Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is encouraging people across the region to ‘Thank A Tradie’ during National Skills Week.
Mr Saunders said the annual week celebrates the talents, skills and contributions of tradespeople educated in the NSW vocational system. It’s the perfect time to acknowledge the continued hard work and commitment of local tradies who are the backbone of our communities.
“Many of our tradies are out in the community delivering important services during the current COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Tradespeople work on projects ranging from electrical repairs in the family home to major infrastructure projects. They gain these gold standard skills from vocational education and training.”
Jacob Murray is just one of the tradies we should be thanking during National Skills Week who has worked through the pandemic.
Jacob is a local plumber and gas fitter who studied a Certificate III in Plumbing and a Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services at TAFE NSW and now operates his own business JEM Plumbing and Gas Fitting in the Dubbo area.
“Studying at TAFE NSW equipped me with the hands-on, practical skills I needed to become a plumber and gas fitter,” Jacob said.
“Every job is different, and I really enjoy the social aspect of meeting new people and helping them. It is rewarding to see the reaction on a client’s face when you have completed a job.”
In the past five years TAFE NSW has trained 13,000 electricians, 12,000 carpenters, 7,000 plumbers, 4,500 car mechanics with the hands-on practical skills to succeed in their chosen industry and fill many needs for the community.
The NSW Government is addressing skills requirements by providing employers with access to fee-free traineeship and apprenticeship training to equip employees with the skills they need for their business.