Trades and training on display at CDU Palmerston Open Day

Charles Darwin University (CDU) will highlight its extensive range of VET courses as part of the University’s Palmerston Campus Open Day today.

Open Day provides detailed information on a wide range of study options, from short courses to higher education and online programs, to engage with the growing demand of practical skills in the greater Darwin region and across the NT.

Emphasising this connection to local industry, the Open Day will showcase education pathways that can lead to successful graduate employment in a variety of industries, including commercial cookery, bakery and butchery, tourism and hospitality, sports and recreation, business, hairdressing, beauty therapy, and retail.

Attendees will be guided by experienced trainers through interactive demonstrations that hone in on valuable skillsets – from mocktail making to knife sharpening and sausage production – frequently used in industry settings.

Current students will also display their entries for the NT round of the World Skills Open Competition, a skills championship that celebrates vocational education and excellence.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Team Leader Culinary Arts and Hospitality Robert Schwerdt said food and hospitality were not only prominent course streams at the Palmerston campus, but a popular attraction on Open Day.

“On the day, our hospitality crew will be sharing their mocktail making techniques, our butchers will show you how to make the perfect sausage and we’ll even have a masterclass in processing beef rump to improve eating quality,” Mr Schwerdt said.

“The facilities that we have on campus are ideal for connecting education to the food and hospitality industry. We have the same set-up as a commercial kitchen and front of house that you would see in any restaurant, so students can apply their new skills in a familiar environment once they graduate.”

Prospective students will also have the opportunity to meet staff and students and find out more about what makes the Palmerston campus such a vibrant hub for trades and training courses.

CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and VET Mx Sam Jacob said Palmerston Open Day gives the wider community a chance to explore the diverse education and training pathways on offer at CDU.

“Our VET courses are in areas needed by employers and so students can get practical, hands-on training that prepares them for work afterwards,” Mx Jacob said.

“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for an entry level position, a promotion or just to get better at a skill or hobby. Our trainers are some of the best in the country – they know their industries, they know how to teach and they make learning fun.”

“Come along, connect with our staff and students, get to know the campus and see highlights of the great courses we offer at CDU.”

Palmerston Open Day will be held from 12 to 5pm at the Palmerston campus at 80 University Avenue, Durack on Tuesday, September 27. More information here.