School leavers with a Certificate III in Work Health and Safety under their belts are increasingly a step above in a crowded candidate market, especially if this qualification is coupled with pre-apprenticeship training in trades.
Doug Edwards, Apprentice Recruitment Manager with MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees, said safety skills help put apprenticeship hopefuls at the top of the shortlist.
“When we review applications for trades apprenticeship positions, the candidates who have some level of technical training will of course stand out,” Mr Edwards said.
“But it’s those applicants who can also demonstrate strong safety awareness and safety-first approach to hands-on work will always be the most sought after through a rigorous selection process,” he said.
The BSB30719 Certificate III in Work Health and Safety provides students with essential information that is particularly relevant in industries where apprentices will be working with and around heavy equipment and machinery.
This nationally recognised qualification helps the participants to understand WHS rules, identify real hazards in the workplace, and even contribute to controlling risks encountered at the worksite.
Prioritise School While Gaining Job Skills
What many successful candidates have realised is that there is a strategic benefit in combining safety knowledge with technical training.
Although pre-apprenticeship courses like Certificate II in Engineering Pathways or Certificate II in Electrotechnology are good pre-requisites for technical knowledge, adding a formal safety qualification makes for a strong package that employers find difficult to overlook.
This approach to obtaining a dual qualification is consistent with the skills shortage that industries are facing in Australia.
Jobs and Skills Australia that job shortages are most common for technicians and trades workers, with 50 per cent of occupations in this category assessed as being in national shortage.
What makes this qualification so valuable for school leavers is that it is obtainable in high school. The completely online program can be done self-paced over 12 months, and managed around important school commitments. Students can even begin in Year 10 with the support of a school guidance counsellor.
Monthly course intakes are convenient, and fast-track options enable students to achieve the qualification by the time they finish Year 12 – and be ready to take on a full-time apprenticeship.
Real World Assessment
MiTraining has developed the safety course with focus on the application of WHS in the real world across many industries.
The assessments reflect potential workplace safety situations to enable students to be effective in the workplace once they have been assessed.
“When we look at applicants who have taken the time to acquire both the technical and safety qualifications, we are always impressed with the level of readiness and thought that such applicants have shown – something that is very attractive to any apprenticeship program,” Mr Edwards said.
For the students who want to improve their apprenticeship opportunities in the growing trades sector in Australia, the message is very clear: a Certificate III in Work Health and Safety together with technical pre-apprenticeship training is a set of credentials that increases the chances of employment.
For more information on undertaking an online Certificate III in Work Health and Safety, contact MiTraining or enrol online today.
