Bathurst High School’s Emily Smith has her sights set on a career as an underground electrician in the mining industry.
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She did work experience at Cadia Mine near Orange this year and is now serious about pursuing a career in mining.
To get a head start, the Year 10 student has signed up to embark on a school-based electro technology traineeship.
She will continue at school and gain her HSC, but will attend TAFE for one-and-a- half days a week and spend her holidays working to gain experience in the industry.
The traineeship will finish at the end of Year 12, so that when she graduates she will walk away with her HSC and a trade qualification.
Emily is following in the footsteps of her dad Michael, who is an electrical contractor.
She said it was doing work experience alongside him that first gave her an interest in the trade.
Emily will get her hours up working in the family business M and K Smith Electrical based in Bathurst.
At the end of her traineeship she will have covered around 90 per cent of what Stage 1 apprentices have learned, and will be able to move straight into employment.
Industry Links officer with Denison College Carolyn Murphy said this kind of traineeship is a great pathway into both a career and further education.
She said it makes students more employable because they come out of the program with a nationally recognised qualification.
“It’s also a really nice partnership between the school, TAFE and the employer,” she said.
Emily said she is really excited about this new opportunity.
“I want to try and get a job in the mines doing underground electrical work,” she said. “When I did work experience at Cadia I really enjoyed it.
“I am looking forward to working with Dad in the meantime.”
Mr Smith said his daughter has always been a hands-on person and he thinks her choice of career will suit her.
He said before committing to the traineeship he spoke with mine recruitment and they said it shows commitment to her goal.
Her mum Karren Smith said she is pleased her daughter is learning a trade because she will always have something behind her.
She said she has no qualms about Emily choosing such a male-dominated industry.
“I encourage it,” she said.
“I think it’s good for girls to venture out and do something a bit different.
“I believe it will also lead to other opportunities,” she said.
Aiden McCann, head teacher in Electro Technology for Bathurst, Lithgow and Mudgee TAFE said he thinks Emily has made a really good career choice.
“There is a lifetime future in electrical trades,” he said.
“I do recommend, however, that students go into an industry where the technology is new, and mining is cutting edge.
“It’s a great career path and the money can be very good.”
Emily will be supported during her traineeship by MEGT Apprenticeship Centre.
