Metal Works - Welding and Fabrication Schools

Building upon the success of our Shearing Schools Program, in 2023, we established Welding Works in partnership with BackTrack and Training NSW. This program takes the same hands-on approach to sharing skills as our Wool Works program to spark interest in school-aged students in welding and metal fabrication, focusing on agriculture.

The program is proactive in helping our young people to experience what working in the metal trades can be like. The program aims to enlighten students about the possibility of a career in the field, and in turn, increase youth retention and address a skill shortage in our region.

A successful trial of the program was conducted in Armidale and Inverell for thirteen students in September 2023. Funded by Training Services NSW, the trial course ran over three days and will hopefully be the first of many for the region. The trial consisted of one intensive day at the BackTrack site and two at Macintyre High School (MHS) in Inverell, where the 13 years 7 to 9 students study.

Macintyre High School Careers Advisor Deb Snaith said that working with metal in an industrial workshop was above and beyond what the students could ordinarily find at school. “The students can find school to be restrictive and constraining. They received instruction and supervision from highly experienced tradespeople,” she said. “They were welding and grinding with creativity, making turtles out of old horseshoes. That proved to be a lot more memorable than a BBQ fork,” Ms Snaith said.

“It was awesome. It was much better than school,” said Jackson Burley from Year 8.

Based on the success of the initial trial, it is hoped that the program will be continued in the future so that more students benefit from the program.

Are you interested in participating in a future Metal Works school?

Contact our office at rdani@rdani.org.au to register your interest.