Industry training graduates celebrate success

Published on 28 November 2023

Learning on the job was the cause of celebration at the Oamaru Opera House this week as the 2023 Waitaki Industry Trained Graduates ceremony took place. It was a chance to celebrate with friends, family and co-workers for people employed across the District.

Mayor Gary Kircher was joined by Deputy Mayor Hana Halalele and Councillor Jim Hopkins to present graduates with certificates in a diverse field of qualification including health and wellbeing, pest control, engineering, retail, agriculture, meat processing and business.

He congratulated the graduates on completing this stage of their learning journey, and thanked employers who had supported their staff to undertake study on the job: “At a time when it’s more and more difficult to find good staff to fill vacancies, growing the knowledge and skills of our workforce is incredibly valuable to the Waitaki District”

Guest speaker Jess Smaill, an apprentice at Apex Engineering, emphasises the importance of encouraging hands-on learners to follow their drive, broaden their view and not follow traditional education and career paths because of the expectations of others.

She spoke about the challenges of being a woman in a trade, and pushing herself out of her comfort zone, saying “I could go on about how many different skills I’ve learned and the things I’ve experienced and how much I love my job, but it’s the people who have helped me learn who make the most difference – at work, at school, at home. It’s the people who put time into helping me that really changed the game”.

ENDS