Manufacturing career sparked for Cairns student

Patrick Cannon was only 15 when he decided on his career path. The destination was clear - he planned to leave school after year 10 and become an electrical apprentice.

But, after learning about the Manufacturing and Engineering Gateway Schools Project, Patrick realised he could start an apprenticeship while still at school. Suddenly, a new world of possibilities opened for the Cairns teenager.

By completing a school-based apprenticeship, Patrick could graduate with a Queensland Certificate of Education, industry-standard qualifications, work experience and a scholarship. 

Patrick, 17, said he never really enjoyed school - sitting in a classroom, stuck behind a desk, did not appeal at all.

"I always knew I would end up in a trade, doing hands-on work. The Gateway Schools Project meant I could do school three days a week and my trade two days a week. It was great."

The project, a collaboration between the Queensland Education Department and Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ), involves school-based apprentices in years 11 and 12 working with an employer as paid employees for a minimum of 48 days while studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education.

The project essentially provides a 'gateway' for students to take up careers in manufacturing and engineering. It gives young apprentices an opportunity they would not necessarily receive when entering the industry traditionally.

School-based apprentices work with an employer while completing school and, concurrently, complete a training qualification with a registered training organisation.
 
Patrick completed his school-based apprenticeship at Woree State High School in 2010. He is now a full-time boilermaker apprentice at Lazco Fabrications, Cairns.

In years 11 and 12, he completed his training qualification through SchoolTech, a Cairns TAFE and Education Queensland-run training facility, and was partnered with Lazco for work experience.

Initially, Patrick had no idea what a boilermaker even did. But, after discovering a space in the class, decided to give it a go because he wanted to do some form of apprenticeship.

Lazco owner Steve Lazarus said his company immediately jumped on board when he heard about the Gateway Schools Scholarship Project.

Lazco, a family-run business, specialises in engineering heavy steel fabrications. Since its launch in the 1990s, Lazco has always put a high priority on training young workers. The company now has 10 employees.

Steve said: "Woree SHS knocked on our door giving us the information. We immediately said yes because it's something this business has always valued - training people."

Steve said the program was about helping up-and-coming apprentices. When Lazco took Patrick on as an apprentice, Steve wanted to give him an overall feel for the job so he could gain experience in a wide range of areas.

"There are so many aspects to the job; apprentices try many things and get to see what’s for them."

Patrick said the school-based apprenticeship set him up to succeed. "I was already on my way through an apprenticeship while I was still at school, so this year I'm cruising through ... I'm a year ahead of where I should be."

As part of the project, The Gateway Schools Manufacturing Scholarship Program gives selected participating students scholarships valued at $2,000. In 2010, 40 scholarships were offered to Queensland secondary school students from nine schools working together with industry partners, and Patrick was one of them.

He said the scholarship and the school-based apprenticeship helped him make a decision to wholeheartedly pursue a manufacturing career.

"If I had not taken part while I was in school, I probably wouldn't have gone through the effort to take up a trade after I finished school."

Steve said the project gave students many more options. "Some kids don't want to go to university. It's just not for them. So this program gives them the chance to try difference areas of manufacturing to see if it's something they want to do."
 
But the benefits are not just for students. Steve said there were advantages for businesses as well. "It gives us a chance to see how the kids work, what interests they have, what skills they have and to see if they actually enjoy it. We get a chance to see who we might employ in the future."

He said it took at least two years to train apprentices before a company got any tangible benefits from them. "If kids start in a school-based apprenticeship, they get a kick start and we gain from them much sooner.  

"At the end of the day, we get a good apprentice out of the program."

While Steve saw no quick fix for the manufacturing and engineering industries' skills shortage, he said programs like the Gateway Schools Project gave kids a better chance in the long term to remain in the industry and contribute significantly.
 

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