People considering a career in a trade are being urged to apply for QBuild’s 2012 intake of apprentices and trainees.

State Member for Cook, Jason O'Brien, accompanied Building Industry Minister, Simon Finn, to the launch of the QBuild Cape York Regional Office in Cairns recently, where it was announced that applications would be accepted for 100 new apprenticeships and traineeships.

“These positions will provide a foot in the door to a specialised trade career for 100 applicants across Queensland,” Mr Finn said. "The new positions are in trades ranging from carpentry and plumbing to horticulture and stonemasonry.”

Ten of these new positions would be filled in the Cape York region, including one for a construction worker trainee position in Bamaga.

Mr O’Brien said a number of positions have been set aside to give employment opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

“QBuild has specifically allocated 18 of next year’s positions to Indigenous applicants.

“And that’s the absolute minimum that QBuild will take on. For example, last year QBuild had 15 positions on offer solely for Indigenous apprentices, but they took on 27 new Indigenous apprentices or trainees.”

The positions allocated specifically for Indigenous applicants included electricians, carpenters, painters and construction worker trainees.

There will be eight school-based apprentices in the 2012 group, giving young people the chance to prepare for their future careers by spending three days a week at school, one day at TAFE, and one day working with QBuild. Once these young people finish Year 12, their jobs will continue full-time with QBuild.

Mr O'Brien encouraged all aspiring tradespeople to submit an application, also urging women to apply, saying that 11 women were included in last year’s intake.

Applications close on 14 November. Applicants can fill in an application form online at the QBuild website .

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