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New leaving Age, Apprenticeship EXPO and Mentors
Schools Industry Partnership Newsletter - 4 Sep 2009
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| Fri 4 September 2009 |
Young people must earn or learn
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Ian Palmer, CEO
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by Ian Palmer,
CEO
Since, 1943, the NSW school leaving age has been 15 years, but we now live in very different times. From 2010, as part of the new National Partnerships on Youth Attainment and Transitions, under 17 year olds have a number of options.
They can a) stay at school and continue into Year 11, b) choose to do an apprenticeship or a traineeship, c) study vocational courses at TAFE, d) do a course in higher education, e) do other approved education or training, f) be in employment as long as it is full-time, paid work, or g) do a combination of a number of these options.
In other words, they must 'learn or earn' for more than 25 hours a week.
I have a lot of compassion for the plight of many students who can't see relevance in staying at school.
I've witnessed many leave early, move into apprenticeships and become resounding success stories, but I have also witnessed far more who fail to hold a job or pass trade tests, and become tearful statistics, in and out of the dole queue.
Early School Leavers
Early school leavers do not fair well in a competitive marketplace. Research shows that they are two and a half times more likely to be unemployed, earn lower wages and have poorer quality-of-life outcomes.
The good news is that teenagers can find engaging subjects in senior years that provide the relevance they seek. If not at school, then a school-TAFE combination called TVET.
As we prepare for the Penrith Valley Apprenticeship EXPO, we know that 80 per cent of employers prefer Year-12 school leavers, which is a mirror reverse of the data when I left school.
Times have changed and because we love our kids we must support the rationale behind 'learn or earn'.
The EXPO will be held at Panthers Pavilion, on September 15, from 5.30pm to 9.00pm. It is free!!
 www.schoolsindustry.com.au/inews.asp?nid=8
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Apprenticeship EXPO is on again
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Apprenticeship EXPO, Panther Pavilion 15th Sept
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The Penrith Valley Apprenticeship EXPO has hundreds of positions on offer and growing each year.
This year we are expecting another great turn out -and its is free!!
We will heavily promote the theme of 'Bring your Parents' and 'Bring your Resumes' so that parents and teenagers can discuss their options with professional career advisers from the Nepean Careers Forum.
The feedback from last year was stunning, with many exhibitors saying it was the best event they had attended.
Recruiters and employers found last year's EXPO was an excellent way to find talent, as well all the technical details and incentives to make it easy to take on a great trainee or apprentice.
This year we will have many great exhibitors, such as Defence Trades, My Freight Career, C-Mac Industries, Gilbert and Roach, Trivett Pty Ltd, Integral Energy, Austral Refrigeration, Qantas Engineering and dozens more.
The EXPO will be held at Panthers Pavilion, Mulgoa Rd Penrith on September 15, from 5.30pm-9.00pm - and it is free!! A suppliment will appear inside the Penrith Press 8th September.
 StudentFlyerExpoSept09 (PDF, 113KB)
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Volunteers to act as mentors
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Evett Freelingos
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by Evett Freelingos
Career Transition Manager
A call has gone out to retired or semi-retired men and women to consider helping young people to successfully prepare for the change from school to rewarding employment or further education.
We seek retired, semi retired, or available men and women, with professional and industrial skills, to act as mentors to senior students in a new program aimed at increasing the knowledge and prospects of young adults.
The mentors would be asked to share their expertise with students for a one-hour session once a week during school hours, in the Penrith, Blue Mountains or Hawkesbury areas of their choice.
Mentors would be provided with one day of training at Kingswood TAFE in Coaching and Motivation before visiting secondary schools, where they would work with senior students in trade workshops, help them understand where their trade or subject could take them, and provide advice based on the many years of experience they have had in their chosen field.
Potential volunteers have a lifetime of specialist skills, wisdom and judgment which would be beneficial to students. They, by virtue of their own career experience, are 'job experts' in their occupation or industry.
Potential volunteers seeking details of the program can contact me on 4725 0309.JAM4StudentsVolunteerFlyer (PDF, 923KB)
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Partners in Awards
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Lynda Parigi
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by Lynda Parigi,
Career Transition Coordinator
Over 400 people witnessed the 2009 Schools Industry Partnership (SIP) Awards, at the Penrith RSL, on September 2. The awards were designed to recognise outstanding contributions to the work of SIP across the Blue Mountains, Hawkebury and Penrith regions.
Awards were made to: Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, The Good Guys - Penrith, 1st Class Bricklaying, Penrith City Council, Nepean Micro Computers, Broadwalk Cafe, Stainless Metalcraft, Serco Sodexho, Rafton Family Lawyers, Hawkesbury City Eisteddfod, Kelly's Cabinet & Joinery and Windsor Animal Shelter, David Liptak, Helen McFadden, Tony Kleu and Cheryl Kitto.
The second part of the evening saw proud parents and guests celebrate 60 Year 12 students for outstanding achievement in Vocational Education and Training courses across the region.
Most evident in the students was the enthusiasm and pride they had in their achievements.
The awards night was one of the highlights of the year and SIP staff would like to extend their thanks to all the businesses and individuals who helped young people connect with their futures during 2009.
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'Real world' experience
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Rowan Harrison Structured WorkPlace Learning Coordinator
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by Rowan Harrison,
Work Placement Coordinator
A week in July, despite being the last week of the school term, was just like any other busy week at the offices of the School Industry Partnership with the exception, that four work placement students were doing their mandatory work placements.
As part of the requirement of their HSC courses in Information Technology and Business Services, the students were kept bury learning new skills, as well as employing skills learnt in the class room and putting them into practice in the 'real world'.
The SIP is responsible for finding work place opportunities for over 2500 students locally each year, within a range of frameworks including business services, IT, hospitality, entertainment, construction, retail etc, all of which go towards furthering students' credentials with industry approved qualifications.
SIP is always looking for host employers to assist 'hosting' work placement students, so if you are an employer who can assist in some capacity, please contact Ian Palmer of Jeanne Young for further information on 4725 0310.
For students' comments on their work placement, click on Good News Stories on SIP's website, schoolsindustry.com.au
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Roll up! Opportunities galore
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Nepean College of TAFE is having an Open Day on Saturday, September 12, from 10am-2pm, at its Kingswood campus 'We hope to see plenty of people on the day and trust that they will gain lots of information about our TAFE courses by speaking to an industry expert or participating in an activity during the day,' said Jan Grace, Business Coordinator, TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute, Nepean College.
Visitors and enjoy a BBQ and meet the talented students and staff to talk about life at the college and the possibilities of a career in child studies, design, fine arts, IT, tourism and hospitality, hairdressing.
Please see local papers or the attached flyer for more information.
wsi.tafensw.edu.au/Templates/DisplayContentFile.ashx?fid=6533
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Richmond TAFE College will hold its Spring Open Day on, Saturday, September 19, from 10am-4pm. It will be an opportunity for visitors to talk to teachers and industry employers about turning their interests into a career.
They will be able to see displays by students and teachers on subjects including agriculture, business services and retail, equine studies, IT and horticulture and Floristry. Demonstrations will be conducted in horse handling and massage, blacksmithing and whip cracking, sheep shearing, pant propagation and much more.
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Entertainment VET course students will have the chance to listen to over 30 bands and the opportunity to gain industry-standard experience, at the Greater Sydney Combined High School Music Competition, to be held at UWS Hawkesbury, Richmond campus, on September 19 and 20, from 10am.
Scott Turner, music teacher, at Richmond High School will supervise participating students and sign them off in duties including setting and striking stage, ushering participants, maintaining stage elements, assisting with lighting and assisting audio and recording. The competition is presented by the Erik Hausoul Sarcoma Foundation.
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Take it to TAFE
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TAFE -Western Sydney Institute has a potential employee for just about any position an employer is looking to fill.
As one of the largest providers of vocational education and training in Western Sydney, the institute enrols over 80,000 students across 10 campuses, including distance education, each year.
So take your vacant position to TAFE. The students have generic and specialist skills that would be an asset to your business.
An online service enables employers to enter positions vacant, employment opportunities, company details and add a direct link to the company's website.
In addition to full-time work, apprenticeships of traineeships, students seek voluntary work, work experience and part-time or casual positions.
Employers can register at www.careersconnect.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/employers
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