the Territory and provides a chance for secondary school students to develop employability skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications while completing their secondary education.”
Try a Trade will be held at CDU’s Casuarina campus on May 24 and 25. For more information visit: www.cdu.edu.au/communityandaccess/schoolslink/tryatrade2009.html
Try a Trade is run by an NT consortium including the Department of Business and Employment, GTNT, Australian Apprenticeship Centre NT and CDU.