Hammer time at Nerang
STEEL cap boots and a tradie’s uniform is all part of school life for these Nerang State High School students.
Each year 36 students are eligible to switch from your more traditional approach to schooling and start a pathway to industry through its unique Trades@Nerang SHS program.
The majority of graduates in 2021 left school with employment and 16 students of this year’s Year 12 cohort already have been offered employment across school-based and full-time apprenticeships.
As the only one of its kind in South East Queensland, it’s something student Kodie Robinson said had completely changed his mind-set on attending school.
“It’s more hands on, and I’m a physical learner so I enjoy being able to finish school but at the same time start my career while studying,” he said.
“I’m able to be on site two days a week while studying my Cert III in Plumbing.”
Students like Kodie, Chett, Zachary and Casta can choose to complete either a Cert II Engineering Pathways or Cert II Furniture Making Pathways plus undertake core subjects of English, Mathematics, Cert II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways and Cert I Construction.
Nerang Trades Program boss Shane Courtenay said students were accepted into the program via an interview and were chosen based on their previous effort and behaviour.
“Our aim is to find our students employment either before they graduate or when they graduate, and to keep them in our program through to the end of year 12,” he said.
“Our program is such a powerful way to re-engage with students who may not be academically inclined and gives them a purpose to come to school. On the other hand, we have many students who are excelling academically who want to use the program as a stepping stone to construction management careers or other trade-related para-professions.
“They have their own uniform and wear their steel cap boots everyday – even for Maths and English.”
The trade training program is delivered in partnership with TAFE Queensland and operates from the Gold Coast Resources Industry Trade Skills Centre at Nerang State High School. It also receives support from Rotary and Bunnings to help students with the cost of industry and safety equipment.
Mr Courtenay said he was also looking for businesses interested in taking his students for work experience. All students in the program have Construction White Cards and First Aid certificates.