Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn't don a hard hat but still won over a handful of apprentices when he announced Scott Cam would become Australia's first national careers ambassador.
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Cam's taxpayer-funded role will see The Block host work with the National Careers Institute, alongside government, industry, education providers, career advisors, parents and employers to improve career options.
Before the Thursday announcement, Mr Morrison hammed it up with his namesake and a collection of Lendlease apprentices working on the construction of the Prince of Wales Hospital's new acute services building.
And while second-year apprentice carpenter Jacob Taylor joked the Prime Minister lifted his comments for the press conference, he welcomed Cam's appointment and said he was proud to work in the construction industry.
"I told him (Scott Morrison) I wanted to put my name onto something ... that I wanted to be able to drive along with my kids in the future and point things out and tell them I built it," Mr Taylor said.
"He definitely took my lines."
Meanwhile, mature age apprentice carpenter Daniel Boyd, who left school in year 10 to work as a bricklayer for his father before eventually finding himself with Lendlease, said there wasn't enough advice and direction currently available for young people who wanted to learn a trade.
"You don't know who you're going with and what you're signed up for...most people just use it (apprenticeships) for cheap labour," the 31-year-old first-year told AAP.
"But with Scott Cam's influence that all might change. He's basically a voice for everyone in it."
First-year apprentice Maddi Duri, who completed year 12 and obtained a Certificate II in construction through a pathway program, agreed.
"During high school, I didn't really have someone to go through it all with me," she told AAP.
"I think we need someone in that type of role. Hopefully, people use it."
Australian Associated Press
