The Careers Team at Westland High School includes all of our staff. Our specialist careers staff work closely with HOL’s and whānau teachers at all levels. Particularly for senior (Years 11-13) students we provide a range of career education events and opportunities which assist students in exploring possibilities for their future.

Inspire to Aspire

Westland's Inspire to Aspire Inaugural Careers Event took place successfully at the RSA and Pakiwaitara Discovery Centre, acting as a bridge between businesses and organizations and our students and community.

Aspiring to shape their future, more than 300 Westland High School students had the opportunity to explore industries, connect with employers, and talk to exhibitors from many different sectors of employment.

To better prepare our students for the event, whānau teachers organised a series of ‘Warm-up lessons’ before the Career day that proved particularly helpful for our students. This is part of our kaupapa to see young people empowered to explore what careers of passion and purpose might look like, to have greater agency over their pathways and to grow greater confidence in what they bring.

More than 30 representatives from employers, training agencies and apprenticeship providers were available all day to answer questions, while guest speakers gave specialist presentations throughout the day. It is important that the people providing information to students about jobs and careers can draw on personal, first-hand experience of the same professions. There is good evidence that young people gain particularly from careers events which expose them to adults with first-hand experiences of the jobs about which they are talking.

Inspire to Aspire Inaugural Careers Event comes in line with our strategic goals at enhancing students’ employability skills and connection to the job market and also at bringing the local industry closer for a mutually beneficial relationship and exchange.

This was not a normal school day and for some of our students it was their first experience of getting in touch with various businesses in a single day, gathering information, discussing career pathways, education and training, and job opportunities. Students gave a huge thumbs up to the event, saying they found it very beneficial. Employers and other visitors also gave great feedback, commenting that students were very engaged and were a credit to our school. Student feedback on the event and the presenters was overwhelmingly positive

The Careers Event was organized perfectly and the staff from the Inspire to Aspire Careers Event Team made a special effort to ensure that the needs of our students were met.

Nga mihi

A warm thank you to: the Inspire to Aspire Careers Event Team, Westland MTFJ Coordinator Charlotte Bradley-Peni, Westland Community Liaison Advisor Sarah Brown, Youth Employability Facilitator Christine Barton, Building & Logistics WDC Mark Dixon and Darcy Lucas, Careers Event volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, guest speakers and the community.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini

The success that our students achieve is the product of contributions by many different people across our entire community.