A group of Year 10 students tried their hands at plastering, tiling and bricklaying during the School’s recent Try-A-Trade program at the North Metropolitan TAFE’s Clarkson campus.

The students spent three days learning new skills, with plastering proving very popular – shown by the amount of plaster spread around – and groups enjoying the tiling and bricklaying opportunities as well.

Try-A-Trade is a short course to give students a chance to participate in a trade environment and experience what an apprenticeship may be like.

VET in Schools liaison officer Vicki O’Connor said it allows the students to have a better overview for subject selection at school as they can make an informed decision on the course of study they would like to follow.

“Students were totally engaged in each trade, displaying excellent skills and behaviour, prompting positive comments from the lecturers at North Metropolitan TAFE, and they represented our School in an extremely positive way,” Mrs O’Connor said.

“Parents were also very supportive with phone calls, emails and chats at your Careers Expo on the positive effect it had on their child as it had given them a direction for upper school studies.”

The VET Liaison Officers from both campuses were very impressed with the students’ “have-a-go” attitude and the questions asked about pathways into trades.