Fifteen high school students from Gilgandra and Coonamble are getting their hands dirty under a five-day program giving young people a pathway into mechanics.

The students - seven from Coonamble and eight from Gilgandra - began on Monday 15 September and will come out of the program with three units towards at Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology.

They will also take a week-long work placement with a Gilgandra dealership.

Gilgandra Year 10 students Stella Valler and Logan Howard said it wasn't their first time tinkering with vehicles.

"I've always loved cars, mechanics," said Stella, who has a "fair bit" of experience in workshops.

Logan said he lives on a farm and is constantly fixing machines

The program runs throughout five school days. [IMAGE: supplied] 

"I'm exploring my options, just seeing what's out there."

Sydney-based trainer Emile Bacha has been running students at Gilgandra High School through some of the basics like inspections and safety practice.

That's included taking the wheels off a utility and changing the oil.

The short course is part of the NSW government's Educational Pathways Program and aims to tackle a lack of access to automotive training in the area, and a skills shortfall in the industry.

Depending on how placements go, students could also progress to a year-long, school-based traineeship.

"When the students see that someone from outside of the region wants to put effort in, they appreciate it," said Mr Bacha from the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers.

"A lot of them are showing a lot of interest. They're all getting involved. They've been active."

Mr Bacha said that he will put out feelers for other workshops in the area to take on students.