Awards for VET students

Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus students Nick Rauchenberger and Claire McMurtrie have won awards for their Vocational Education and Training (VET)study.

Year 12 student Nick won the Information Technology category, while Claire won the School-based Trainee category for her traineeship in aged care.

Brisbane Water Secondary College also provided all the entertainment at the event, held at the Central Coast Leagues Club on Wednesday, September 27.

Over 500 people turned out to celebrate the growing success of vocational education in the region.

Students and employers were awarded in 15 categories including Hospitality, Construction, Electro Technology, Metals and Engineering, Retail and Information Technology.

The awards are coordinated by Youth Connections Inc, and aim to raise the profile of vocational education and create awareness of skills shortage areas within our local labour market.

"The majority of VET curriculum framework areas represent industries in which the Central Coast is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled workers", said Youth Connections Inc general manager Ms Maggie MacFie.

"Vocational education and training exposes young people to these industries and allows them to develop their skills through the Structured Workplace Learning program.

VET allows students to gain Certificate I, II and III qualifications while completing their HSC.

VET studies require students to complete 70 hours on-the-job mandatory work placement in the industry which they are studying during the course of Year 11 and 12.

Employers benefit from this system as they are provided with low cost, purposeful labour and are given access to a pool of potential future employees.

Anyone interested in hosting a student through the Structured Workplace Learning program or wanting to know more about Vocational Education and Training should contact Youth Connections Inc on 4322 8600 or alison@youthconnections.com.au.

Press release, October 3 Alison Hood, Youth Connections Inc.