FOR the first time in the New England region students in Years 11 and 12 can complete a certificate II in shearing to equip them with job-ready skills and a nationally recognised qualification when they finish their HSC.
The school-based TAFE NSW traineeship is helping to address rural skill shortages, Minister for Agriculture and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has announced.
According the Australian Bureau of Statistics there's a shortage of shearers with fewer than 2500 nationwide.
"We have an ambitious goal to grow our state's primary industries from $16 billion to $19 billion by 2030, and education is a key part of our strategy," Mr Marshall said. "By supporting students to gain valuable skills, they will be able to secure jobs ensuring our agricultural industries have the workers they need to grow and thrive."
Sixteen-year-old Brendon Williams is the first student to undertake the school-based traineeship in New England. He is working with Top of the Range Shearing Pty Ltd in Guyra while studying at TAFE NSW Armidale.
"I've grown up around shearers, so it was always something I wanted to do," he said. "I would love to leave school now and become a full-time shearer, but the traineeship means I can earn a qualification while staying at school."
Top of the Range Shearing co-owner Maare Foster said the traineeship was helping her business fill an emerging skills gap and great to train a local from her town.
