Tyler Mitchell enrolled in the programme after struggling to find work as a labourer. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A new trades programme in Wellington, aimed at getting rangatahi off the benefit and into training is about to celebrate its first anniversary.
The Try-A-Trade courses by the Ministry of Social Development, Te Ati Awa, and Weltec give trainees who are over 18, the chance to try out a new career - seven different trades over seven weeks.
Te Teira Wairua-Julian (Whakatane, Rūātoki, Ngāti Kahungunu) found himself out of work and on ACC after a dislocated shoulder put paid to his eight-year drain laying career.
"It stopped me to going to work ... and I got bored at home and I can't really be active because of my injury, so I started looking at things that I could do and the course was one of them.
"So I just signed up at Weltec, (to) finish off studies that I didn't complete in the past - I kinda led myself here."
(From left) Manawa Rangihuna, Teteira Wira-Julian and Tyler Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
He said school was not really his cup of tea, and so it made sense to stick with the trades and while he was eyeing up a mechanical engineering course, his classmate Tyler Mitchell, was keeping his options open.
The 19-year-old had found himself enrolling in the programme after struggling to find work as a labourer.
"Places I applied to are looking for people with a lot more experience - and even then, in those markets it's quite small, there's not a big demand for labourers or building at the moment."
He was positive about the past few weeks in the Try-A-Trade programme.
"Doing it has been really fun and interesting, especially just getting to learn all the different stuff, like plumbing the first week, that was fun we got to play around - I felt like a kid in the candy shop, we got to pick out all the different pipes and joins and try to plumb out a bathroom."
Weltec carpentry tutor Michael Tregaskis said the course was practical focusing on learning by doing. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
More recently, the cohort had been learning carpentry, with Weltec Petone tutor Michael Tregaskis teaching the group how to build a miniature saw horse.
He said in a few days they go from reading a plan to making a stool - that while strong enough to stand on was really a "theory learner".
"But it's practical as opposed to explaining to someone how you do these things, you let them do it, and they get a better idea of what you're talking about."
The $270,000 in funding - to the middle of this year - allows 30 young people take part in the Try-A-Trade programme, and another 15 to try their hand at a sister programme, Try-A-Tech.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) said nine of the 14 graduates from October's trade cohort were now enrolled in full-time study in the trade of their choice.
Wellington regional commissioner Gagau Annandale-Stone said 'You don't know until you try' was a definite theme at the graduation.
"I shook everyone's hands and each one had an idea of what trade they wanted to take up. I remember two of the young women wanted to take up plumbing."
In the carpentry section of the course students go from reading a plan to making a stool. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa chief executive Wirangi Luke said for many, it was their first time being part of a tertiary institution, which was a big step.
"It is brave, a lot of them have come out of school with no tohu, no certificate and may have been out of school earlier to get onto a benefit at 18.
Luke said the programme not only gave students the opportunity to figure out what they did like but also what they didn't.
"I think we've all been like that, we all study to be a lawyer or whatever and end up being a plumber.
"When you analyse what people's learning patterns are, you see you don't necessarily end up with the job in your preferred profession. This one gives them the opportunity I think, to try something different before they decide they want to enrol in further education."
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