As National Skills Week was celebrated across the country last week, the Morrison Government marked the occasion by reminding Australians of the incredible opportunities of a skilled career and the hundreds of thousands make use of the skills and training pathways guaranteed through record levels of federal funding.

“… National Skills Week is a chance for all Australians to consider having a crack at vocational education and training and remind everyone about the amazing opportunities a skilled career can generate for you and your family,’ Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said.

Mr Robert said opportunities are guaranteed by the Morrison Government which is backing Australians to take up new skills with the highest spend on skills and training in Australia’s history, $6.4 billion just this financial year, including the $2 billion JobTrainer fund and $3.9 billion investment in wage subsidies for apprentices and trainees.

“I would encourage all Australians to consider taking up an apprenticeship or a traineeship because taking up a skill or a trade sets you on a path for a rewarding career and a well-paid job today and tomorrow,” Minster Robert said.

Vocational Education and Training Career Stories were highlighted during National Skills Week, including Jaylie Maddaford, Certificate III in Process Plant Operations – Darwin, Northern Territory.

“For Jaylie Maddaford, persistence and VET were the keys to entering her dream industry.

She first attempted to enter the oil and gas industry out of high school, 10 years prior to commencing her VET journey. With her goals firmly set on the industry, Jaylie put plans in motion. In 2009 Jaylie studied a Certificate II in Business Administration and completed multiple short courses to put her on the right path and gain valuable transferable skills in the construction industry.

In 2018, her resilience was rewarded. Jaylie was accepted into a traineeship for a Certificate III in Process Plant Operations with the Group Training Organisation Programmed Skilled Workforce and host company ConocoPhillips in Darwin. In 2019, she graduated from her traineeship early and was offered a full-time Process Operator Position with Santos in Darwin.

“I am fast learning if exposed to hands-on real world learning so I really thrive in the on-the-job training environment,” Jaylie said.

The opportunity to complete a traineeship equipped her with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience to excel in a high-pressure role. She continues to draw on her qualifications and finds the daily challenges of her career rewarding.

“I gained so much real-world experience from my traineeship, it set me up for success and enabled me to transition seamlessly from my traineeship to a tradesperson operating a major hazard facility,” Jaylie reflected.

In 2020, Jaylie won the Northern Territory Trainee of the Year Award and was a finalist at the Australian Training Awards. Her VET pathway allowed her to grow in confidence and fulfill her professional ambitions. Jaylie’s story is a great example of how resilience and VET can help individuals reach their career goals.

She wants others to know “How much careers can be fast-tracked by utilising a VET pathway!”

Bright Future STEM program highlights diverse career opportunities 

National Skills Week was also a great reminder of the incredibly diverse, highly-paid and rewarding career opportunities within Australia’s resources and energy sector.

As an industry we recognise the importance of trainees and apprentices to fueling our industry’s growth, with long-term investment in skills development crucial to ensuring next-gen have the right skills to take up our industry’s many career opportunities into the future.

We’re also piquing the interest of primary school students through our Bright Future Stem program, which continues promoting the resources and energy industry’s suite of technologically-advanced jobs for our pipeline of growth.

The program visits schools to raise awareness of our industry’s opportunities from an early age, with passionate and talented industry role models sharing the story of their own career pathway and helping students understand our sector’s endless career possibilities.

Help us drive a brighter skills future for our industry

Resources and energy employers know the importance of raising awareness of our industry amongst young Australians and the critical need to build the future pipeline of home-grown skills.

This is why AREEA continues encouraging students across Australia to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to nurture the talent required to fuel our industry’s future.

AREEA’s Bright Future STEM program is bringing to life STEM subjects through a series of stimulating activities and industry role models (particularly female), all linking STEM back to real jobs in the resources and energy industry.

Why should your organisation get involved?

• Boost your organisation’s profile and engagement with schools, teachers, parents, and students that will become our sector’s next-gen workforce.
• Promote your organisation’s interest in STEM careers and the diverse and rewarding employment opportunities within the resources and energy industry.