On the job … Aaron White is one of many taking advantage of the booming building industry. 65575 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Xavier Smerdon
CARPENTERS and bricklayers are now in such red-hot demand that they are almost guaranteed to get a job in the West’s booming construction industry, according to Victoria University.
The university’s carpentry teacher, Ross Firth, said once they complete a 17 week pre-apprenticeship, some tradies would be snapped up almost instantly due to a critical shortage of newcomers and the sudden surge in properties in areas like Wyndham and Melton.
“We have a backlog of residential builders wanting to employ students, but most want them to have their pre-app before they will take them on,” Mr Firth said.
“Melton and Wyndham are in the middle of a housing boom and registered builders can earn very good salaries because they can have a few houses on the go at once.”
But Liam O’Hern, an apprenticeship officer at the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, said the hard part was trying to find builders who were willing to give a young worker a chance and take on an apprentice.
“As a tradie, yes there is a shortage, but it’s easy to just say that,” Mr O’Hern said.
“It’s much more difficult to get an apprenticeship than it is to get a job.”
Mr O’Hern said he had at least 36 carpentry students are currently waiting to get an apprenticeship.
At Victoria University, students work as an apprentice with an employer for three and a half years before they become a fully qualified carpenter or bricklayer.
Students need to be at least 15-years-old and have a good understanding of maths and English.
For more information about Victoria University’s pre-apprenticeship courses call 9919 7530.
