The Inland Rail Skills Academy, in partnership with TAFE NS and the Clontarf academies in Wagga Wagga and Albury, has helped 27 First Nations students complete their White Card certifications to build practical skills.
The students from Kooringal, Mt Austin, Tumut, and Albury Clontarf academies have now earned their White Cards, which are essential for work in the construction industry. This training will allow students to gain valuable skills on the path to employment or obtaining apprenticeships.
The academies can also take part in ‘Working at Heights’ and ‘Confined Spaces’ courses scheduled for October, to help students progress with their training and encourage them to further their civil construction studies.
Inland Rail said that, in partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, it supports the education, training, and employment of Indigenous youth in communities along the Inland Rail alignment.
Inland Rail Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Stephen Jones, said that the students were thrilled to undertake industry specific training before finishing school, in the hope of gaining employment in the construction industry, or even on Inland Rail after their school years.
“Inland Rail supports the Clontarf Foundation’s goal of improving the education, life skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects of our First Nations youth, and together, through the Inland Rail Skills Academy, we are providing structure and daily support for First Nations youth in schools across Australia,” Mr Jones said.
“We are committed to playing our part in upskilling the nation and ensuring that different groups of people are given the opportunity to help build Inland Rail.”
Featured image: Five students who completed their White Card courses. Image credit: Inland Rail.
