High school students will be able to kick-start their careers in the housing industry as part of a new training program that aims to attract more young people into Western Australia's booming construction trade.
Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts said the State Government would invest more than $400,000 into the youthBUILD initiative, which would give Year 10 students the opportunity to take part in work experience in the building industry.
Mrs Roberts said the initiative, which would be managed by the Housing Industry Association, would focus on providing industry and life skills to students while they completed high school.
"The youthBUILD initiative forms part of the State Government's commitment to meeting WA's continuing demand for skilled workers," the Minister said.
"Boosting the number of tradespeople is critical to the future growth of the State's building and construction industry.
"Nationally, the industry is facing a skills shortage of 150,000 people in the next five years, so it is vital that we attract more young people into the industry to keep the construction sector flourishing.
"The HIA 'youthBUILD' initiative aims to increase the number of tradespeople by providing students with hands-on experience in one of WA's most challenging and vibrant industries."
Work experience will initially be offered in the Perth metropolitan and Peel region.
Mrs Roberts said the program followed on from the State Government's pilot apprenticeship scheme announced earlier this year.
As part of the scheme, 40 new apprentices had been taken on by the Department of Housing and Works to give young people a start in the building trade.