Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know that a new trades training center at Charles
Doowen University's Casarina campus has been officially opened. The ten
million dollars center is going to cater to more than
five hundred students per year, offering qualifications in construction, carpentry, plumbing,
and electro technology. The center is going to be vital
(00:21):
in growing the territory's own workforce to meet industry demand.
And joining me on the line is Charlesdowen University's pro
Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of TAIFE, Michael Hamilton. Good morning, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good morning, Katian. How are you today.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I'm very good, lovely to speak to you, mate. This
is great news. Talk me through the new features of
this trade center.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, I mean, it's very exciting for us, but more importantly,
it's very exciting for industry because this is where the
future of the territory starts. We've got brand new, vibrant
environment to learn in. We've got new stag equipped, we've
got new tools. It's a great space. We're setting up
the skills base so that they reflect modern architecture. All
(01:07):
of those things are really relevant to the development of
trades in the territory and as you know, Katie, we
need more tradees.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Well, this is it, right, and we need more of
our kids wanting to enter trades, yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And in that environment, it's not just the apprentices I
mean we've got a lot of apprentices over two thousand,
one hundred and seventy last year across all the trades,
of course, but we also do vetting schools, programs and
other prevocational courses which this space will be utilized for
to prepare people for employment in the future. And so
(01:41):
if they're picked up into an apprenticeship with an employer,
that they've got those requisite skills to start from day
one and start their career in their chosen trades.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Michael, how vital is the center when it comes to
securing a skilled workforce for the future.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Our facilities have to be upbeat, they have to be modern,
they've got to be in good condition, and you know,
with such a throughput of students that can be quite
a challenge. With this new center, it not only sets
the scene for a very good learning environment for our
cartenters and our roof plumbers and other associated trades, it's
(02:21):
actually allowing a little bit of airspace back through our
other infrastructure on campus so that we can accommodate significant growth,
particularly in electro technology and plumbing, and so you know,
we're just running out of room. But that's a good
thing for the territory. We want more trades and so I.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Mean, will there be plans in the future. I guess
it's very early. We've just got this new center, but
will there be plans in the future to expand to
make it bigger?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, I'm glad you laugh, because we're actually going to
We've actually been given the green light on a Commonwealth
front of project in Catherine for a trades training center
at our Catherine Rural Campus as well. And so what
we think we can do there, there's a few benefits
of that one. So just like this one, we'll have
(03:07):
modern equipment, good learning environment. But for those people that
live in the Big Rivers region, they can learn in
their own in their own region, because not only do
we want to keep people in the territory, but for
our trades that originate in the region, we really need
them in the regions more so than anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
How are the numbers looking like, how are the enrollments
looking across the border? We find like more of our
more young and older people wanting to enter and do
a trade.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, it's another great question. Look in the Northern Territory,
because of our low population density, we've got a really
good broad representation of demographics in doing apprenticeships. Our apprenticeship
numbers have been going up about ten percent each year
of about the last four years running. And I just
(03:59):
looked at the numbers and reported back to staff that
year to date we're up ten percent on last year.
And last year was just it was the biggest year
ever for us. Like I said, we had two one
hundred and seventy students have apprentices last year. This year,
I'm sort of tipping it might be around twenty three hundred.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Well, I mean, they are fantastic numbers. They're fantastic numbers, Michael.
Do you find like, are most people entering or are
most people doing their trade through school or have you
got a number of mature age students as well?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Well? We do pre vocational training through school's programs across
the Northern Territory. There's also been an uptick in what
they call school based apprenticeships or are apart time apprenticeship
that allows people to continue to get their NTCET whilst
commencing their career. I'm a real supporter of that. I
(04:52):
know that to men in college have been doing some
great work there. We certainly have school based apprentices here
as well throughout all of our trades program. Then you've
got your excuse me, then you've got your traditional apprentice
that comes along and does their four year apprenticeship full time.
As I said before, the demographics, I guess they're usually
(05:15):
entry level, but there is a higher proportion these days
of mature age apprentices as well, and certainly for the
benefit of the territory, if anyone's listening out there, consider
doing a trade. I've done a trade. I'm a planet
by trade, and it was the best thing I ever did, you.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Know, Like I just reckon. It's such a great thing
for young people or middle aged, whatever age you are.
Really it is such a great thing to have a
trade behind you. And as the world sort of changes
with AI and all that kind of thing, and we see,
you know, different university degrees maybe be utilized in different ways.
I just think having a trade and being able to
(05:52):
do something with your hands is something that we are
always going to need, right, Oh.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Aun of us and look, you'd make a great electrician
about that.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
I'm a bit useless with my hands.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Anyway, We've got Look, people go to university for all
the reasons that they should, so if they're chasing a
professional career, good on them. But the acknowledgment of the
value of doing a trade or doing a vocational, especially
a higher level vocational qualification. These days, it's got more value.
(06:27):
In fact, just recently they've introduced a new qualification level
in the Australian Qualifications Framework and that's a vocational degree
where you can do a degree on the job, and
so we're looking at what we can do in that
space too, but it's a very new thing, but it's
sort of that's the interplace between vocational and higher education.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Michael, A couple of my own personal interest questions. What's
the most popular.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Trade at the moment? If you're talking about apprentices, electro
technology is absolute going through the roof. If anyone out
there is an electrician, it must to be a teacher
let us know, because they're not thick on the ground.
But I'll tell you what is thick on the ground,
and that is electrical apprentices. And last year we had
four hundred and eighty just in electro technology only.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Jobs are they going into then electrician? Yeah, right, and
that I suppose that's across a number of different fields
as well as Nash it is.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We've also seen an expansion in our lot, not numbers
like that, but you know electrician now you're starting to
look at cyber and that data and communication plumbing's up
by sixty percent at the moment. So you know, there's
nearly a couple of hundred of those in apprentices now.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
So they're the most that's the most popular. What's the
most in demand? Do you know what is the area
that most people need? You know, I need an apprentice
or a TRADEE Well.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Great question for iac and tea, but pretty much most
of the trades. I know, the automotive industry are really
crying out for workers at the moment, particularly fully qualified,
but of course to get there you should do an apprenticeship.
These are mechanics in particular, they're heavy deals on mechanics.
They're in demand. All of the construction industries are in
(08:16):
demand at the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah. Look, I just think it's really fascinating and i've
you know, as somebody who's who's got kids that are
kind of in those teenage years. I think it's I
think it's a really good option for our young people
and like I've been saying, people of any age in
terms of those I know. There's also a number of
(08:38):
free tape places on offer. What courses does that include?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So free tape. There's a couple of different elements of
free tape. So the one that's currently implemented at the
moment is across quite specific areas such as health and
clean energy and digitals like that digital space that's the
(09:05):
traditional one. They've just released another one hundred and seventy
places for the Northern Territory specific to construction and so,
and they'll be a combination of places for pre vocational
and I'm really a supporter of that. I think that
prevocational is underrepresented in the Northern Territory, and I think
that's mostly because if you're upright, you've got a pulse
(09:27):
and you're interested, you've got an apprenticeship. But the value
of pre vocational is so good to industry because the
young people that do it really do come out. They
know what the tools are, they know how to use them,
and so right of day one they can add some
value and benefit to the employer.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
We'll see to you. Pro Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive
of TAFE, Michael Hamilton. Great to speak with you this morning.
I found it very interesting and yeah, I'm fascinated as
well by those trades and the ones that are popular,
but the ones that are most in demand as well well.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, thanks so much for your time, Katie.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Thank you lovely to talk to you really appreciate us
We know that a new trades training center at Charles
Doowen University's Casarina campus has been officially opened. The ten
million dollars center is going to cater to more than
five hundred students per year, offering qualifications in construction, carpentry, plumbing,
and electro technology. The center is going to be vital
(00:21):
in growing the territory's own workforce to meet industry demand.
And joining me on the line is Charlesdowen University's pro
Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of TAIFE, Michael Hamilton. Good morning, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good morning, Katian. How are you today.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I'm very good, lovely to speak to you, mate. This
is great news. Talk me through the new features of
this trade center.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, I mean, it's very exciting for us, but more importantly,
it's very exciting for industry because this is where the
future of the territory starts. We've got brand new, vibrant
environment to learn in. We've got new stag equipped, we've
got new tools. It's a great space. We're setting up
the skills base so that they reflect modern architecture. All
(01:07):
of those things are really relevant to the development of
trades in the territory and as you know, Katie, we
need more tradees.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Well, this is it, right, and we need more of
our kids wanting to enter trades, yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And in that environment, it's not just the apprentices I
mean we've got a lot of apprentices over two thousand,
one hundred and seventy last year across all the trades,
of course, but we also do vetting schools, programs and
other prevocational courses which this space will be utilized for
to prepare people for employment in the future. And so
(01:41):
if they're picked up into an apprenticeship with an employer,
that they've got those requisite skills to start from day
one and start their career in their chosen trades.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Michael, how vital is the center when it comes to
securing a skilled workforce for the future.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Our facilities have to be upbeat, they have to be modern,
they've got to be in good condition, and you know,
with such a throughput of students that can be quite
a challenge. With this new center, it not only sets
the scene for a very good learning environment for our
cartenters and our roof plumbers and other associated trades, it's
(02:21):
actually allowing a little bit of airspace back through our
other infrastructure on campus so that we can accommodate significant growth,
particularly in electro technology and plumbing, and so you know,
we're just running out of room. But that's a good
thing for the territory. We want more trades and so I.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Mean, will there be plans in the future. I guess
it's very early. We've just got this new center, but
will there be plans in the future to expand to
make it bigger?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, I'm glad you laugh, because we're actually going to
We've actually been given the green light on a Commonwealth
front of project in Catherine for a trades training center
at our Catherine Rural Campus as well. And so what
we think we can do there, there's a few benefits
of that one. So just like this one, we'll have
(03:07):
modern equipment, good learning environment. But for those people that
live in the Big Rivers region, they can learn in
their own in their own region, because not only do
we want to keep people in the territory, but for
our trades that originate in the region, we really need
them in the regions more so than anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
How are the numbers looking like, how are the enrollments
looking across the border? We find like more of our
more young and older people wanting to enter and do
a trade.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, it's another great question. Look in the Northern Territory,
because of our low population density, we've got a really
good broad representation of demographics in doing apprenticeships. Our apprenticeship
numbers have been going up about ten percent each year
of about the last four years running. And I just
(03:59):
looked at the numbers and reported back to staff that
year to date we're up ten percent on last year.
And last year was just it was the biggest year
ever for us. Like I said, we had two one
hundred and seventy students have apprentices last year. This year,
I'm sort of tipping it might be around twenty three hundred.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Well, I mean, they are fantastic numbers. They're fantastic numbers, Michael.
Do you find like, are most people entering or are
most people doing their trade through school or have you
got a number of mature age students as well?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Well? We do pre vocational training through school's programs across
the Northern Territory. There's also been an uptick in what
they call school based apprenticeships or are apart time apprenticeship
that allows people to continue to get their NTCET whilst
commencing their career. I'm a real supporter of that. I
(04:52):
know that to men in college have been doing some
great work there. We certainly have school based apprentices here
as well throughout all of our trades program. Then you've
got your excuse me, then you've got your traditional apprentice
that comes along and does their four year apprenticeship full time.
As I said before, the demographics, I guess they're usually
(05:15):
entry level, but there is a higher proportion these days
of mature age apprentices as well, and certainly for the
benefit of the territory, if anyone's listening out there, consider
doing a trade. I've done a trade. I'm a planet
by trade, and it was the best thing I ever did, you.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Know, Like I just reckon. It's such a great thing
for young people or middle aged, whatever age you are.
Really it is such a great thing to have a
trade behind you. And as the world sort of changes
with AI and all that kind of thing, and we see,
you know, different university degrees maybe be utilized in different ways.
I just think having a trade and being able to
(05:52):
do something with your hands is something that we are
always going to need, right, Oh.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Aun of us and look, you'd make a great electrician
about that.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
I'm a bit useless with my hands.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Anyway, We've got Look, people go to university for all
the reasons that they should, so if they're chasing a
professional career, good on them. But the acknowledgment of the
value of doing a trade or doing a vocational, especially
a higher level vocational qualification. These days, it's got more value.
(06:27):
In fact, just recently they've introduced a new qualification level
in the Australian Qualifications Framework and that's a vocational degree
where you can do a degree on the job, and
so we're looking at what we can do in that
space too, but it's a very new thing, but it's
sort of that's the interplace between vocational and higher education.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Michael, A couple of my own personal interest questions. What's
the most popular.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Trade at the moment? If you're talking about apprentices, electro
technology is absolute going through the roof. If anyone out
there is an electrician, it must to be a teacher
let us know, because they're not thick on the ground.
But I'll tell you what is thick on the ground,
and that is electrical apprentices. And last year we had
four hundred and eighty just in electro technology only.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Jobs are they going into then electrician? Yeah, right, and
that I suppose that's across a number of different fields
as well as Nash it is.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We've also seen an expansion in our lot, not numbers
like that, but you know electrician now you're starting to
look at cyber and that data and communication plumbing's up
by sixty percent at the moment. So you know, there's
nearly a couple of hundred of those in apprentices now.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
So they're the most that's the most popular. What's the
most in demand? Do you know what is the area
that most people need? You know, I need an apprentice
or a TRADEE Well.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Great question for iac and tea, but pretty much most
of the trades. I know, the automotive industry are really
crying out for workers at the moment, particularly fully qualified,
but of course to get there you should do an apprenticeship.
These are mechanics in particular, they're heavy deals on mechanics.
They're in demand. All of the construction industries are in
(08:16):
demand at the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah. Look, I just think it's really fascinating and i've
you know, as somebody who's who's got kids that are
kind of in those teenage years. I think it's I
think it's a really good option for our young people
and like I've been saying, people of any age in
terms of those I know. There's also a number of
(08:38):
free tape places on offer. What courses does that include?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So free tape. There's a couple of different elements of
free tape. So the one that's currently implemented at the
moment is across quite specific areas such as health and
clean energy and digitals like that digital space that's the
(09:05):
traditional one. They've just released another one hundred and seventy
places for the Northern Territory specific to construction and so,
and they'll be a combination of places for pre vocational
and I'm really a supporter of that. I think that
prevocational is underrepresented in the Northern Territory, and I think
that's mostly because if you're upright, you've got a pulse
(09:27):
and you're interested, you've got an apprenticeship. But the value
of pre vocational is so good to industry because the
young people that do it really do come out. They
know what the tools are, they know how to use them,
and so right of day one they can add some
value and benefit to the employer.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
We'll see to you. Pro Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive
of TAFE, Michael Hamilton. Great to speak with you this morning.
I found it very interesting and yeah, I'm fascinated as
well by those trades and the ones that are popular,
but the ones that are most in demand as well well.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, thanks so much for your time, Katie.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Thank you lovely to talk to you really appreciate us
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