Bricklaying course expands to Geraldton TAFE as Training Minister Simone McGurk visits local facility

A course to meet demand for bricklayers has been expanded to Geraldton to help train local workers in the industry. The bricklaying job-ready program has been expanded to Central Regional TAFE’s Geraldton campus, with the first cohort of students set to begin work placement with local businesses. The program was expanded following its success in Perth since 2020, where it was a fee-free course to boost the building and construction industry. More than 500 participants have taken part in the program since its creation. Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk was in Geraldton on Thursday to get a first-hand look at the bricklaying job-ready course at Central Regional TAFE. “Our priority is to train local people for local jobs, and Fee-Free Job Ready Programs are one of many ways our State Government is supporting Western Australians to get their foot in the door to start their career in areas of high demand,” she said. “The expansion of the Bricklaying Job Ready Program to the Mid West will grow the local construction workforce and help meet the region’s housing and infrastructure needs.” Meanwhile, the State Government says its free and low-fee TAFE course investment has seen the Geraldton facility record an increase in enrolments. To October this year, 3820 people have enrolled at Central Regional TAFE’s Geraldton campus — a 19 per cent rise on the same time frame in 2020. According to the State Government, 59 per cent of those enrolments have come under the fee-free, or lower fee initiatives to support priority areas of the workforce, including building and construction. In Geraldton, the Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety was the most popular fee-free course.