Nursing most popular as TAFE SA makes 8729 offers for 2020
TAFE SA offers are out, and there’s significantly more of them than last year. SEARCH THE FULL OFFER LIST
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TAFE SA has made significantly more offers this year, despite a dip in applications.
Nursing and pathology courses are collectively by far the most popular, with nearly 1400 applicants, followed by children’s education and care on 857 and 698 for aged and disability services.
“These (choices) reflect the state’s need for greater numbers of skilled workers in these areas,” chief executive David Coltman said.
“We have also seen a significant jump in interest for programs in electrical and renewable energy, along with cyber security – all key growth areas for the state.”
The Advertiser today publishes the 8729 offers made to date, up 7.3 per cent on last year. Applications fell from 12,144 to 11,968.
TAFE SA attributes the offers rise to its focus on ensuring applicants “provide all the information needed to assess the suitability of their programs of choice”. More offers will be made up until April.
BUSTING GENDER STEREOTYPES
She’s a former stay-at-home mum who “never really liked anything girly or female-orientated”, now working as an apprentice butcher.
He wanted to go into the armed forces, but now has ambitions to become a florist.
Both are helping to break down gender stereotypes about vocational education and trades, and are using their TAFE SA qualifications to launch into new careers.
Amber Hamann, 27, mum to Kaleb, 9, and Isaac, 8, completed a Certificate II in Meat Studies last year, learning how to cut up carcasses with band saws, hand saws and knives.
Now she’s working at My Local Butcher on Prospect Rd, honing her skills and picking up on the business side of things as well.
“I’m more of a hands-on type of person,” she says. “I love food and making food. I like a good steak. People buy it and love it and it makes me feel good about myself. My boss has been going over how to do orders for the shop and what needs to happen in the morning to make sure the shop’s OK through the day.”
Jake Chaplin, 26, did a Certificate III in Floristry over 18 months while working in a liquor store. His military ambitions were thwarted for physical reasons, but now he has a new direction and has discovered his creative side along the way.
“I thought ‘let’s do something noone would expect I’d do,” he says. “I’m into history, I’m into sport, so nobody expected floristry.”
He described the course as “a delight” with “nothing but positives”.
“You definitely have to be creative. It draws that out of you. In the next couple of years I would like to land a full-time floristry job. Then years down the line I’d like to open my own place. I like the act of giving flowers. Nothing is more wholesome.”
He’s already had a trial shift at Mawson Lakes Florist, which he says has been very supportive.
MOST POPULAR TAFE SA COURSE AREAS FOR 2020 BY APPLICATION
Nursing and Pathology 1386
Children’s Education and Care 857
Aged and Disability Services 698
Business and Administration 673
Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing 581
Community and Family Services 546
Electrical and Renewable Energy 543
Beauty Therapy 423
Dental 395
Management 310
