Helping young people rise up to new career

A desire to provide a better future for her family led 22-year-old Annie Battle to take part in the RISE apprenticeship program and it has certainly paid off.

Since completing the Regional Industry Sector Employment (RISE) program, Annie has secured an apprenticeship with bricklayer Tyler Armstrong and is now working with award-winning local builder, Hamlan Homes, on its new Armstrong Creek display home.

Annie said she decided to complete the RISE program after her casual employment hours were reduced due to the impacts of COVID-19.

“There aren’t many female bricklayers around, but times are changing so I wanted to give it a shot,” she said. “The program really helped me learn new skills and gain the confidence to get an apprenticeship. I love working outdoors, being part of a team, and helping to build people’s homes.”

RISE is helping young people like Annie to find meaningful employment while meeting skills shortages in the local construction industry.

The initiative targets candidates from the city’s north and east, particularly young people who are disengaged from school, and encourages diversity within the program.

The City of Greater Geelong (COGG) program improves the employability and work readiness of candidates through training, recruitment, mentoring and support.

Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said RISE graduates such as Annie were helping to address skills shortages while building high quality housing for the region’s growing population.

“RISE is changing the lives of people like Annie and she’s giving back by showing strength and resilience on the construction site,” Cr Asher said.

“The building industry in Greater Geelong is booming and employers have been finding there are not enough qualified tradespeople available to do the work.”

RISE graduates are work-ready with six units of the Certificate II in Construction Pathways, WhiteCard and Personal Protective Equipment.

The project is led by COGG together with major partner Gforce Employment Solutions, working with collaborators The Gordon, Master Builders Association Victoria (MBAV), Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), Barwon Child Youth & Family, Northern Bay P-12 Secondary College, Newcomb Secondary College, North Geelong Secondary College, and Hamlan Homes.

Hamlan Homes general manager Jason Draper sits on the steering committee of RISE as the Geelong Master Builders’ representative.

Hamlan Homes has a 38-year history in the Geelong region and is also working on the Victorian Government’s ‘Building New Homes to Fight Homelessness’ initiative, which will deliver 170 homes in Norlane, Whittington and Ballarat.

The city has also committed to supporting the increase of social housing by setting a goal to help create a further 12,000 new dwellings in the municipality over the next 20 years.