NO FIRST DAY JITTERS FOR JAZMIN

The first day at a new job can come as a bit of a culture shock, let alone a change of career path and moving from the country to the city, all in quick succession.

But new Schlam recruit Jazmin Cavanagh-Patience, who will be completing a Certificate III in Business Administration in coordination with the Apprentice and Traineeship Company, is doing exactly that and taking it in her stride.

“Coming from the country and growing up around animals, I was interested in becoming a veterinary nurse. But that changed when I started looking at other career options,” said Jazmin.

“I was drawn to study Business Administration because the skills I’m going to learn will be adaptable in multiple roles and fields, giving me some versatility for work in the future.”

While Jazmin was not targeting a job in the resources industry, she says that she’s been around mining her whole life with many of her family members working in the sector. In fact, someone she went to school works at Schlam as an apprentice in Waroona.

“Growing up in Dwellingup, people either work in their family business or they go to work at one of the mines,” said Jazmin.

Jarrod Broughton from the Apprentice and Traineeship Company said that there’s a lot of demand for apprentices and trainees at the moment.

“The construction sector is driving the demand, but we’re noticing an uptake in the mining industry too.

“About 75 per cent of our placements are for trade-based roles compared to admin and office roles, but that’s changing. As businesses grow, they need more office-based support. The good news is that there’s an overwhelming number of companies like Schlam that are willing to invest time into training the next generation of talent to reduce the skill shortage gap,” said Jarrod.

In October last year, The Morrison Government pledged to invest $1.2 billion to support Australian businesses to employ 100,000 new apprentices or trainees as part of the country’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

The program, which offers businesses a 50 per cent wage subsidy, regardless of geographic location, occupation, industry, or business, met its target of 100,000 starters less than five months after it was launched.

The program has since been expanded until September this year and is set to generate a further 70,000 new apprentice and trainee places.  

The Minerals Council of Australia said that the extension of the subsidy was “great news” for Australia’s mining regions.

"Mining is already supporting jobs and regional economies in their time of need, including the employment of 8,836 apprentices and trainees, and more apprentices are needed to help create the future minerals workforce to meet the growing demand for Australia's world-class commodities," said, CEO Tania Constable.

Though she is excited to be working in the city, Jazmin does admit that everything can feel a bit “close,” which is not without its benefits.

“It’s so close to the shop that I think it’s silly to drive; then I remember that it’s boiling hot and outside, and I’m glad to be that close.”

“Mining is already supporting jobs and regional economies in their time of need, including the employment of 8,836 apprentices and trainees, and more apprentices are needed to help create the future minerals workforce to meet growing demand for Australia’s world-class commodities,” said, CEO Tania Constable.

Though she is excited to be working in the city, Jazmin does admit that everything can feel a bit “close,” which is not without its benefits.

“It’s so close to the shop that I think it’s silly to drive; then I remember that it’s boiling hot and outside, and I’m glad to be that close.”