Victoria University is running a pre-apprenticeship course that will make it easier for participants to gain an apprenticeship and employment in the building industry. The course, Certificate 11 in Building and Construction (Carpentry) provides basic skills necessary to take up carpentry as a career. It is a fulltime 16-week course being offered at VU's Melton Campus.

While some of the fourteen students enrolled are starting out afresh to develop skills in carpentry other students in the current course are looking for a new career direction.

Su Hauck is a qualified naturopath but is looking for a career change. She says: "While I trained as a naturopath I have always felt that I wanted to do something more hands on. It might sound clichéd but growing up as a girl I was never encouraged to build things. This course has given me the confidence to make the change - we all pitch in and work together. I live in Daylesford and I am hoping that following this course I will be able to get an apprenticeship with a local builder."

Nicole Henderson is a mother of three and is undertaking the course so she can become a DIY 'handyman' around the family home. She said: "It's not like I want to be able to do full scale renovations but home improvements are in my line of vision - a pergola and a deck will greatly improve my house and our lifestyle. I have been amazed how this environment has enabled me to learn skills I never thought I would be able to learn."

Ross Firth, course co-ordinator said: "The Certificate 11 qualification gives students a better chance of obtaining an apprenticeship because it offers attractive incentives for employers. The pre-apprentice course covers the first and second year of apprentice training. Apprentices who have Cert ificate 11 need only complete 4 weeks of assessment and then start third year schooling, which means that the employer only has to send them to school for 12 weeks rather than 24 weeks."

"They start with basic hand tool skills and finish up building a transportable home - they complete the whole project from start to finish. The transportables are generally for domestic use as granny flats or holiday homes. The houses are built to order, which allows cost recovery for the department, which in turn enables the purchasing of materials and equipment."

"This course runs until 16 May 2008 and we are now taking expressions of interest from people interested in enrolling for the next course which starts on 16 June 2008."

Photos of transportables are available on request.

Further information: Ross Firth, Course Coordinator, Melton Campus, Victoria University.
Ph: (03) 9919 7530; email: ross.firth@vu.edu.au

Media Contact: Ms Christine White, Media Manager,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 4322; mobile: 0434 602 884