Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall congratulates Armidale plumbing apprentice Bert Evans Scholarship recipient Victoria Smith.
Tuesday, 21 January 2020
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has today congratulated Armidale apprentice plumber Victoria Smith on receiving a State Government Bert Evans Scholarship, which provides $15,000 in financial support for her training.
Mr Marshall said Victoria was a real inspiration to other young women who might be considering going into a trade but nervous about taking that first step.
“Victoria is an incredibly motivated and confident young woman who truly deserves this recognition and support,” Mr Marshall.
“Only in her second year of plumbing, Victoria is currently working for Armidale-based contractor Inglis Plumbing, putting her skills to work on the Armidale Secondary College construction project.
“Undertaking a trade is a huge commitment and can take up to four years to be certified another two to be licenced. I commend Victoria, who is also a mature age student, for being brave enough to embark on the journey to being a qualified plumber.”
Regionally-based apprentices, students with a disability, Aboriginal apprentices and women in non-traditional trades are all represented in the scholarship pool and will benefit from this financial support.
Victoria said the Bert Evans Scholarship would make a huge difference to her career.
“I love my apprenticeship but everyone knows apprentice wages are still quite low so this funding will really make a difference in setting me up as a qualified plumber,” Victoria said.
“I study at TAFE Tamworth so I am regularly travelling down the New England Highway from Armidale to attend classes so this support will greatly help with my cost of transport, accommodation as well as buying new tools to do my job.
“I want to thank the State Government for providing me with the support and I would really urge anyone who is currently doing an apprenticeship or traineeship to apply in the future.”