Wollongong City Council has partnered with TAFE Illawarra to provide work skills and opportunities for 16 people undertaking the pre-apprentice course in carpentry and joinery.

Council has again worked with TAFE Illawarra to have the students complete three cabins for the Bulli Tourist Park.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said the understanding between the organisations allows young people seeking an apprenticeship to gain valuable work skills before entering the course proper and also showcase their work for industry.

“Council is proud to purchase holiday cabins from the TAFE Illawarra under this Memorandum of Understanding,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said. “Over the past 10 years TAFE students have provided 32 cabins for Council’s tourist parks.

 “The partnership with Council has provided both TAFE Illawarra and Council with the opportunity to provide the building industry and community with well-trained young people and as well as producing high quality Cabins for our tourist parks.”

So far this year 10 of the 16 students enrolled in the course have been offered apprenticeships.

The Pre-Apprenticeship students do the same course as the trade apprentices. They attend TAFE four days a week and complete two years of their TAFE training in twelve (12) months.

During the year a number of prospective employers contact TAFE looking for apprentices.

The carpentry and joinery course is a hard course to gain entry with more than 90 people applying for the 16 positions.
Constructing the cabins provide the students with hands on experience that helps build their skills and provides a good start to their career in the building industry.

This course is a proven success both for the young people who are seeking employment as a Carpenter in the Building and Construction industry and for employers.

TAFE Illawarra and Council has reaffirmed the partnership this year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for TAFE Illawarra to supply tourist park cabins for Council for the next five years.