Meet three young people exploring the world of work in the construction industry.

Get Into Construction is a four-week programme that helps young people to gain a foothold in the thriving construction industry.

Introduced in early 2024 to address the growing demand for skilled labour in the construction sector while offering a pathway for young people to kickstart their careers, the Get Into Construction programme is run in collaboration between The King’s Trust Australia, First Choice Apprentices and Kane Constructions.

With construction projected to be one of the fastest-growing sectors in Australia, this initiative is helping to pave the way for a new generation of construction professionals.  

Short of signing up for an apprenticeship, there are limited opportunities to gain hands-on experience on a construction site. This makes our Get Into Construction programme one of a kind. At The King’s Trust Australia, we believe investing in young people is not only an investment in their personal growth, but an investment in our future communities.

The programme focuses on hands-on training and practical experience. Over four weeks, participants gain everything they need to work on a construction site before acquiring real experience on a live construction site under the guidance of experienced professionals. This helps them gain the technical skills required for the job and fosters valuable relationships with mentors who can support their growth in the industry.

The King’s Trust Australia CEO Michelle Endacott said,

“It can be difficult starting out in any new career. This programme offers full support, including things like White Cards, First Aid certificates and safety gear. The young men are all such hard workers and keen to learn, it’s a pleasure to work with them.”

The three participants are:

Wes Patten

Wes is an 18-year-old First Nations man and is born and bred in the inner-city suburb of Glebe.

He is a skilled actor (appearing in Last King of the Cross, H for Happiness, Black Comedy and Total Control), but knows that acting is not always steady work.

Reflecting on his experience, Wes said: "It’s more than just job training. They teach life skills that everyone needs. I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends."  

Wes is considering pursuing an apprenticeship and enrolling in TAFE to further his skills.  

“Everyone deserves opportunities like this,” he said with a smile.

“It’s been a great start, and I’m excited to see where it takes me. I started with bricklaying, learning how to mix concrete and cut bricks. Then, I moved to working with cranes. I even learned hand signals used to guide crane operators – like placing a hand on my chest to signal ‘left.’”  

He said the opportunity allows him to give back to his community. “It’s important to me to be part of the community and help others. That’s half the reason I joined this program.”  

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John Suttie

Born in a large country town in NSW, 17-year-old John is making the most of his time at the Get Into Construction programme and over the three weeks onsite he is trying three trades -  plumbing, carpentry and electrician.

John’s dream is to became an architect-builder in the traditional sense—the architect as the head carpenter.  

“I think is a great way to get started. To be able to try different trades is excellent. “Everyone’s really nice. The guys are really good to me.” 

Sam Amey

Growing up in Sydney, Sam, 20, never saw himself going to university or doing a desk job. 
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“I don’t want to be in a career where I would be sitting down.
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“My goal is to become a carpenter, then I would like to get my building qualifications, gain some project management skills and eventually have my own business."
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The Get Into Construction programme is giving Sam the chance to gain hand-on carpentry skills before committing to an apprenticeship. 
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“I’m loving it. It’s excellent.  There's always like something to do and I am learning a lot, it's fun.”

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Get Into Construction is being held at the Cowper Street Development in Glebe, Sydney, which is the result of a partnership between the New South Wales State Government and The King’s Trust Australia.

Comprised of 75 new social apartments and terrace houses, the development reflects the architectural heritage of the surrounding historic wool store buildings and the unique Victorian terraces of Glebe to achieve the highest sustainability ratings.

Good luck to Wes, John and Sam as they Get Into Construction!

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