A training program that retains experienced senior tradespeople to teach the next generation of apprentices is being piloted by the building and construction industry.
The Workforce Development Mature Age initiative retrains tradespeople to become teachers once they reach the "physical limits" of working in their fields, South Australian Employment and Training Minister Paul Caica said yesterday.
The scheme aims to address threats to the state's workforce and economy from an ageing population and a lack of skilled workers.
The pilot program has been implemented in the construction sector by the Business Services Industry Skill Board. Yesterday, 45 participants, including mechanics, electricians and stevedores, graduated from the first course and 11 have so far secured teaching roles.
Their training was delivered by TAFE SA and two other training organisations through a mix of traditional classes, self-paced study and video conferencing so participants could manage their work and personal commitments.
"People working in the trades are frequently faced with the dilemma in their middle-years of needing to carve out a new career that is less physically demanding, just as they are reaching the height of their knowledge and experience," Mr Caica said.
"This (program) is a smart way of addressing a number of workforce challenges . . . (and of) retaining skilled people in our workforce as our population ages, while at the same time drawing on their expertise to help build our future skilled workforce," Mr Caica said.
Among those to graduate was self-employed electrician Michael Bertossa, who is scaling back his business to teach young apprentices including Regency TAFE's Alison King.
"It was a natural progression," Mr Bertossa said.
"I think it will be very rewarding."
Mr Bertossa said the scheme would help address the shortages in trades and teaching positions.
"They've got a shortage of trainers and lecturers here at TAFE and they've got a big influx of apprentices but they need people to train them," he said.
[sourced from: Adelaide Now, http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23770328-2682,00.html
