Youth Build

 K&D Trade is proud to partner with HIA and provide our support to this very worthwhile project.

YouthBUILD PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL

The Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) very successful YouthBUILD program is an excellent example of government, industry and education providers working together for the benefit of students.

Operating under a partnership arrangement between the HIA, the Tasmanian Department of Education, Claremont College and Hobart high schools, the YouthBUILD program has been an enormous success in Tasmania.

The HIA regional executive director Stuart Clues said there were 80 year 10 students enrolled in the program in 2009.

“YouthBUILD assists young people in their transition from school to the building industry and teaches them fundamental construction skills,” he said.

“Under the program, young people learn about the building industry while they are still at school, bringing the construction workplace to the school environment. 

“Importantly, 20 of the students enrolled are females.”

High schools involved in the program are Geilston Bay, Rose Bay, Ogilvie, Cosgrove, Rosetta, Claremont, Bridgewater and New Norfolk.  Students from these schools attend one day a week for the whole of the school year.

Stuart said that while industry was aware that students were interested in a building career, the change from a school environment to a building site was often daunting.

“YouthBUILD sets out to enhance the employability prospects of students generally as well as provide more tradespeople for the building and construction industry,” he said.

“It is an excellent example of how industry and education can work together to help overcome a skills shortage and better prepare students for life after school in the work place.”

K&D Trade has been at the forefront of the YouthBUILD program from the beginning. They support the students by supplying first grade materials to construct projects. This work enabling them to develop and hone their technical skills. The completed projects are then accepted back into the stores for sale or use by the stores in displays.

This year K&D Trade generously sponsored a HI-VIS shirt for each student completing first term and are planning to offer at the end of the year two tool kits to the two students who throughout the year have consistently displayed excellence.  

“K&D Trade has made a significant contribution to the success of this program over the past three years,” he said.

 Stuart said YouthBUILD would ultimately increase the number of talented young people working in the Tasmanian building and construction industry. 

Members interested in contributing to the workshop are invited to call Stuart Clues on 1300 650 620.

For further information visit the HIA Website