Door opens for career pathways

Door opens for career pathways

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Chantelle Wormall with high school students Bryce Van Uden, Joshua Harmon, Jamie Hadwiger-Williams, Trent Gibbons and Craig Wormall at the opening of the training facility in Cardup. Photograph — Amy Blom.

Wormall Civil launched its youth training facility at its new premises in Cardup last week as a way to encourage local youth to pursue careers in the civil engineering and construction industries.

The facility includes a training room and simulated training environment to offer vocational education and training for high school students, while they complete their secondary studies.

Wormall owner and operator Craig Wormall said the idea for the facility came about following his own childhood in Mundijong and his experience trying to get work.

“I left school in year 10 and you do that and try to get public transport from here to work, it’s a challenge,” he said.

“To get enough experience for someone to want you to work there is a separate challenge.”

He said his goal was to ensure students were job ready, with nationally recognised accreditation by the time they left, while providing guidance on how to access a number of career pathways.

Member for Darling Range Tony Simpson, who opened the facility, said it would address the lack of employment and economic opportunities in the area.

“On the bigger picture the Cardup Business Park is a great development, it’s something the shire has been keen to push over a number of years because we’ve always identified that lack of economic opportunity.”