National Skills Week - a celebration of our vocational education and training (VET) learners, the opportunities VET providers, and the dedicated educators who train and support the students - was held from 21-27 August 2023.

For the Educational Pathways Program, there was certainly no shortage of VET opportunities across National Skills Week:

• TAFE NSW Start Your Future courses in aviation, automotive, plumbing, hairdressing, nursing and IT (just to name a few!)

• Job readiness workshops in Gunnedah

• Pre-traineeship and pre-apprenticeship head start courses in construction, electrotechnology, hospitality and agriculture

• Industry Pathways Program (IPP) events connecting students with a wide range of industries including hospitality and tourism, and health.

Students, and the media, were spoilt for choice!

Two students in particular, and one of the EPP’s Head Teacher Careers, had a moment to shine during Skills Week with local news reporters showcasing their achievements.

William Nickl, Bowral High School

Featured on WIN News

William (Will) Nickl, a Year 11 student at Bowral High School, is undertaking his school-based apprenticeship at Gumnut Patisserie Mittagong. Will has been a keen pastry chef since a young age and has been honing his skills during his SBAT. At the BAA (Baking Association of Australia) Wollongong Baking Show on 9th August Will won three categories for his fruit flan and fruit tart. He also won first place at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for his viennoiserie and petits fours.

As part of his school-based apprenticeship, Will is completing a Certificate III in Baking- Retail Baking - combined.

Ben Scully, Tweed River High School

Featured on NBN News

Ben Scully, a Year 11 student at Tweed River High School, is one of 7 students who commenced their school-based traineeship in aged care with Tweed River Care Community earlier this year. Ben’s interest in the aged care industry was sparked when he completed a pre-traineeship course as part of the Apprenticeship and traineeship head start initiative. Ben spends one day a week at work learning to care for the elderly in a safe environment. Working closely with his careers adviser and SBAT Engagement Officer, Ben has been able to choose subjects at school that align with his SBAT course and future career goals of nursing.

As part of his school-based traineeship, Ben is completing a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing).

Hospitality and Tourism - Industry Pathways Program (IPP) event, Tamworth group of schools

Featured on 7 News Tamworth and in the Northern Daily Leader

With a high skills shortage across Tamworth in the hospitality and tourism industry, Kirsty Ebzery, Head Teacher Careers for the EPP’s Tamworth group of schools, saw an opportunity to develop a program that would benefit high school students, as well as the local hospitality businesses.

Kirsty worked with local industry representatives, as well as local businesses to create a 3-day hospitality and tourism program, as part of the IPP initiative. The program saw students rotate across different sectors including accommodation, housekeeping, hotel management and functions, front of house operations in catering, and groundskeeping.

Not only were students able to get a taste for the industry and learn practical skills, the local businesses who hosted the students were also able to engage with their future workforce and develop important partnerships with the EPP and their local high schools. At the end of the program students were awarded a Statement of Attainment for completing 2 units of competency – ‘Prepare and serve espresso coffee’, and ‘Use hygienic practices for food safety’.

Of the 11 students who participated in the program, 5 students have expressed an interest in a SBAT pathway in 2024, and 3 students interested in full-time traineeships. This is a great result and will certainly keep Mel Abra, the SBAT Engagement Officer for the Tamworth group of schools, busy!