http://aspirecq.com/?p=356

 

Experienced persons need only apply; how disheartening must this message be for youth who just want a chance. Apparently the trade training and certificates students can now obtain through school aren’t enough to meet the level of skill and knowledge desired by many employers seeking experienced workers. Men’s Sheds; there are over 1000 registered in Australia. They are set up to play a part in improving the well being and health of men. My perception was they were mainly for retirees who could use the resources of the shed to maintain or develop trade skills and enjoy some social interaction with other men. My perception is not 100% correct, apparently they are not just for retirees, or limited to just trade skills and women can attend. The work done within these Sheds is often for community projects and not for profit organisations. The trade skills and knowledge of the people within these Sheds can be immense. Is there a way to utilise these skills and knowledge to benefit the youth who can’t get trade positions because they don’t have the desired skills and knowledge. One would think so and it is possibly happening. This shouldn’t be enforced on Men’s Sheds or on the youth to mandatorily attend. The health purpose of the Men’s Shed is paramount. The best way for it to work is on a voluntary basis. Those Men’s Sheds who want to be part of such a mentorship program promote this and those youth who want to avail themselves of the benefits of the tuition do on their own accord. An issue with voluntary participation is the interested youth finding out which Men’s Shed’s want to be proactive in helping unemployed youth and how to make that enquiry. If you are a Men’s Shed organiser and interested in helping youth gain more skills and knowledge I’m willing to mention your Men’s Shed location in future editions of this column and suggest other ways of promoting this. Linking youth with experience that’s no longer fully utilised in the workforce seems a logical step in helping getting more youth employed and could benefit the well being and health of both.

 

 

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