Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan today officially opened the $1 million Woodworking Trade Skills Centre at South Grafton High School – one of six Trade Skills Centres across the Northern Rivers.
“It is wonderful to have delivered on this promise. This Woodworking Trade Skills Centre will provide an alternative pathway to employment for students and expand their Vocational Employment and Training opportunities,” he said.
“The South Grafton High Trade Skills Centre is about equipping local students with the real skills they need to help them get the jobs that we need in the future.
“Training Centres like this one enables local students to pursue vocational pathways and develop skills across a range of fields.
“There are many cities, communities and regions throughout Australia facing skills shortages in trades like carpentry and joining.
“So the skills that students will develop at the South Grafton High Trade Skills Centre will not only benefit the Clarence Valley, they will be skills that could potentially put them on a pathway for jobs in industries anywhere in Australia.”
Mr Hogan said the Centre incorporates a refurbished existing trade training facility and includes a construction workshop and outdoor covered work area with equipment.
“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring vocational training meets the needs of industry and employers and to providing students with training, particularly in areas where there are skill shortages,” he said.
“I congratulate the entire school community for tis foresight in getting this centre up and running.”
South Grafton High School is one of six local schools that are sharing in almost $6 million to establish Trade Skill Centres to give students more study and job options.
The schools are: Grafton High ($1 million) for a new hospitality Trade Skills Centre, Induna School ($550,000) also for a new hospitality Trade Skills Centre, Trade Skills Centre, Alstonville High ($1 million) for a new Primary Industries Trade Skills Centre, Evans River K-12 Community School ($1 million) to establish a hospitality Trade Skills Centre and, Trinity Catholic College ($1.3 million) for a hospitality Trade Skills Centre.
