A renewed national focus on Work Health and Safety (WHS) is a welcome fact for TAFE NSW Newcastle graduate Travis Court, who enrolled in a Certificate IV in WHS after he was injured in a car accident. The accident left him with a fractured spine and he was unable to continue working as a butcher, a career he’d worked in his whole adult life.

The critical role of WHS workers has moved to the forefront for many organisations in the wake of COVID19 with daily reminders of the importance of being safe. Coupled with the recently introduced stronger workplace safety laws in NSW through the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Bill, this has created a strong demand for skilled employees in the sector.

Travis has now secured a role as Case Manager at EML insurance, a role that he says makes him happy to be able to help people during a time of need, a time which he knows too well. He credits his course with igniting a fire inside of him to pursue his next career and help people who have been through accidents.

“My teachers supported me to get my foot in the door with industry-led training and sought-after employer connections.

“I’m now on a career path that offers me a chance to help other people that have been through an accident. If I hadn’t completed the WHS course and if I hadn’t had those skills, they wouldn’t have looked at me for this role,” said Travis.

There were 34,000 occupational and environmental health professionals in 2020 and that number is predicted by the Australian Government Job Outlook to reach 40,900 by 2025.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Business Services Peter Beach said Travis was a shining example of how TAFE NSW prepared graduates to excel in their chosen industry.

“I witnessed the transformation of Travis from a Butcher to a business professional and he is a great example of how students are able to get the skills for the job they want.

“Now is the time to get qualified, Certificates in WHS allow students to learn flexibly on campus or online, when and where it suits them. It is designed to equip students with the skills they need to walk into a job upon graduation, and Travis has done just that,” said Mr Beach.

To explore the range of business courses available at TAFE NSW and via TAFE Digital, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601 for more information.

Media contact: Sarah Lievore, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, sarah.lievore1@tafensw.edu.au