Ballard is just one of a host of Year 12 students undertaking their Vocational Education Training - Certificate II in construction at Tomaree High School.

"I really enjoy working outdoors and being able to interact with my mates while working," Ballard said.

"I started building toy cars and planes at my grandparents' place when I was about six years old. Now I'm in Year 12 building a mini house.

"Having these type of courses available at school is fantastic. Our teacher [Mr Adrian Crew] is very helpful and is careful to show us how it is done properly and built to industry standards."

Ballard is one of at least seven students this term undertaking the construction course at Tomaree High, where they are taught about industry standards and provided the correct equipment and tools used in the work place.

Mr Crew said the course ensured that all students use CAD (computer-aided design) drawing plans, industry standard leveling techniques, and power tools while following strict industry codes of practice.

Ballard said that he would like to pursue his love of the outdoors in the construction industry when he completes his HSC.

"I hope to go to TAFE and pursue a career in construction - I'm just not sure what area of construction I will follow."

He said that he would also like to continue to live in the Nelson Bay area once he gains his qualifications.

Earlier in the year, Tomaree High ran a series of trade workshops for girls, known as the SALT (Supporting And Linking Tradeswomen) program.

Fi Shewring, from SALT, said that the SALT committee had created a unique vision of teaching as many women and girls as possible how to use tools.

"This initiative is based on research, which identified that the majority of women who were succeeding in apprenticeships had been taught to use tools at an early age.

"Many employers where also saying that women did not apply for the jobs that they offered so SALT decided to take on generating social change.

"We felt that women did not generally have the basic knowledge of generic tool use, which are used in almost all trades, but they also didn't know that they could easily do this type of work either. It was a classic case of not knowing what you don't know."

Classes began with a safety induction and all participants were instructed to wear personal protective equipment. They created a timber project from measuring up, cutting and assembling.