New program to fast-track Toowoomba students' trade career ambitions
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Senior high school students in Toowoomba will have the opportunity to take part in a pilot program for trade focused studies next year.
Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Schools2Skills program was modelled on the successful SchoolTech which had operated in Cairns for four years.
"The Toowoomba program will involve about 25 Year 11 students enrolled at Centenary Heights State High School," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"These students will attend classes at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT), wear new uniforms and identify as Schools2Skills students.
"They will combine three days of trade and workplace training with two days of school subjects."
Mr Hinchliffe said the new course structure had so far attracted high achieving students with a passion for entering trade training while still at high school.
"This program has been developed in partnership with Centenary Heights State High School to give Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to fast-track their careers in trade industries," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Students combine high school studies with industry training at TAFE and real-life experience in the workplace."
A wide range of trades training is available with students able to choose from automotive, beauty, carpentry, diesel-fitting, engineering, hairdressing and hospitality.
Students from across Toowoomba can apply to enrol in these courses through application to Centenary Heights State High School. All applicants are interviewed and mature students are accepted.
These students will complete their school-based apprenticeship and traineeship and Queensland Certificate of Education qualifications.
To be eligible for this program students are required to have completed Year 10, or equivalent, and be at least 15 years old.
An information session for interested students will be held on November 29 from 6pm to 7pm at Futures Restaurant, SQIT Toowoomba Campus, 100 Bridge St.
SchoolTech, a partnership between Tropical North Queensland TAFE, Skill360 and Woree State High School, has seen 98 per cent of Year 12 graduates awarded one or more Vocational Education Training Certificates, 84 per cent moving straight into full-time apprenticeships and 85 per cent receiving a Queensland Certificate of Education.
"SchoolTech has a strategic importance in the Far North Queensland region to equip school students with the skills required by industry," Mr Hinchliffe said.