The ETU Qld & NT Branch held their 2024 apprentice earlier this month. This is an important event for apprentices to come together to network and connect; to make plans and share ideas on how to continue to grow the union and defend and improve our trades.
Apprentices from Qld and the NT, and from the many different electrical industries met at the ETU Brisbane office to participate in the three-day conference.
Along with workshops and planning sessions, guest speakers from across varied parts of the electrical trades and training sectors attended to share information and sector updates with the apprentices. And apprentices also had the opportunity to put key questions forward to identify how the experience for electrical trades apprentices can be improved.
Maya, a second-year construction electrical apprentice and ETU Qld & NT member attended conference and shared her experience –
“The apprentices attending conference spanned various sectors, including supply, mining, industrial, and residential, providing a broad perspective National Office Policy Director Katie Hepworth and National Office Technical Officer Vanessa Garbett speaking to the skill shortage and the need for more women in our trades. Keith McKenzie, the Commissioner for Electrical Safety, delivered a presentation on the importance of safety and mentorship”
In speaking to the issues surrounding workforce and skills shortage, apprentices were presented with the Per Capita “Charged Up” report – a report that the ETU commissioned and in it are key recommendations on how governments can better invest in electrical trades and improve the apprentice experience in the for electrical trades so apprentices are more likely to complete their training and stay in our trades.
You can read the report here
“Throughout the conference, we tackled a range of important topics. One in particular was the need to abolish junior rates or revising the age threshold from 21 to 18. This resolution gained unanimous support. It needs to be a national priority.”
A long calling for the abolishment of junior rates, apprentices attending conference also focused on other significant areas of improvement to the trade and the apprenticeship experience. These include:
- The need for affordable housing for apprentices who are doing it tough on low wages
- Improved supervision and mentorship
- Necessary improvements to direct hire and GTO sign up
- An end to the over-working of residential apprentices
- Post apprenticeship job security
- Working in the heat
- Concern for reduction in training in the supply industry
- The need for a gender and cultural diversity in our trades