Stanthorpe students engage in apprenticeships, traineeships

There are so many aspects of school life these days that differ from schooling days of years gone by.
At St Joseph’s School Stanthorpe, students can participate in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
These programs allow the student to work for an employer and undertake training towards a recognised qualification while completing their secondary school studies.
This is ideal for local employers to work with the school and place students in the appropriate work environment.
Students are given a taste of the workforce whilst still being in their school environment. Students benefit from such programs by still studying and being able to work, get paid while they learn, obtain skills and experience and a sense of achievement, to name a few.
On the other hand, the employer receives many benefits also. They have the opportunity to train students the specific needs of their business, receive government financial incentives, recruit and train future employees and develop loyal and motivated staff.
St Joseph’s has had a number of students participating in the successful program over the past years. This year there are seven Year 12 students and four Year 11 students to date, with another two students currently in the process of being signed up for traineeships and another two completing work experience with the view to sign a traineeship with the work experience provider.
Dylan Antonello has been working at Howard and Sons for the past two years. He has been building trusses and said, “It’s been a great experience where I’ve learnt many things and met a bunch of great people.”
Dylan works at Howard and Sons and said it doesn’t affect his school work at all.
For the past year Ashley Carter has worked at Hidden Valley Winery. Ashley doesn’t work in the vineyard but does a lot more work based in the winery.
He cleans the machines when the pressing and crushing is done.
“I enjoy the job, get to meet people and am able to learn many new things. I work at the winery one day a week and my school work fits in all okay.”
Michael Contarino is just beginning to enjoy his one day a week with builder Bruce Einam. Michael has only been on the job for the past few weeks.
“In the weeks I’ve started work I haven’t worked in the same place. It’s only early days yet but I seem to be coping okay. I actually finished an assignment. I’m really enjoying this choice I’ve made.” Michael hopes to be a builder one day.
Daniel Debnam has worked at Granite Belt Body Works over the past 12 months and enjoys his time with the boys there twice a week.
“They are a great bunch of people to work for. I manage my school work and the job okay. I really enjoy working with cars and do lots of replacing windscreens, pulling panels off and pre-repair work.”
Working with your dad could be a problem. But Jordan Sullivan, who works one day a week with his dad and builder Peter Sullivan, said it’s not so bad.
Jordan who has worked with his dad since the age of 13, but only one year as an apprentice, said he mostly gets sent off to work with the other guys.
Jobs such as roofing, gyprocking and concreting are part of the usual duties.
“Doing this program in Year 12 hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be,” Jordan said.
Tom Costanzo has had an apprenticeship with Border Refrigeration since December 2009. Tom enjoys the electrical component of the work.
He is on the job twice a week and will set off to TAFE once again in May for four weeks.
Of his first time at TAFE last year Tom said, “I found it really hard. I had eight assignments and three exams in four weeks.”
The Queensland College of Wine Tourism is where you’ll find Jessica Franchi every Wednesday and sometimes on the weekend. “I love it. Waitressing is a good experience to have as you can always get a job doing that anywhere.”
Jessica said she gets to meet many locals and non-locals while working.
As for the work and school load, she said that it was harder in Year 11 when she missed HPE and other important subjects.
“The school has changed the timetable to suit the students, which has made a huge difference,” Jessica said.
If any business in the local community would like to participate in this program, please contact the VET coordinator Matthew Brown at St Joseph’s School.
The benefits of taking on a school-based trainee/apprentice not only benefit your business but create employment opportunities for young people in our local community.