Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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Regional apprentice takes Aussie state award in a first for the girls

Apprentice locksmith, Vanessa Miller, from Bathurst's RCG Locksmiths has just been awarded TAFE NSW's Apprentice of the Year in Locksmithing, outshining all of her fellow students.

For the first time ever, the award was presented to a female, mature-age apprentice, highlighting a recent trend in the take up of mature aged apprenticeships. That is, anyone who starts an apprenticeship when they are 25 or over.

Andrew Williams, General Manager at ABL Apprenticeships Centre, who administer Vanessa's apprenticeship, commented "the number of mature-aged apprentices we've signed up in Western NSW increased by more than 40% between 2008 and 2010. It's never too late to start a new career and we're seeing lots of people change direction later in life, which is fantastic. We're also seeing more and more women get involved in areas that were traditionally male dominated."

When asked why she chose to start an apprenticeship later in life, Vanessa explained "I have an accounting qualification and was doing some bookkeeping for a locksmith. Having always been interested in hands-on, technical work, watching the locksmiths made me want to give it a go. Also, my son had just finished his HSC, so the timing was right for me to go back to study and embark on a new career for myself."

1st June 2011