In the lead-up to last weekend’s state election in Tasmania, both major parties promised greater investment and support for helping young people train and transition into trades.
Described as a ‘try a trade’ or ‘work at school’ program, YouthBuild provides Year nine and 10 students with practical building experience in the construction industry in hopes of breaking down the stigma around tradie careers and handing the state a much-needed apprentice supply boost.
Since its initial launch in 2021, the program has been adopted into 11 public and private schools across the state, attracting over 200 participants and offering students a direct transition into an apprenticeship pathway in years 11 and 12.
Will pre-election promises come true for trade training sector?
But seeing its success (and its potential), the Labor government used pre-election campaigning to promise to “turbocharge” the programs’ expansion into schools across Tasmania to help support the “strong pipeline” of work generated by their 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
Tasmanian Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff made his own pre-election commitments, saying that “our young Tasmanians deserve to be given real opportunities to pursue careers in our high-demand industries”
“A re-elected majority Liberal Government will partner with Housing Industry Association (HIA) and expand our YouthBuild Program to all secondary schools,” he said.
“That means taking it from just 20 schools to all 55, delivering vocational learning to 3000 students over the next four years.”
Currently, only 20 per cent of secondary school students study VET subjects in their final years. Labor wanted to see that number boosted to 50 per cent by 2030.
Many industry experts hope the pre-election pledge promoted by the Tasmanian Minister for Education Roger Jaensch – of $800,000 over four years to the program – will be honoured.
Minister Jaensch also claimed the government would establish a $30 million Vet Facility Fund to deliver “modern, fit-for-purpose” equipment for their would-be apprentices.
“By giving young Tasmanians the tools, skills and expertise that they need, we are securing the builders, tradies, and industry leaders that will keep Tasmania moving forward,” he said.
“We will also partner with peak industry bodies, to design packages of vocational learning that prepare year 9 and 10 students for apprenticeships and careers in high demand industries, including early education and care services, tourism and hospitality, health and community services, agriculture, and manufacturing.”
A “lightbulb moment” about education
HIA Executive Director Stuart Collins says that students who pass through the program will be much more likely to complete their training, an issue that has been ongoing with apprenticeships across the country.
“HIA YouthBuild is a highly successful initiative in which young people gain practical experience in the building industry, enabling them to become ‘work ready’ while completing their secondary school studies,” he said.
“It’s important to expose students early to the diverse possibilities of a career in the industry before their study options are set. We need to ensure that if they are going to continue their education that we keep them engaged and programs like this is where it all starts.”
He also says the program is also building self-esteem among students as they acquire skills and develop projects.
“For many it’s a bit of a lightbulb moment about education,” he added.
YouthBuild Committee Chair Rob Watchorn, an HIA Life Member and business owner of Blythe & Watchorn Builders, says the program engages students in core subjects like English and Maths by making them relevant to the various tasks and projects they undertake.
“It really gets kids involved, and it has the backing of parents more now because it’s a lot more targeted,” he says.
“It’s creating pathways for those who want to be in our industry, regardless of their background or barriers,’ he says. ‘We need the highest standard of apprentices entering our industry, so if programs in schools and the like achieve that outcome, it’s great.”
