The Skill Engineer: E-scooter program future at risk due to critical funding challenges

A vocational education program in Broome, known for teaching students how to build their own e-scooter from scratch and other workplace skills, is at risk of closing due to insufficient funding. The Skill Engineer began running their Broome e-scooter program in 2023, with 60 participants successfully completing the 10-week course. Of those participants, 25 per cent secured full-time or part-time employment, another 25 per cent returned to school and the rest transitioned to alternate learning options such as TAFE or employment-seeking initiatives. TSE chief executive Maggie MacFie said the program’s funding - which is primarily sourced from small grants and philanthropic donations - ends in 2025. “We have a little bit that we could cobble together for a program, but we haven’t yet got enough money to purchase the scooter kits for the kids to actually assemble,” she said. Ms MacFie said the program is expensive to run due to the need for a high ratio of staff to students, but has been worthwhile due to the results it produces. “I know it’s very difficult for governments to commit to recurrent funding, but for a program like this, I think we need more funding because $10,000 here or $20,000 there isn’t enough to sustain this program,” she said. “This program is like a school with no walls, so it’s important because every child needs to have vocational skills when they transition from school to work, but they also need to understand what work readiness means, what employability means.” TSE students learn to weld and build their own e-scooters from scratch, can obtain their white cards and first aid, while also embarking on on-country experiences and industry visits around town. Participant Ciara Collard, 18, said her favourite part of the program was learning how to make the electric scooter and hopes to eventually get into a construction course at TAFE. “It’s a really good program, and they should have it for other kids around WA and even Australia,” she said. Fellow participant Shiloh Munget, 16, said she felt like the program was a good option as school wasn’t a good fit for her and wanted to go on a different pathway. “It’s one of a few opportunities in this little town and I think a lot of people should get the chance to do it,” she said. TSE headquarters, located on Blackman Street in Broome, provides a space for the students to not only build their e-scooters, but also access recreational activities, mentor support and even haircuts. “I think what the community can do is just give their kids a fair go - kids get a really bad rap but a lot of kids have huge barriers to engagement; civically, socially and economically,” Ms MacFie said. “We have to understand that not every kid is privileged and has a great education or terrific family to go home to – there’s a very large percentage that doesn’t. “If we look at poverty statistics now, we know there are more children in poverty than ever in the history of this country. “So, I think the public needs to understand that we need to nurture and love all our kids and try and treat them all equally and get them all over the line. “Because these kids are our future.”