Fairbridge

THE vision of Kingsley Fairbridge was that Fairbridge graduates would be sought-after workers. Fairbridge continues to work on that premise and celebrated its latest success when another 17 trainees and apprentices graduated today – so far the highest number to graduate in a year.

At the graduation ceremony at Fairbridge Village, graduate said she “learnt far more at Fairbridge” than she ever could have sitting in a classroom. "I never dreamed I’d have a career in conservation and land management. Working at Fairbridge is definitely an opportunity you should take if you get it, because you never know where it’ll lead you. People I worked with at Fairbridge have ended up working at Alcoa, up north and in all kinds of places.”

Shenae Tilbee is now employed with Sutherland Enterprises since finishing her Certificate in Conservation & Land Management.

Fairbridge’s training programs employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who have struggled to find training and employment placements elsewhere.
The annual ceremony is a very important ritual in that it shows young people moving through the Fairbridge pathways process. Some graduates move on to outside employment, like Shenae; others move to the next stage of their development; and some graduates are now employed directly by Fairbridge to train and mentor other young people coming through the ranks.

His Excellency, the Governor of WA and Fairbridge Patron, Dr Kenneth Michael, attended the awards ceremony and said Fairbridge gave young people “real live learning opportunities”.