Skills4Trade is a partnership between Skillset Workforce and TAFE Western that aims to help young people aged 15 – 24 prepare for work by offering face-to-face training combined with work experience.

It ensures young people are work ready and have the entry level skills required to undertake an apprenticeship.

The second Skills4Trade program in Mudgee has been running for the last 12 weeks and covered an Introduction to Carpentry with multi-trade Automotive and Electrical work.

Regional manager for Skills4Trade, Sharon Bradley, said that Mudgee has the highest outcome rate and retention rate of the region, which she puts down to “such a supportive small community”.

She congratulated the participants on their completion of the program, which she said helps the community.

“For us this is a significant program because it is supporting communities with helping people to find employment and to do that through apprenticeships and traineeships,” she said.

And added that the work placement is a particularly valuable component.

“You’ve completed a work placement is significant for trainees and apprentices, because often the way that they get a job is not just through an application but could be through a work trial,” she said.

Her advice to the graduates is “it’s important that you now stay motivated” in their job hunt.

Alongside the Skill4Trade program, was Skillset’s ‘Pledge 250’ campaign where they aimed to generate 250 jobs in the central west.

They succeeded and then some, between November and March 296 jobs were generated across the region.

Skills4Trade participants learn about different industries, trade careers and apprenticeship opportunities, plus do career planning, and learn what trade is the best fit for them and their skills. 

As well as Workplace Health and Safety training.

They attend TAFE and learn knowledge and skills across a range of trades - construction, engineering, electrical, and automotive – and gain experience through work placements.