Scholarship helps aspiring locksmith pursue dreams

When Aidan learned he was a scholarship recipient, his excitement was palpable.

"I was pretty excited, to be honest. I have never had a scholarship before, so it was very exciting. My mum got the email and called me on the phone with a bit of excitement," he said.

"At the moment, it’s greatly helping me get to TAFE. Being based in Adelaide, I fly up here for my TAFE quite regularly. It can get expensive, so every time I come up, it’s helping me pay for the flights and accommodation."

Before embarking on his studies at TAFE Queensland with a Certificate III in Locksmithing (MEM3819), Aidan had a career in construction. However, a severe car accident that resulted in a broken back forced him to reconsider his career path.

"I originally was in construction leaving school. I had a pretty bad car accident and broke half my back. I couldn’t continue with the shovelling that was needed. My dad actually runs a locksmith business, so I started locksmithing with him. It’s really opened up my world a lot; it’s a different side of life I never expected to do."

MEGT is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that has supported employers, apprentices, trainees, and job seekers since 1982.

It provides apprenticeship and traineeship program management, high-quality, work-ready apprentice and trainee candidates, a tailored approach to apprentice and trainee recruitment and workforce planning, and ongoing mentoring and support.

MEGT also offers flexible, low-risk labour solutions and expertise in sourcing, screening, and employing high-quality apprentices and trainees. Their focus is to create and support a skilled Australian workforce by providing candidates and their employers with the best individual solution that suits them.

First launched in 2015, the TAFE Queensland Scholarship Program has since awarded over $3 million, helping more than 640 Queenslanders to pursue their career goals.

The program awards each recipient $5,000 to study any Certificate III through to an Advanced Diploma or Bachelor Degree at any of the 60 campus locations or online.

Scholarships help cover the costs of course fees, textbooks, and living expenses. There are two types of scholarships available: Merit and Access and Equity scholarships.

"Scholarships can be life-changing for students, providing them with the financial support and encouragement they need to build a better future for themselves and those around them. We are incredibly grateful for the support of sponsors like MEGT who generously donate each year to the TAFE Queensland Scholarship Foundation, which funds our scholarships program,” TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer John Tucker said.

“We know the power of training and skills, and with MEGT’s support, we are helping our students to change their lives and achieve their career aspirations.”