First Nations students from Clontarf Foundation’s Kooringal and Mt Austin Academies, will undergo Rail Readiness training courses run by the Inland Rail Skills Academy.
The course is run in partnership with First Nations Registered Training Organisation Yakka Training, designed to teach the students skills to help them gain future jobs in the rail industry.
The Rail Readiness course prepares young First Nations people for a career in the rail industry helping deliver Inland Rail in the regions. Aiming to give the students a look at what they would experience while on the tools working in the rail industry, giving them insights into topics such as physical and mental fitness, financial literacy, safety training, cultural awareness, workplace professionalism, and leadership skills.
After successfully completing the course students will have opportunities to go on to complete other Inland Rail Skills Academy courses such as Safely Access the Rail Corridor, Certificate II Rail Infrastructure and Certificate II Construction, setting them up to potentially gain future employment on delivering Inland Rail in the Riverina region.
Stephen Jones, Inland Rail Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability, said Inland Rail is proud to support the Clontarf Foundation in its goal of improving the education, life skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects of First Nations youth.
“The rail industry provides a rewarding and sustainable career path, and the Inland Rail Skills Academy is committed to playing our part in upskilling young people so that they can take up a role in building Inland Rail,” he said.
The Inland Rail Skills Academy partnered with the Clontarf Academy and YAKKA Training to design the Rail Readiness course.
Yakka Training managing director Joel Thompson passes on his experiences as a rugby league player to help Kooringal Clontarf Academy students on the Rail Readiness course in Wagga Wagga.
The first course on Monday 12 August at Kooringal High School will have 16 students, with 22 students the next day at Mt Austin High School.
Mitchell Fennessy, Employment Officer, Clontarf Foundation, said the course will open up opportunities for the students.
“A lot of them don’t know what trade or career they want to go into and the course will open up avenues for them so they can make some decisions when they transition out of school,” he said.
“The boys will also learn how to push through adversity and look after themselves, and that there is a support network out there if they need it later in life.”
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