There’s plenty of construction and infrastructure activity happening on the Gold Coast, with one of the most active cities in the Sunshine State continuing to provide apprenticeship opportunities.
One of the major ongoing projects is the city’s Light Rail developments. With the $420 million second stage awarded to contractors last month, another 1,000 construction opportunities will offer further apprenticeship opportunities to people.
The light rail project reinforces the value of major infrastructure spending. Not only do these developments create jobs which boost local economies, the end results make life much easier for people who live in the region. However, this isn’t the only construction activity providing jobs on the Gold Coast, as the recently announced Parklands Project is set to do the same.
Training opportunities aplenty in the Gold Coast
While most people will be familiar with the way new infrastructure projects create employment opportunities throughout Australia, the new Parklands project on the Gold Coast puts its own unique spin on the process.
A partnership between Grocon and Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) will ensure that this new “mega project” will not only give work to existing tradespeople, but also offer hands-on experience to construction apprentices. Project General Manger of Parklands Steve Grimes notes that it’s not just construction roles that will be available.
“We anticipate there will be around 1,000 construction workers employed on site at the peak of the project, from a broad range of trades and industry roles – from surveyors and steel fixers to carpenters and electricians,” he explained.
The project will see training and on the job experience combine, with the partnership setting up specialist facilities to ensure new apprentices can learn the necessary skills without having to go off site.
“We have set up a dedicated training facility here on site, so trainees will feel like they are part of the project, right amongst the action,” Mr Grimes explained. “We are running a 12-week Trade Start program that provides on-the-job work experience and high quality industry training which is being delivered by the Gold Coast School of Construction.”
The most valuable part of the program for students is the fact they’re not locked into any one trade over the course of their training. Instead, they will gain experience with all sorts of disciplines so they’re able to choose a career that suits them at the end of it.
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
