Gateway 2015

Gateway is a programme which is designed to “strengthen the pathway for senior students from school to the workplace”. It allows students to experience real work (unpaid) and industry training (while remaining enrolled at school) at no cost to the student. It provides an opportunity to meet potential employers and to eliminate unsuitable career choices. The “Gateway” programme is available both to students with a full timetable commitment, as it involves one day per week out of class for about one term, or as a timetable option for a full year.

Students are usually placed with employers one day a week for a minimum of eight weeks. There is room for flexibility and some students have worked for more than one day a week and for longer than eight weeks. Most have “worked” for at least two terms. The feature that distinguishes “Gateway” from other transition programmes is the opportunity students have to gain nationally recognised industry based qualifications. There is an expectation that students will gain at least 20 credits (unit standards). Most gain more than the minimum. There is widespread support for the program both from the Industry Training Organisations (ITO’s) and from employers.

This year a wide range of industry career options were explored: Automotive (1), Hospitality (3), Sports (2), Farming (1), Retail (9), and Engineering (2). St Thomas of Canterbury College appreciates the employment and training opportunities offered by a wide range of firms; industry training organisations; tertiary institutions and private training establishments. For 2015 these have included the following: The Learning Place-customer relations; Promed-health & safety; Industrial Training Centre-forklift; Safety ‘n Action-safety training; Life Care Consultants-first aid; Service IQ-Retail (Red Shirts in Schools); Site Safe-building & construction safety; Winnie Bagoes, Southern Café, Fox and Ferret-hospitality; Ben Smith-farming.

For 2015 funding has been approved for fifteen places (maximum 19).

Bill Hall Gateway Co-ordinator