GOTAFE’s Trades Day shines a light on mental health in the trade sector

By Caleb Francis

Jun 16, 2023

Delicious brekkie: Noah Ryan and Mason Spriggs at the GOTAFE Trades Day breakfast. Photo by Megan Fisher

GOTAFE’s Fryers St, Shepparton campus held a breakfast and mental health session on Wednesday, June 14, as the institution hosted a Trades Day event.

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Student life advisor Brinny Duca said the day was aimed at celebrating the hard work of trade students and staff while also shedding light on an important issue: mental health within the trade sector.

The event ran from 8.30am to 9.30am and offered complimentary egg and bacon rolls.

Master chefs: Brinny Duca and Shannae Van Den Berghe cooking up a storm at GOTAFE’s Trades Day breakfast. Photo by Megan Fisher

Ms Duca also spoke about the significance of the day and emphasised the importance of recognising the dedication and commitment shown by trade students and staff.

“Every couple of months, we acknowledge a cohort of our students,” Ms Duca said.

“Today, we are focusing on our trade students, celebrating their hard work and preparing them for the transition from studying to contributing to society.”

One of the day’s key topics was mental health within the trade sector.

Ms Duca highlighted the challenges faced by trade professionals, mentioning the alarming rates of suicide within this industry.

“Mental health within the trade area is not the best,” she said.

“We want to ensure that our students know that help is available to them.

“At GOTAFE, mental health services are free and completely confidential.

“We have a dedicated Student Success team focused on mental health and wellbeing, striving to create a supportive campus culture.”

Presenters: Apprenticeships Victoria apprentice support officer Tina McCormack and Georgina Burnett at the Trades Day. Photo by Megan Fisher

Apprenticeships Victoria apprentice support officer Tina McCormack, who spoke at the information session, shed light on the Apprentice Support Program, a state government initiative that aims to assist apprentices in overcoming various barriers they may face during their training.

“We engage with first-year apprentices and provide support for any issues they encounter,” she said.

“Whether it’s mental health challenges, workplace concerns, training obstacles or employment issues, we are here to ensure they have the resources and assistance needed to complete their apprenticeship successfully.”

Ms Duca said the event served as a reminder that seeking help and prioritising mental wellbeing should never be stigmatised or disregarded.

“It's crucial to make our trade students feel valued and important,” Ms Duca said.

“By dedicating a whole day to them, we want to reinforce the message that their mental health matters and that support is readily available.”

If you need to speak to someone, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 131 114.