Students at Berry Street School have been given a taste of potential career pathways in the construction industry after hearing from Ballarat trainers and businesses.
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Highlands LLEN hosted an immersive information session in collaboration with Nicholson Construction, Bond Homes, BGT and the Jobs and Skills Centre at the school on Thursday.
Participating students were a part of Berry Street School's VCAL program completing a unit on work-related skills and information on careers.
The students will be completing Construction Induction Training (White Card) in the coming weeks.
We developed the program where we can get industry reps into schools to have a chat with kids about how they started out and alternative pathways they took to get there.
- Sarah Forte, Highlands LLEN
Berry Street School Year 9 student Kayde Cooper said he enjoyed hearing from the visitors, particularly staff from Nicholson Construction and Bond Homes.
"It is good to know how far you can go," he said.
Kayde has started a school based apprenticeship in painting, working four days a week and coming to school one day a week.
He said he was planning to stay in school and work.
"It is good having that pathway especially because I am young and I have figured out what I want to do," he said.
"Even down the track if I want to change I can."
Highlands LLEN school employer engagement coordinator Sarah Forte said the new in-school program was designed to fill a gap in student knowledge on alternate career pathways away from VCE and university degrees.
"We developed the program where we can get industry reps into schools to have a chat with kids about how they started out and alternative pathways they took to get there," she said.
"Most of the students here may not want to go to university, but a lot of students aren't aware to get to a particular career they don't have to go down the VCE and university path.
"They can do vocational education and training which is a VET program and that can be done with VCE as well as a VCAL program.
"I think David was an example of that. He said he never went to uni and is now managing a large company. More than anything it is inspiring students to explore their options and see what is available out there."
RELATED COVERAGE: Berry Street School engages students in hands on learning
Berry Street School leading teacher Meredith Barclay said it was fantastic for students to understand the steps they could take and meet role models in the community and their areas of interest.
"We have students here who have already started to take pathways into the construction industry through school based apprenticeships and their VET courses. This kind of makes it real for them," she said.
"We want to create pathways from school to training and work and work experience.
"What better way than hearing from people who had the same issues at the age of 17?
"One student who is here today as a young female, she definitely has abilities and capabilities to go into drafting. How can we make that happen for her?"
Highlands LLEN is an education, employment and support agency for young people.
The organisation is developing a range of initiatives and programs aimed at supporting young people to understand the world of work and make informed decisions about their future careers.
The programs are designed to support secondary school students to optimise their retention, attendance, education achievement and successful transitions.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
