Apprentices show their skills

THE Gordon TAFE has co-hosted a showcase of Geelong’s next crop of construction workers.

On Tuesday last week, Bellarine MP visited the Apprenticeships Victoria event at The Gordon’s East Geelong campus, where construction apprentices demonstrated their skills and connected with employers.

The showcase was for students and graduates from pre-apprenticeship courses in carpentry, electrotech and plumbing.

Apprenticeship pathway courses – commonly known as pre-apprenticeships – give students the opportunity to experience hands-on training. This helps students to find out what it is like to work in a particular industry before going on to an apprenticeship or further training.

A recent report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research showed pre-apprenticeship programs significantly boost the chances of a student successfully completing an apprenticeship.

Students who complete a pre-apprenticeship and then go on to do an apprenticeship in the same field as their training are 16 per cent more likely to finish their apprenticeship than those who do not.

During a pre-apprenticeship, students gain essential industry knowledge along with basic on-the-job skills. Students can also access support to improve their literacy and numeracy skills so they can get the most out of their training and are prepared to enter the workforce.

Apprentices can also gets free support through the Apprenticeships Victoria Helpdesk, part of a $9 million package to improve support, safety and fairness for apprentices and trainees.

Since 2019, more than 206,000 students have benefited from Free TAFE courses supported by the Victorian government, including more than 53,000 in regional Victoria.

“This showcase highlights the real-world value of pre-apprenticeship training – giving students practical experience, connecting them with employers, and setting them up for a successful start in their chosen trade,” Ms Marchant said.

The Gordon chief executive officer Joe Ormeno said pre-apprenticeships changed lives.

“They build confidence, spark ambition, and connect students with real-world employers.

“At The Gordon, we’re proud to partner with Apprenticeships Victoria to open doors to meaningful careers – and to strengthen the skilled workforce our region and state depend on.”