New opportunities for training and employment for North Coast community

Following extensive debate around regional skills shortages and industry finding it difficult to hire appropriate staff, TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute is pleased to announce a range of full and part-time courses aimed at solving this problem.

Neil Black, Institute Director, said “The North Coast Institute has been successful in attracting further government funding that will enable the running of special short courses that address skills training and meet new or emerging needs of industry on the north coast.”

Mr Black said that the courses will suit unemployed young adults and mature aged unemployed people wanting to develop new skills to take advantage of current job opportunities on the North Coast. “Young adult and mature workers seeking new skills or a career change, as well recent or intending school leavers, will also benefit from the programs” Mr Black added. Most of these courses will start and be completed by the end of this year, but some courses run into 2005.

The courses will prepare learners for job opportunities in industries such as construction, metals and engineering, hospitality, aged care nursing, clothing production, horticulture, forestry, seafood processing, educational support, visual arts, digital media, waste management, hairdressing, conservation and land management, business, retail and customer service.

GETSKILLED COURSES: These are free to unemployed and disadvantaged members of the community, and assist unemployed people in obtaining the skills they need for employment, apprenticeships or traineeships in specific industry areas.

CONTRACTED TRAINING PROGRAMS

These are also free to some eligible members of the community and are targeted at local industries that have been identified as having a particular training need. For example, Organic Farming and Clothing Production.

BVET EMERGING PRIORITIES FUNDING

The NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training is funding short courses targeting industries with emerging priorities, for example, Bricklaying, Welding, Automotive, Hairdressing and Hospitality.

Mr Black also said that the North Coast Institute is running some extra courses to meet demand from customers. “There were a number of courses that had more applicants than places available earlier in the year, so we have managed to resource some extra courses in aged care, hospitality and others that will run between now and early 2005.

“I should also emphasise that now is the time for anyone planning study next year to get their applications in for our 2005 courses. The course Guide for 2005 has been released and is available at campuses. People can also log onto our website and browse the new course lists.”

Applications for 2005 courses close on Oct 29. Anyone interested in applying for these courses or one of the courses in the course guide should contact their local campus, log onto www.nci.tafensw.edu.au, or telephone 131 601.