If he is capable of doing well in the TEE, then I'd suggest doing that. It would be better to do it and then decide he didn't want to go to uni, than to not do it and discover he no longer has the option.
When the boom dies off, the tradies will get hit the earliest and hardest. If it is of any consequence, walking out of Uni with an engineering degree can get you $70k working in Perth (depending on type), and $100k or higher working away, not incuding bonuses. Plus they say at the moment it is taking 5 years to start earning at a level it used to take 20 years.
It's tough going through uni watching everyone on the outside making money, but it's worth it in the end. Plus you can pretty much work anywhere in the world with an Eng degree from Australia, and earn good money doing it.
Am I biased? of course not.
