Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Life is what you make of it, so I'd encourage students from across Weipa to take full advantage of the new Western Cape Trade Skills Centre and create the future that they want. I officially opened the centre last month and was able to meet some of the students there. Liam, Katelyn, Jamiee-Lee and Brandon were happy to show me around so I could see the new facilities firsthand. This terrific new centre will give students the skills that they need to get jobs later in life and provide them with hands-on training in engineering and construction through the workshops. Students can also use the knowledge and skills that they develop to continue further study.

Many communities in Far North Queensland and across Australia are facing very serious skills shortages in trades like fitter and turner and plumbing. So the Western Cape Trades Skills Centre will not only benefit Weipa but put students on a path to jobs in a range of industries anywhere in the country. I'd encourage students to grab this opportunity with both hands and make the most of it. Congratulations to the entire school community for their foresight in getting the Western Cape Trade Skills Centre up and running. I think they've done an absolutely outstanding job, and I'm certainly looking forward to the first young ones coming out of that centre and into real trades and real apprenticeships. There are great opportunities up in Weipa.