Trades build excitement for Open Day

Visitors can explore the virtual world of a mining site for the first time at Charles Darwin University’s Open Day on Sunday, 23 August on Casuarina campus.

The videogame-like simulator will allow visitors to experience loading and offloading materials from a dump truck at the virtual mine site as part of the event.

Automotive and civil team leader Leith Darrach said the simulators would expose visitors to one of many trade training activities offered as part of CDU’s Vocational Education and Training courses.

“We hope to show people how much the trades training sector has developed over the past 10 years in terms of new technologies and processes,” he said.

In other Open Day activities, the “Beat the Heat” road safety police racing car will return this year. People also will be able to test their construction skills in the confined space training simulator and the working at heights container.

“We’re going to make some noise,” Mr Darrach said. “These activities are for all ages with strict supervision from the staff.”

Visitors will be able to tour the Trade Training Centre, which is the new home to trades on Casuarina campus, including plumbing, process control, instrumentation, electrical, refrigeration, crane operation, dogging and working on towers at heights.

The trades centre has been designed to minimise its carbon footprint by bringing trades training in line with contemporary environmental and energy-saving practices.

Food taste-testing, cooking demonstrations and mocktail designing will be among other highlights at the event, encouraging people to try their skills in hospitality.

Indian head massage demonstrations and nail art by professional therapists will also run on the day, along with professional hairdressers creating waves, weaves, braids and style brides.

Open Day will run from 10am until 2pm. For more information, visit W: cdu.edu.au/openday/index.html