Two indigenous apprentice plumbers from Western have just beaten over 100 other apprentices from around Australia to be awarded special Grants by Rheem Australia
Rheem's national awards acknowledge apprentices who are great ambassadors for plumbing but also show initiative outside of work.
Kim Narkle, a 35-year-old Noongar tradie and father of two young kids, is one of the two award recipients. He made a major career change when he decided to walk away from his trade of cabinet making to take up a plumbing apprenticeship, working with kids half his age.
Kim loves plumbing and is equally passionate about helping local Indigenous youth stay on the right path and find skills for life. He’s spent the last two-and-a-half half years mentoring youths at the local Bunbury skills and job centre and also coaches the local footy team.
Kim Narkle is very proud of his ambassadorship. “I knew it would be tough starting as an apprentice in a new trade, but I love being on the tools and I needed new opportunities," Kim said in an interview.
"I decided having dual trades would be a good step and I wanted to continue mentoring, as a lot of local youth here are struggling to get educated and get into first-time jobs.”
Blake Bin Swani from Broome is the second award winner. The 20 year old from is also a role model apprentice who is currently employed by NUDJ Plumbing Services, an Indigenous apprentices’ program, which enables Aboriginal youths to learn and gain plumbing trade qualifications.
