Careers - not a GAP year!

The boys launched into Employment Studies with Biggsie and Marty at the helm. Our style of being upfront, not too serious but acting as the possible "future employers" of this bunch of lads seemed to work again in 2019.

The year always starts with them being reticent to speak and hiding behind their hands, giggles and awkward stares. The reality is that by the end of the year over half of them need to be ready for work or at least employable. We look at CVs and resumes, letters to employers, complaints, interview techniques and being ready for work. Marty and I are not saying we know it all but we do push the boys into situations where they meet a little bit of resistance, reality and meet customers and work situations that will become their future norm.

Many courses are tried from being at The Warehouse, learning to make coffee to driving a forklift. Businesses are visited and questions start to venture from them about what actually happens outside the school gate - WORK! Many successes have occurred with boys growing up and developing as young men. The dual-enrolement scheme has been invaluable for our boys to learn relevant skills and be at school at the same time. We have had mechanics, builders, technicians, computer operators, office staff and even foodies - all growing their skills in the supportive environments of the workplace, SIT or ARA. 

What has been very exciting are the many skills learnt in the class and advice from staff transferred to reality.  This was evident when resumes were what got our young men the interview and the trip to meet the board members of various firms due to what was taught in the class being relevant to the workplace. 

Finally, our ventures into workplaces have again been very successful with many old boys climbing down from forklifts and from behind office desks to meet and greet our boys ... remembering their time in Employment Studies or at STC.

2020 will see the creation of a year 13 course - Gateway under our mate Bill Hall. This is where a dozen or more young men will be on courses and in the workplace at the same time as completing a few school subjects as well. This will make school part-time but the days are getting very closer to being employed.

Brendan Biggs