Boys involved in the Kaikōura High School Building Academy, tailored for year 11 and 12 boys (15-17 years old) and funded by the Mayor’s Taskforce For Jobs (MTFJ), have been busy learning how to operate and maintain a chainsaw via a practical hands-on chainsaw course.
The chainsaw course teaches students all aspects of using and maintaining a chainsaw. It teaches that a safe chainsaw operator has knowledge of keeping the saw sharp and in good working condition to safely make cuts, wears the correct PPE and behaves in a responsible manner.
It also highlights the numerous employment opportunities where chainsaw qualifications are required or an advantage for the likes of wilding pines work, the forestry sector and in conservation roles. However, Aysia McMillan the Youth Employment Coordinator for Te Ha O Matuaranga, Learning in Kaikōura, is quick to add that “Adequate knowledge about safely using chainsaws for firewood or around the garden is also a valuable skill.”
Prior to the hands-on learning the boys spent a full day learning about the chainsaw and were then quizzed on process and potential problems before moving on to the day of practical learning where the chainsaws were fired up. Aysia says that “Out of the ten boys on the course only two had used a chainsaw before, it was great to see them engaging in something that interested them.”
Shane Harris, from Harris Training Services, delivered the chainsaw course while local builder, Tom Guthrie, is the overarching Kaikoura High School Building Academy tutor. “We are really fortunate to have both Shane and Tom support youth through the academy, it really wouldn’t be possible without them.” Aysia adds.
The Kaikōura High School Building Academy is a pre trade course around construction involving constructing sleepouts and sheds, building and hanging a door as well as learnings around first aid, health and safety and working from heights.
Aysia concludes by saying “It’s a great thing for young people to be involved in practical training, and we all learn differently which is one of the reasons our practical hands-on chainsaw course is beneficial to those involved.”
