THE sounds of nails being hammered, power tools, and passionate chatter filled the school yard of Mount Rowan Secondary College last Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Seventeen year 9 and 10 students took part in a try-a-trade day designed and delivered by Highlands LLEN, which saw them hear from guest speakers about working in the industry, before being tasked with building a cubby house.<\/p>\n
Work-ready elective teacher Steve Wicks said school is a safe place for the young people to learn the practical trade skills and have a go at something new.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are students who are taking control and taking initiative, in a great way. An activity like this is bringing out their strengths and teamwork,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe students don\u2019t always get the opportunity to work so cooperatively with each other, and share information, so it\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny student that thinks this might be for them, it can narrow down and hone their future pathways for education and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Year 10 student Charlotte said she enjoyed the cubby project and noticed within a few short hours that her building skills were already improving.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been really fun. It\u2019s been an eye-opener to what pathway I want to go down with my career,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCarpentry would be great. I would like to be a carpenter.\u201d<\/p>\n
With support from Women\u2019s Health Grampians, the try-a-trade program was also a chance for Highlands LLEN to encourage the six girls who took part to seriously consider a trade career if they enjoyed the activities.<\/p>\n
See What You Can Be coordinator Ange van den Berg said Women\u2019s Health Grampians has developed a project to attract and retain more women in non-traditional professions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee What You Can Be looks at pathways into trades for women and girls, helping students receive career advice that\u2019s not gendered, breaking down and challenging stereotypes around men\u2019s and women\u2019s work, and we\u2019ve recruited some women who work in trades as advocates,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also have an Act on Site workplace-based culture change program supporting organisations to attract and retain women.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been here today at Mount Rowan to discuss barriers to women getting into trades, and to champion gender equality.\u201d<\/p>\n
After two years of lockdowns, Highlands LLEN\u2019s Polly Britten said schools requested hands-on trade experiences in safe environments on-campus, and the program responds to these needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a $5000 project for a school, and it\u2019s free. Students get an amazing workshop experience with teaching from Platinum Institute Australia educators,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMount Rowan is the third school to take part in the program, and I\u2019ve had 10 schools interested in total. One wants to do it three times, with three year levels.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE sounds of nails being hammered, power tools, and passionate chatter filled the school yard of Mount Rowan Secondary College last Wednesday. Seventeen year 9 and 10 students took part in a try-a-trade day designed and delivered by Highlands LLEN, which saw them hear from guest speakers about working in the industry, before being tasked […]<\/p>\n