Changes in the world of work requires workers to continually develop skills beyond those of the past. Workers today need to become life-long learners and effective managers of their own careers to successfully navigate the many changes they will encounter.
Our focus in the Careers Faculty is to enable and teach students to locate and navigate all possible career pathways to best prepare them for the changing world of life, learning and work.
Just a few of our highlights for 2019 were:
Successful School Leavers
The last 12 months has seen a record number of Warners Bay High students successfully transition into local apprenticeships and traineeships. The Careers Team are very proud of these students and we like to have ongoing communications with our recent school leavers as this allows us to hear honest stories of current workplace trends, challenges and successes. The most valuable aspect of staying in touch with our ex-students is hearing the advice and employment tips they now have for our current students seeking employment.
Jack G was in Year 11 when he was successful in gaining a Carpentry apprenticeship midway through 2019. Six months later he was still kicking goals, being awarded Apprentice of the Month by Master Builders Group Training in December. Congratulations Jack!
Food and Friendship
Each term the SEA provides four Year 9 girls with the opportunity to gain extensive workplace experience in customer service, food preparation and barista skills. This takes place in a supportive environment with some of the best life coaches from the local community. The support and mentoring that the Food and Friendship team offer our students is incredible. This culture of mentoring grows larger each year with the older students taking it upon themselves to mentor the younger students back at school. Food and Friendship recently celebrated a 10-year anniversary with a High Tea that catered for hundreds of its regulars including twenty girls from Years 9 and 10. Four of our past students took time out from their apprenticeships and university study to represent our school and talk about what an important role this program and its mentoring played in their live
More students are studying for their HSC while also gaining qualifications and work skills
Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications have been developed with the specific goal of ensuring students have the skills for work. The number of students studying VET courses in 2020 has almost doubled with over 40 students enrolling across our local TAFE campuses. Our students will be studying a variety of courses such as Tourism, Travel and Events, Animal Studies, Construction, Automotive, Business Services, Retail, Digital Animation, Design Fundamentals, Electrotechnology and Entertainment.
Trade Scholarships Winners!
Archie F and Nicholas R were both successful in being awarded a $5000 Trade Scholarship through Newcastle Master Builders Association. These school-based scholarships were awarded to Archie and Nicholas towards the end of their Year 10 studies. Both students are currently studying VET Construction at TAFE as part of their HSC and will be completing six weeks of workplace learning each year. Master Builders Newcastle have initiated these scholarships as a way of supporting young people who are keen to learn more about the construction industry.
More students have learnt about safety in the workplace
Throughout 2019 Careers provided over 100 students with the opportunity to gain their National WHS General Construction Induction training, also known as the "White Card". Last year over five courses were run at school to prepare students for work in the construction industry and on worksites which are under construction. Many people are surprised to learn that students studying Entertainment Industry must also have this certification, as productions often require the construction of stages and sets. This general safety training is relevant and valuable to any student wishing to upskill.
Vocational Pathways Information Forum
In November, Careers at WBHS hosted a forum on Vocational Pathways where topics related to youth employment and training were discussed before a panel of industry experts. Students and parents came along to hear from and question our panel of local employers, training providers, employment services and recent school leavers. Many thoughtful questions were asked by attendees and parent feedback suggests that this needs to become a regular event as many were grateful for the opportunity to hear from industry experts and recent school leavers and ask questions in a relaxed forum.
Setting and Achieving Goals
The Kick Start Program was developed by the school’s Student Engagement Adviser (SEA) to assist and encourage students to set personal, academic and transitional goals. This support can be provided and monitored long term due an amazing team of community volunteers who work alongside the SEA to offer our students individual mentoring. Our mentors have a wealth of knowledge, research skills and patience. In the past 12 months they have assisted with the long-term engagement of 21 students. The SEA has monitored a positive change in student attendance, commitment to school and self-confidence.
YES!
The YES Program provided 17 disengaged students from Years 10 and 11 with taster courses across five Hunter TAFE campuses. These courses included Electrotechnology, Early Child Care, Hospitality, Horticulture, Tiling and Small Vehicle Mechanics. All courses ran for six days and saw an incredible 100% attendance from our students. One Year 10 WBHS student impressed his YES Program TAFE teacher so much, he was offered work experience with a local employer has now started an apprenticeship in the tiling industry.
Students embraced the Yakka Project
All Aboriginal students in Years 9 to 12 were invited to take part in the Yakka Introduction to Work program. This program was run through Career Links, a community organisation that creates opportunities for students to be their best. Yakka introduces students to potential careers and consists of work inspiration, work experience activities, career planning, employability skills and resume building. 2019 saw an increase in the number of Aboriginal students involved in work experience and one hard working Year 10 student was so valued by staff they employed him as an apprentice!
Successful School Leavers read their Careers emails!
All students from Years 10, 11 and 12 were sent weekly emails from the Careers Team. This enabled students seeking work to access the latest job vacancies, apprenticeships and traineeships on offer in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions. In 2019, students actively seeking employment gained valuable information on job vacancies via this weekly email. Students seeking employment should make a habit of checking this weekly email in 2020 as it has been the catalyst for numerous instances of employment over the past few years.
If a parent or carer would like to receive this weekly email, please email Renee Sommer at renee.stone@det.nsw.edu.au
An increase in students accessing and using our Warners Bay High Careers Faculty facebook page and Warners Bay High Careers website.
