Arabic version: تأخيرات نجارة في جامعة تشارلز داروين قد تمدد تأهيل متدرب

According to ABC News, Alice Springs carpentry apprentice Lucas Nitschke fears delays to his Charles Darwin University TAFE course could postpone his qualification by up to a year. Nitschke, a second-year apprentice, had hoped to finish the course by the end of 2026 but said subject-learning delays linked to a staff shortage had pushed that prospect back.

“It’s terrible, devastating, because it pushes back my work,” Nitschke said. “This is my career. I sort of take this very seriously. I want to keep improving on my learning.” He said the third trade-school block, scheduled from September to October, was cancelled days before it was due to begin. It was the second block cancelled this year, he said.

Nitschke said about 10 students were in a similar situation and that he had completed only one unit block in his second year. “I’m basically nine months behind at least by now,” he said. He also said communication from the university had been limited, apart from an email.

A CDU spokesperson said carpentry courses in Alice Springs were again being delayed because the qualified trainer was on “extended leave”. The university said finding qualified replacement trainers was a challenge across the Northern Territory and it would work with students to “identify a practical way for them to finish their course”. ABC News understands the lecturer has resigned.

The delays follow other issues at CDU in 2026, including a TAFE carpentry-course error that required hundreds of apparently qualified tradespeople to return to study to complete subjects. Education Minister Jo Hersey said she was in regular contact with the university and understood it faced workforce challenges. She said CDU was aware of her expectations for training delivery.