One of Australia’s largest TAFE Institutes is leading the way with a new initiative designed to boost apprenticeship completions across New South Wales by assessing people’s suitability to undertake an apprenticeship before they start.

The five day ‘Trade Readiness’ program will give more than 1,100 NSW senior school students and those who have left school a chance to demonstrate that they have the skills and competencies needed to excel in an apprenticeship.

The voluntary program consists of four days of intensive hands-on training and assessment, with a fifth day involving literacy and numeracy screening, exit interviews, career advice and counselling.

The program will initially be made available to young people interested in an apprenticeship in carpentry, plumbing and various automotive trade areas and eventually expanded to include many other trades-based occupations.

The ‘Trade Readiness’ program was pioneered by TAFE NSW – South Western Sydney Institute (TAFE SWSi) in 2013, focusing on skills including initiative, attitude, trade literacy and numeracy, hands-on skills and coordination.

It will be rolled out across TAFE NSW Institutes in the first half of 2014 with the financial backing of the NSW Government.

TAFE SWSi Institute Director, Peter Roberts said the program was a win for both apprenticeship hopefuls and employers.

“As it stands, only around 50 per cent of apprenticeships in NSW are being completed, costing both employers and apprentices precious time and money,” Mr Roberts said.

“The ‘Trade Readiness’ program will help increase the likelihood of an apprenticeship completion by putting more young people in NSW on the right career path to begin with.

“It will also provide employers across the State with the opportunity to employ people with the demonstrated skills and competencies needed to excel in an apprenticeship.”

For more information about the ‘Trade Readiness’ program and its benefits to employers please contact TAFE NSW’s ‘Trade Readiness’ coordinator, John Quine on 13 79 74.