By TANIA PHILLIPS
FOR the past five years a Noosa business has been helping local teens achieve their work dreams – without leaving school.
So often young school leavers are told they can’t get a job without experience and of course you can’t get experience without a job – but You First Personal Training is ensuring that high school students learn both the practical and theory side of their profession while still in their final year at school.
The business has combined with RTO Fitnance to provide a one-year traineeship and Certificate III registered course for young enthusiastic students, aged 16 and 17, looking to go into the fitness and personal training industry.
Fitnance provides the online theory side of things while the kids are hands-on with real clients in a real life work situation with You First.
Tyrone Saul from You First Personal Training said under the program students from local high schools including Sunshine Beach State High undertake a Certificate III in Fitness and combine this with a one-year traineeship with You First Personal Training Sunshine Beach.
Tyron said the certificate contributes to the students QCE points assisting them in their entry to their chosen university courses.
He said You First Personal Training had assisted more 25 high school students attain such qualifications including Jett Kenny (Lisa Curry and Grant Kenny’s son) and Brisbane Roar player.
The students take a full day off school each week to do their practicals on site at the studio/gym located at Sunshine Beach.
According to Tyrone, the course acts as a bridge between high school and university or full-time employment.
“We have had one of trainees purchase one of our studios after two years in the program which effectively employs herself and three others under the age of 20,” he said.
Tyrone said with youth unemployment reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics to be as high as 14.92 per cent in January this year it was important to do something to help young people achieve their dreams.
