Young people are being given the opportunity to learn new skills to help them transition back into the community thanks to a partnership between Youth Justice NSW and Training Services NSW, which is rolling out the ‘Try a Trade’ program.
The first ‘Try a Trade’ day was held at Cobham Youth Justice Centre in late 2022 with 10 workshops held across a range of trades including carpentry, painting, mechanical, landscaping, bricklaying, welding, barbering, plumbing, warehousing, and barista.
Meanwhile a second session ran at the Riverina Youth Justice Centre on 29 June with 5 businesses, all in different trades, visiting the boys to teach them a range of skills including plumbing, carpentry, painting, traffic control and mechanics.
At the sessions, young people had the opportunity to try different trades and see what they enjoyed, as well as build real-life community connections and supportive links that will still be there once a young person leaves custody.
‘Try a Trade’ days will be run across all 6 Youth Justice Centres around the state throughout the remainder of 2023.
Youth Justice NSW runs a number of skills and trades programs in Youth Justice Centres with several young people continuing their education and training upon release.
Minister for Youth Justice, Jihad Dib said:
“Whether it is gaining carpentry or painting skills and one day owning a construction business, or becoming a barista and managing a café, we are giving young people a chance to reach their full potential through the ‘Try a Trade’ program.
“We don’t want to see anyone, no matter their age, spend time in a justice centre but where they do we want them to have the skills they need to start over upon their release.
“The program, while still early, is already yielding success with a young person who left Cobham Youth Justice Centre recently taking up a plumbing apprenticeship with a local plumbing company involved in the program.
“This is the type of inspiring story that shows the impact of ‘Try a Trade.”
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Tim Crakanthorp said:
“When someone leaves a justice centre we want to give them the best possible chance to seize opportunities and thrive.
“No matter their background, everyone deserves the chance to learn a skill and contribute to their community.”