Clarence Valley school leavers can supercharge their skills ahead of summer by taking advantage of a range of free short courses at TAFE NSW Grafton.
As part of the NSW Government’s Summer Skills program, TAFE NSW is offering free training to people aged 16 – 24 to gain the practical skills to launch a career or land a job for summer in high-demand industries, including hospitality, retail, and beauty.
Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson, who heads up the nation’s peak body for the accommodation industry, welcomed the new fee-free courses and said TAFE NSW was playing a critical role in supplying a pipeline of job-ready workers to employers.
“The collaboration with TAFE NSW and the NSW Government has been fantastic in what has been a very difficult time for industry,” Mr Johnson said.
“They have provided great opportunities to design the training requirements we need now, both for existing workers and those just starting out.”
In the Clarence Valley area, accommodation food and retail service industries account for 19.6% of the local workforce, which is the largest employer of young people in NSW with 39.1% of retail and hospitality employees aged between 15-24.
TAFE NSW Executive Director Education and Skills North Jason Darney said TAFE NSW was working closely with employers to deliver the skills needed to support a strong local economy.
“The Clarence Valley economy generated $2.22 billion in the last year. We know 9 out of 10 new jobs will require people to complete further study to build the skilled workforce we need to support continued economic growth,” said Mr Darney.
“The Summer Skills Program links school leavers and young people directly with local job outcomes and encourages them to undertake further study to explore careers in high-demand industries.”
TAFE NSW Grafton will offer free Summer Skills courses in Statement of Attainment in Cosmetic Tanning Products, as well as a range of online courses in hospitality skills, customer service, and cybersecurity.
18-year-old Hayley Fischer said she’s a step ahead of her peers after completing a Certificate III in Hairdressing at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour Education Campus earlier this year.
“I started my apprenticeship after finishing year 10 and am fully qualified. Watching my friends transition to the real world after school, I was already ahead of the game, working towards my career,” said Hayley.