New BEC apprentice Ben Rainey is enjoying his time on the job after commencing an apprenticeship with a local business.
As the region grapples with a skilled worker shortage, a number of former Sacred Heart College students have seized the opportunity to fill the gap, undertaking apprenticeships with local businesses.
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Recent year 10 school leaver 16-year-old Ben Rainey and year 11 17-year-old’s Luke Phillips and Ethan Byrne decided against going to university, instead opting for a more hands on approach to learning.
All three men are a part of a nationwide apprenticeship boom with many young people taking advantage of government training programs to help ease the skilled labour shortage.
Yarrawonga local Ben Rainey is now in his third month at BEC Electrical as an apprentice electrician and all-rounder, learning from highly experienced mentors at the Yarrawonga business.
Through the four-year apprenticeship, which includes completing a Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE, Ben will learn how to select, install, set up, test, fault find, repair and maintain electrical systems and equipment, in industrial, commercial and domestic settings.
“I always had an interest in electrical work,” Ben said.
“Sacred Heart helped me by having work placement one day a week. This gave me an insight into the electrical field and if it was going to suit me in the future.
“Now my work environment is great and I get heaps of support from the team.”
Another previous Sacred Heart College student Luke Phillips, who completed year 11 and is in his first few months at STF Engineering as a first-year apprentice welder will complete a four year onsite and tafe apprenticeship which will ensure he learns to cut, shape and combine materials to make different parts for a variety of industries. Generally, welders pick the materials to join or cut and then arrange them in an appropriate configuration. Welders also fix structural repairs and maintain their welding equipment.
First year welding apprentice for STF Engineering Luke Phillips has enjoyed joining the trades workforce after finding a love for metalwork and engineering.
“I found a love for metalwork and engineering and have joined a very supportive and helpful working environment,” Luke said.
“Sacred Heart was great in that they allowed me to do one day a week school-based apprenticeship.”
Fellow 17-year-old, previous Sacred Heart College student Ethan Byrne also completed year 11 and is in his first few months as a four-year apprentice electrician at Thompson Electrical Solar.
Throughout his apprenticeship, Ethan will also complete Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE before becoming a fully qualified electrician.
“I chose the electrician field as I had done previous work experience with an electrician and really enjoyed it,” Ethan said.
“Sacred Heart helped me by organising previous work experience in different organisations and now the team I am involved in is encouraging and fun.”
Ben, Luke and Ethan aren’t the only students ditching university for a trade. A recent report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) shows apprentice and trainee commencements grew nationally to 47 785 (or by 114.0%) in the June quarter 2021 compared with the same quarter in 2020.
“Annual apprentice and trainee commencements are at their highest level since the year ending June 2014. Numbers increased in all states and territories and across nearly all industry sectors,” NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said.
The rise in the June quarter continues the trend from the previous two quarters in which commencements increased by 40 per cent from the March quarter 2020 to 2021 and by 150.0 per cent from the December quarter 2019 to 2020.
The increase in the June quarter was reported across nearly all industry sectors, with the largest absolute increases occurring in construction (96.0%), administrative and support services (294.0%) and accommodation (up 2995 or 110.4%).
