Tom Loane, a 16 year old from Wurtulla will begin a step ahead in his search for an apprenticeship with a full bag of the latest tools after becoming the first recipient of Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace’s Ready, Set, Go! bursary. Mr Wallace’s Ready, Set, Go! bursaries are a new employment initiative providing students with a grant of $1,000 to help them enter the world of work.
Mr Wallace said “I want to congratulate Tom, not only on winning my first ever Ready, Set, Go! bursary, but on his plan to do an apprenticeship. Once you get a trade you’ll never be out of work. It can be a hard slog, but if you hang in tough then an apprenticeship can take you anywhere. The world will be your oyster because Australian trade training is recognised all over the world as some of the best.”
The Ready, Set, Go! bursary will be available three times a year to students living in the Federal electorate of Fisher who are in their final year of education and preparing to enter the world of work, including school leavers and university or TAFE students in their last year of study. The remaining rounds of 2020 will be in August and November.
“Tom wisely asked me for $1,000 to purchase new professional tools of his trade. This is exactly the kind of thing aspiring tradies need to get a leg up into an apprenticeship and I was delighted to be able to help him out. It’ll put a smile on any potential employers’ face if you can show them that you have your own tools and you know how to look after them.” Mr Wallace said.
Tom is a student at Pacific Lutheran College and also attends the Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre. Tom is studying for a Certificate 2 in Electrotechnology and recently completed work experience with Wurtulla based electrical contracting company DNA Queensland Electrical.
In reaction to the bursary Tom said “I want to say thank you very much to Mr Wallace for this bursary. When I recently went for my work experience at DNA Queensland Electrical they were really happy that I had my own tools, so it’s already helping. They were able to show me how to do a lot more because they didn’t have to lend me their tools to get on with it, and I am hoping that they might even be able to give me an apprenticeship when I finish school. I really enjoyed the experience, so now I’m looking forward to learning the electrical trade and then who knows what will happen after that?”
“Applying for the bursary was really easy, so I’d say to anyone around here who is trying to get an apprenticeship, give it a go!” Tom said.
As a former builder, Mr Wallace is passionate about apprenticeships and traineeships, which will be central to the Federal Government’s JobMaker plan for economic recovery. As such, in 2020, the bursaries are provided specifically for students who are aiming to begin an apprenticeship or traineeship in the coming year. From next year, all students from those due to complete Year 10 right through to university leavers who are 25 years of age or under at the time of application will be eligible.
“I hope that this bursary is going to help Tom to get a job right here on the Coast and allow him to stay near his family and the region he grew up in. At the moment too many of our young people feel that they have to leave our community to fulfil their professional ambitions. However, with access to a world class university and vocational education, and with innovative, high tech companies now operating in our region, the Sunshine Coast today is fast becoming the place to be for employment as well as education and retirement. I hope that my Ready, Set, Go! bursary will go a small way toward helping local young people take advantage of these opportunities.” Mr Wallace said.
Eligible students under the age of 25 living in Fisher will be able to make an application for the second round of the bursary online at www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/readysetgo from Monday 3 August 2020, explaining why they need support to prepare for the workplace and what they would use the bursary toward.
“I started my career as an apprentice carpenter. I became a registered builder and owned my own business. Later I went to university and I became a barrister. Now I am a Federal Member of Parliament. My own career is proof that learning a trade can take you anywhere. I wish Tom all the very best in his career to come, whether he stays a sparky, or uses his trade as a springboard to something different.” Mr Wallace said.
For more information on Andrew Wallace’s Ready Set Go! bursary, to read the terms and conditions or to apply see www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/readysetgo.
