The participants are part of council’s one-year Youth Education and Training Scheme (YETS) and two-year traineeship and four-year trades’ apprenticeship programs. 

Acting general manager Rob Noble says local government has an important role to play in the training of young people and the Eurobodalla’s YETS traineeships are one way council can help young people stay in the area for longer.  

“Since 2000, YETS has brought 89 youth trainees through council’s doors,” he said. “The eight trainees this year are local young people and council will be helping them to gain new skills that will provide them with a foundation for the rest of their working lives.”

The YETS trainees will be working in the areas of tourism, finance and environmental health, customer service, water and sewer operations and will complete Certificates II and III at Moruya TAFE in Business Administration, Stores and Warehousing and Water Operations.  

Mr Noble says the eight two-year trainees come to council from within and outside the Eurobodalla Shire to develop local government and trades-based careers.

“They will become an important part of council’s IT and water and sewer operations while they study for Certificates III in IT and Water Industry Operations,” Mr Noble said. 

Council’s six trade apprentices will be working towards electrical, civil construction, carpentry and horticulture trade tickets.

“Theirs will bring the total number of qualifications that council is sponsoring this year to 10,” Mr Noble said. 

Two of council’s 2012 YETS trainees, Shelli Reid and Fleur Carrick, joined Mr Noble and Cr Danielle Brice to welcome the new arrivals at the SES shed yesterday. 

“Shelli and Fleur’s one-year traineeship positions in environmental health and human resources have been extended for another 12 months as part of a pilot that will see Shelli work to complete a Certificate IV in Human Resources and Fleur a Certificate IV in Local Government Regulatory Services,” Mr Noble said.