2009 Darwin Try a Trade Report

Transcription

1 2009 Darwin Try a Trade Report 15 th 18 th September 2009 NT Worldskills Australia Try a Trade Consortium Members 2009 Organisers Committee Members (in alphabetical order) Charles Darwin University - Trisha Mellow Group Training NT - Lisa Dodds & Suzie Williams NTG Department of Education & Training - Cathy Preddy Proudly funded by (in alphabetical order) Charles Darwin University Group Training NT Foundation NTG Department of Education & Training 1

2 Try a Trade is a Worldskills Australia Initiative Try atrade Background: Try atrade is a Worldskills Australia initiative that introduces school aged students to a variety of trades, relevant to their regional skill shortages. The program aims to provide hands on, interactive trade activities that introduce specific skill sets and encourage students to have a go, under the guidance of professional Tradespeople, Apprentices and Registered Training Organisations. The event also offers the opportunity for students to ask questions about how to secure an apprenticeship and gather up to date study, career and employment information relating to their chosen trade. In 2003 the Northern Territory was the first in Australia to deliver a Try atrade event. Since its inception, it has been a huge success, valued by Schools, Students and Industry. Student numbers have steadily increased over the years, with a huge growth experienced in Due to the increase of participants in the 2006 Darwin Try atrade, the Darwin Try atrade Committee decided to work closely with the Alice Springs region to organise and hold their first Try atrade, which was successfully held in In 2008 the Darwin Try atrade Committee again supported the 2008 Alice Springs Try atrade and worked closely with the Rivers Region to organise and successfully hold their first Try atrade event in Katherine. The Darwin Try atrade event is organised by a consortium of organisations comprising of Charles Darwin University, Group Training NT and the NTG Department of Education and Training, and has been funded by Group Training NT Foundation and NTG Department of Education and Training. In 2008 Territory Construction Association, who was a member of the consortium from , officially withdrew from the consortium due to their inability to continue supporting the event. In 2009 due to an increase in student numbers, Charles Darwin University provided extra funding needed to hold a successful event. Both the Alice Springs and Rivers Region Try atrade event provided a relevant enhanced learning opportunity to their local and remote students, as well as facilitated the much needed local community, school and industry partnerships across the regions. The Darwin Try a Trade Committee has continually encouraging regional sustainability, believing regional ownership will ensure the partnerships formed will remain strong and the event will remain specific to the needs of the region. However the consortium will continue to offer and provide support to both regions as required, to ensure the event remains successful. The Darwin Try atrade Committee is very pleased with the performance and commitment shown by the Alice Springs and Rivers Region Committee. Alice Springs is now in their 3 rd year of Try a Trade and NT Consortium is confident they have reached the desired level of sustainability and will only offer support on request. The Rivers Region with the support of the NT Consortium has now delivered their 2 nd Try a Trade event, but due to the staff turn over the region experiences, we believe they will continue to require support from the NT Try a Trade Consortium with the organisation and delivery of their event. Try atrade Event Aims: The program aims to address the critical skill shortages currently faced by our trade industries in the Northern Territory. By providing an interactive and educational forum, which introduces students to general skill sets, employability attributes and up to date study and career information associated with the trades. The forum also provides an opportunity to facilitate and strengthen valued partnerships between schools, industries, employers, government departments, local community partnerships and registered training organisations. 2

3 The Event: The 2009 Darwin Try atrade event was held at the Cyprus Community Function Centre, Batton Road Marrara from Tuesday the 15 th Friday the 18 th of September, from 9am 2.30pm. The four day event hosted 707 students & staff, from 20 different Schools from across Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin Rural and Arnhem Regions, and offered 14 different trade activities. Students were separated into groups of 15 or less, and rotated through the trade activities, with each session lasting 25mins. Industry sessions were delivered by qualified professionals and the day provided engaging practical hands on activities, up to date information on study options, career, apprenticeship and the OH&S requirements for their industry. Students also had an opportunity to request more information, which was later distributed to them via the post Try'aTrade Activities & Sponsors: Australian Apprenticeships NT - Sponsored by Australian Apprenticeships NT The session provided students with an opportunity to discuss available options ask questions and gather current information relating to study, school based traineeship/ apprenticeship and trades. Automotive Electrical - Sponsored by Charles Darwin University Students were provided with the basic theory of 12 volt electrical circuits as used in vehicles and trailers. Students were encourage, using the tools and equipment specific to the trade and guided through rewiring and connecting tail/brake lights, indicators, horns, relays and other assorted components. They were also given a brief overview of vehicle air conditioning systems. Automotive Light Vehicle - Sponsored by Bridge Toyota Students were guided through a visual and interactive display of engine performance, electronic ignition, emission control and mechanical systems, whilst being provided the latest information on technology advancements by professional tradespeople and current apprentices. Students were also provided information on employment pathways available to them whilst at school. Commercial Cookery - sponsored by CHARTTES, Skycity, The Darwin Turf Club & Charles Darwin University Over the 4 days the activities varied from how to make a simple but light and fluffy Omelette to students making a simple Crepe batter, which they cooked and then decorated with fresh fruit and cream. Students were also introduced to other related fields such as multicultural cookery and bakery. Defence Trades 1 & 2 - Sponsored by Australian Defence Force Students were introduced to the various sections of the Australian Defence Force, being Navy, Army, Medic and their roles, with visual displays and interactive activities such as, sonar and emergency rescue techniques using ropes techniques. Students were also provided a comprehensive range of employment information and DVD presentations. Electrical - Sponsored by Group Training NT, PAWA & Australian Defence Force Students were provided with the basic theory of 240v electrical systems, including the dangers of electrocution. They were given wiring diagrams and guided through the skill set and encourage to use the tools to wire in switches to operate 12 volt lights, fans, buzzers and other electrical components. Hairdressing - Sponsored by Group Training NT, Charles Darwin University, Rachael Perry and Jewell Distributors Students were guided and performed professional up styles using professional salon products, bobby pins, hair bands, clips, curling iron, hair straighter and blow dryers. 3

4 Horticulture - Sponsored by Charles Darwin University Students were provided information on the various fields of Horticulture and then given a basic OH&S induction and instructions on how to operate a ride on mower. Students were then required to manoeuvre the mower through a course, made from a series of witches hats. Hospitality - Sponsored by CHARTTES, Skycity, Novetel Atrium & Charles Darwin University Students were shown and encouraged to practice the skill sets used in the banquet and restaurant services, the art of napkin folding, table service set up and waitressing. Students participated in the Bar Operations activity, making and tasting Mocktails. Students were also provided information on the various fields available in hospitality, study and career opportunities. Welding - Sponsored by Advanced Training International, Fingers Aluminium & Welding Technology Institute of Australia Students were encourage to practice their skills on a welding simulator, shown how to identify crack with a weld and experienced real mig welding under the guidance of professional tradespeople and apprentices. Students also provided information on the different specialised fields and study and employment pathways available to them whilst at school. Plumbing - Sponsored by Charles Darwin University Students learnt how to remove and replace tap washers, o rings and taps using tools, plumbers grease and thread tape. They were also provided an opportunity to try some of the latest camera technology used for diagnostics and provided an overview on other specialist field such as gas, air and water systems. Carpentry - Sponsored by Charles Darwin University and Nortruss Students used drills, hammers, saws, screwdrivers, chisels and measuring tapes to construct planter pots. Students were also shown and practiced waxing wood surfaces. Two of the planter pots were signed by the students and were given to our major sponsors Bridge Toyota and Nortruss. BUNNINGS Supported our young budding Trades people by allowing students to use their DIY Planter Box design in the Construction Activity, which were built, signed by students, varnished and presented to Industry Employers who also support the event. BUNNINGS also provided 5 x 105 Piece Tool Bags, which were used as prizes. To re-confirm their commitment to our younger generation BUNNINGS Floor Manager, Tracee visited local Schools and presented each winning student with their prize. NT Schools/Community Education Centres: All Secondary Schools and Community Education Centres in the Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin Rural and Arnhem Regions were personally invited. An open invitation was posted on the DET site, CDU Website Whats On Calendar, the CDU Secondary Schools Calendar and announced on Territory FM Radio. Schools interested in participating needed to complete a student registration form that included media permission. Participating NT Secondary Schools and Community Education Centres O Loughlin Catholic College Nightcliff Middle School Kormilda College Darwin Middle School Marrara Christian School Dripstone Middle School Alternative Education Provisions Palmerston High School Dar win & Palmerston Taminmin High School Sanderson Middle School St Johns College Casuarina Senior College Learning Support Unit 4

5 Darwin High School Intensive English Unit Numbulwar Community Education Centre East Arnhem Xavier Community Education Centre Bathurst Island Woolaning Homeland Christian College Batchelor Umbakumba Community Education Centre Groote Eylandt Angurugu Community Education Centre Groote Eylandt Milikubra Community Education Centre Groote Eylandt Gunbalanya Community Education Centre Oenpelli Non-attending schools & influencing factors: Good Shepherd Lutheran School Cancelled Staff on Leave & Staff absence due to personal reasons Batchelor Area School Class was on school camp Kalkaringi Community Education Centre - VET in School Remote Delivery organised Ngukurr CEC could not secure Funding in time Henbury School, Essington School and Palmerston Christian School felt they did not have enough interested students to attend. Promotion and Media Coverage: Flyers and information were sent directly to each School and CEC Principal, Career Advisers and VET Coordinators. The dates were also placed on the CDU Whats On Calendar. The Try atrade event information was posted on the GTNT & DET website, DET Enews & GTNT Newsletter and in a media release given to the NT News. Try atrade was announced on Territory FM Radio. The Government photographer and Channel 9 were present at the Official Launch of Try atrade. Photo s were placed on the CDU SchoolsLink Website and a Good News Story, Trades taster a winner with Students, was published on CDU Enews, Issue 9, 5 th October 2009 and The NT News published in the NT Newspaper, two articles, Trade tasters open eyes, 7 th August 2009 and Kids get handy at trade tryout, 21 st September CDU SchoolsLink Website: CDU Enews Weblink: Kids get handy at trade tryout Northern Territory News, , Ed: 1 -, Pg: 006, 243 words, NEWS MATHEW Gobbert sounds like an old hand of many trades at the tender age of 14. Plumbing is a bit too ``fiddly'' -- and ``sick'', thanks mainly to the dunnies -- and welding is ``really hard'' because the visor makes everything black. The Year 9 stude... Trade tasters open eyes Northern Territory News, , Ed: 1 -, Pg: 119, 167 words, FEATURES Try'a Trade is a Worldskills Australia initiative aimed at encouraging year 9 students to consider a career in the trades and take on Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects at school. The event is interactive and provides students with an o... The Official Launch: The Northern Territory Government, Chief Minister Mr Paul Henderson opened Try a Trade at an Official Launch, held on Wednesday 16 th September. CEO of Group Training NT Mr Mike Harrison was the MC and two Dripstone Middle Schools Students, Blaire Shields and Shaun Dunce gave responses to posed questions on behalf of students. 5

6 Official Launch list of invitees : NTG DET Chief Executive Mrs Margaret Banks NTG DET Deputy Chief Executive Mr John Hassed EO Services Industries Training Advisories Council, Melanie Brenton EO Primary Industries Training Advisory Council, Marianne St Clair GM Transport, Engineering, Automotive Training Advisory Council, Barry Cramond EO NT Cultural Recreation & Tourism Training Advisory Council, Wendy Moulds EO Major Industries Training Advisory Council, Archie Wright EO Human Services Training Advisory Council, Barbara Pitman CEO Chamber of Commerce, Mr Chris Young Director Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Jeannie Herbert President Cyprus Community Function Centre, Mr Kerrie Kyriacou Secretary Cyprus Community Function Centre, Mrs Kerry Kyriacou CDU Vice Chancellor Mr Barney Glover CDU Acting Pro Vice Chancellor VET Mr Don Zoellner CDU Director of VET Mr Brian Heim CDU Senior Advisor School to VET Mr Lyle Mellors CDU Manager Trades Division Mr Brent Villiers CDU Plumbing Coordinator Mr Stephen Say CDU Commercial Cookery Coordinator Mr Bharat Desai CDU Hair & Beauty Services Coordinator Mrs Bronwyn Hudson CHARTTES Project Officer Belinda Barkley Rivers Region Try a Trade Committee (CDU, GTNT, RRYDS & DET) Group Training NT Mr Ray Blohm Bridge Toyota Operations Manager Neil Playford Fingers Aluminium Floor Manager Jamie Philips Jewel Distributors Ms Helen Alfree Australian Defence Force Skycity Hospitality Coordinator Ms Carolina Silva Darwin Turf Club Chef Peter Langford Territory Construction Association General Manager Mr Craig O Halloran Territory Construction Association Marketing Manager Ms Jenny Griffins GM Advanced Training International Mr Doug MacDonald and PA Ms Jan Winch Nortruss Director and Human Resources Manager Mike Corke and Cheryl Tether Darwin High School - Principal Ms Marion Guppy, VET Coordinator Janine Watt and Careers Adviser Barbara Lemke Darwin Middle School Principal Marcus Dixson and Yr 9 Coordinator Mr Neil Evans Kormilda College - Principal Mr Malcolm Pritchard, VET Coordinator Jenni Smith and Careers Adviser Julie Robillard Nightcliff Middle School - Principal Lyn Hollow and Careers Adviser Krystal Smith Alternative Education Provisions Darwin/Palmerston - Youth Worker Brenton Pedler St Johns College - Principal Sister Philippa Murphy and VET Coordinator Garry Griffin Marrara Christian School - Principal Mr John Metcalf, VET/Careers Coordinator Ms Yvonne Cole Dripstone Middle School - Principal Ms Lyn Elphinstone and VET Coordinator/Careers Adviser Mrs Trish Orr O Loughlin College - Principal Mr Lester Lemke and VET Coordinator Rod Plummer Sanderson High School - Principal Mr Russell Legg, VET Coordinator Ms Carole Belsham and Careers Adviser Mr Erv Moyd Palmerston High School - Principal Mr Robert Presswell, VET Coordinator/Careers Adviser Ms Yvonne McDonnell Taminmin High School - Principal Mr Tony Considine, VET Coordinator Mr Andrew Oliver and Careers Adviser Mrs Susan Considine Batchelor Area School - Principal Matt Watson 6

7 2009 Darwin Try a Trade Students Survey Results (115 surveys were full completed and eligible) What Trades interested you the most? Before and After Try a Trade Automotive Electrical 33% 24% Automotive Light Vehicle 27% 19% Commercial Cookery 18% 21% Defence Force 1 30% 22% Defence Force 2 26% 23% Electrical 33% 24% Hair Dressing 32% 21% Horticulture 14% 5% Hospitality 30% 21% Welding 23% 14% Plumbing 23% 15% Carpentry 20% 13% Painting 2% 2% Australian Apprenticeships NT 0% 15% What Trade Activity taught you the most? (Some students chose more than one activity) Automotive Electrical 20 3 rd place Automotive Light Vehicle 16 Commercial Cookery 11 Defence Force st place Defence Force nd place Electrical 13 Hair Dressing 14 Horticulture 8 Hospitality 12 Welding 12 Plumbing 10 Carpentry 8 Painting 7 Australian Apprenticeships NT 7 What Trade Activity taught you the least? (Some students chose none) Automotive Electrical 4 Automotive Light Vehicle 3 Commercial Cookery 8 Defence Force 1 2 Defence Force 2 2 Electrical 3 Hair Dressing 15 Horticulture 14 7

8 Hospitality 12 Welding 8 Plumbing 10 Carpentry 2 Painting 1 Australian Apprenticeships NT 0 Did the day help you understand how to get a trade? Yes 96% No 4% Are you now considering participating in a School Based New Apprenticeship? Yes 57% No 7% Maybe 36% How do you rate Try a Trade? Very Poor Poor Good Very Good Excellent 0% 0% 43% 40% 32% Do you believe Try a Trade is a valuable experience for school students? Yes 98% No 2% Do you believe Try a Trade is a valuable experience for schools students? Please tell us why? Or why not; Some of the comments students made about Try a Trade: *Because everything is explained clearly * It helps you learn and have a better understanding of the different trades * Everyone needs a job and if you learn about them sooner you can work towards what you want * It helps you know what is available and what they are when you are discussing jobs * Because you learn what the trade is really about * It opens your eyes to what you didn t know * Because it is hands on and you can ask if you want more information * It shows you other options if you don t want to go to Uni * Because it gives students knowledge to make a real choice in what career they choose * Fun and Informative * It lets you try what is out there and helps you understand better Additional Comments/Recommendations: *More Trades * Great experience overall * Try a Trade was a great learning experience * It was quite fascinating to learn all the different trades and what they do * Try a Trade was fun learning * More time to try the trades * I had a great time and learned heaps Summary of student survey results: The following survey addresses the aims of the event with regard to students having the information required to make informed decisions, so to have 96% of students having a better understanding of how 8

9 to get a trade, with well over half of the participating students (64%) making a decision to either follow this career path or not is a good result. With regard to trades and information Commercial Cookery and the Australian Apprenticeships NT activity were the only two that increased after the students had participated, but it is important to note that after participating many students either confirmed their prior interest or found new interests. Defence Force 1, 2 & Automotive Electrical scored as the activities that taught the students the most, but it must be noted that every activity scored. Hair Dressing, Horticulture and Hospitality scored the most as the activity that taught students the least, but it would be fair to say that these trades are particularly common and well known to students. 100% of students rated Try a Trade as Good, Very Good or Excellent and 98% found participating in this event a valuable learning experience for them, with pleasing comments made. 224 Student requested more information on the following trades: Commercial Cookery 81 Hair Dressing 49 Electrical 28 Automotive Electrical 23 Plumbing 19 Welding 15 Hospitality 9 *Some trades such as Defence (Heavy Vehicle) and Bridge Auto Toyota (Light Vehicle) provided information during the event. Skill Coaches Survey Results & Comments: 8 Skill Coaches completed comment surveys, with 7 out of 8 answering yes to the following questions asked: 1. Do you feel that attending students were interested and engaged in the trade? Yes 2. Do you believe this is a valuable event for the students and our community? Yes Please tell us why / why not: * Gets them involved and shows them things that are different to what they would normally be thinking of doing. *Some students did not have opportunities before to get into contact with trades and apprenticeships. *It gives students exposure to career paths they may not have thought of. *It is great for kids to get an inside view on career options. Also to see work is not easy! *It gives the kids a try at trades they might not be familiar or even know about. *Gets them thinking! Were you provided with sufficient information prior to TAT? Yes Would you like to continue to be involved next year? Yes Teachers comments: Do you believe schools value this type of event? Yes Please tell us why / why not: *The kids enjoy it and it is a great way to see what trades are a bit like before choosing VET in year 10 9

10 *It is great opportunity for students to get a taste of different trades available. *It what it is, Try a Trade is great, also looking at how it relates to school. *Practical day for students Surveys compiled by: Trisha Mellow CDU Recommendations: Shorten the Survey to encourage more students to complete and hand in on site, rather then letting the Teacher take back to school with them as none were ever received. Look at purchasing fruit the people eat, Bananas, Pears although more expensive are not wasted like apples. Continue to encourage student hold onto the water bottles and re-fill, possible find a sponsor to donate the water bottle holder so they can hand them around their neck rather than having to hold. Notify Teachers (in pre-notification notes) that students will need to place their belongings in the Bag Room, and not carry them around as it can be a serious OH&S Issue when you have 15 students at a session as there is limited room already Darwin Try a Trade Budget: a separate document provided to funding bodies, NTG, GTNT & CDU 10

11 Survey Evaluation and Report compiled by: Trisha Mellow CDU Budget: Lisa Dodds GTNT 11