The Accelerated Trades Project is a one year program that has been supported and funded by Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula (RDAWEP), Department of State Development (DSD) and TAFE SA.

This project includes full-time face-to-face training with TAFE SA and supervised work placement for 30 locally unemployed persons.  It has been developed primarily for heavy industry and supply chain businesses operating in manufacturing, including manufacture for defence projects, mining , energy and resource processing industries.  The technical skills undertaken and completed will be complimented by workplace industry placements with supervision to ensure safety at all times.  This project has been very selective when incorporating the components of multi-trades training which are increasingly required by employers.

This project aims to support residents of Whyalla who are experiencing disadvantage in the local labour market.  The primary target cohort is people under 25 years of age who are over 18, have left school, and are seeking to develop new skills and/or build on existing skills to increase employability and prospects of securing full-time work.  This includes individuals who are unable to find work and/or have been retrenched.

Local employers from heavy industry have been directly involved with the development of this project and all employers have displayed their willingness to be active partners throughout the term of the project.
Local employers will support this project by offering work placement hours within their workplaces and become guest speakers which will allow them to interact with participants on a regular basis.

This project will address all minimum requirements for potential participants to secure employment in the heavy industry and engineering sectors.

Following a process of information sessions and one-on-one interviews, 30 people have now commenced and are in their third week of training.

If you are a local employer who would like to be a part of this project, please contact Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula’s Whyalla office on 08 8645 7811.