Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010 - Department of ...

TRAINING FOR A HEAD START
Tropical North Queensland TAFE
2010 Australian Training Initiative
The Australian Training Initiative award is presented to an organisation
that demonstrates excellence and innovation in a leading-edge initiative,
program or product in the field of vocational education and training.
SchoolTech, a forward-thinking initiative
delivered by Tropical North Queensland TAFE,
has revolutionised vocational education and
training in schools in Far North Queensland.
The SchoolTech program is delivered
in partnership with Woree State High
School, group training organisation Skill360
Australia and local industry and employers.
SchoolTech provides Year 11 and 12 students
in Cairns with the opportunity to combine
senior studies with vocational education and
training at the Cairns TAFE campus, with
graduates securing TAFE qualifications and
a Queensland Certificate of Education. The
students participate in industry placement
as part of their studies, while Skill360
Australia works to secure apprenticeships
and traineeships with local employers.
Institute Director, Tropical North
Queensland TAFE, Jo Pyne says an
average week at SchoolTech is made up
of maths, English, social and community
studies, sport, vocational studies and a
work placement with a local employer.
‘All delivery is undertaken in one location
and students move from their traditional
classrooms into a fully equipped trade
workshop or vocational area,’ Jo says.
‘The students undertake training
beside current apprentices or adults
training for work in the same field.’
SchoolTech has excellent attendance
rates—in excess of 85 per cent—and
student achievement has exceeded
initial expectations. Jo puts this success
down to a number of factors.
‘Students can see how what they are
learning relates to the real world work
environment. The mathematical concepts
they are learning are helping them directly
in the trade classes with calculations and
percentages. The traditional school and
vocational curriculums are closely linked
and there are open lines of communication
between teachers to ensure students are
provided with support in areas where they
require additional assistance,’ she says.
Enrolments at SchoolTech have almost
tripled since it was launched in 2008.
The initial intake of students was largely
made up of males, with low enrolment
rates for females and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students.
‘By introducing a broader range of
qualifications, including Indigenous primary
health, child care, hairdressing, cookery
and marine, we were able to boost our
2010 enrolment, with 114 boys, 39 girls and
17 students of Indigenous heritage,’ Jo says.
Students attend the workplace for two
days and SchoolTech three days per
week. Strong partnerships with local
employers are a critical factor to the
success of the SchoolTech model.
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Australian Training Awards Magazine 2010