ON MARS

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FUTURE-FORWARD THINKING

The first tradies on Mars

Increased interest in growing fresh produce prompted by the pandemic, and a desire to foster future-forward thinking, resulted in the idea for a cross-subject curriculum. The First Tradies on Mars unit, established by AITC Team Leader, Rhys Cassidy got its namesake from the founder of FutureWe Jonathan Nalder, who has radish seeds that have orbited the Earth.

RESILIENCE

CREATIVITY

SYSTEMS THINKING

SUSTAINABILITY

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S INDUSTRY LEADERS

PROBLEM SOLVING

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“[The unit] is designed to take young people out of their comfort zone to think about a future scenario that requires new skills that are applicable here on Earth, right now; skills like creative problem finding and solving, resilience, systems thinking, sustainability and interdisciplinary thinking,” says Rhys.

Young people from the Gold Coast and Redlands campuses have been undertaking a number of futuristic projects in the past months at the College. “Such a project utilises the ‘maker mindset’ that we encourage here at the AITC,” says Regional Operations Officer Nathan Reynolds. “It facilitates the showcasing of constructivism theory into practice.”

The first future-focussed project was undertaken by young people at the Redlands campus, who grew radish seeds as part of their Learning From Home program when COVID-19 restrictions first impacted Queensland schools. The students were tasked with tending to their seeds and logging the progress via pictures uploaded to the College’s Learning From Home platform. “The photos we received from the young people were incredibly insightful,” says Rhys. “They collected significant data throughout the experiment.”

The radish seed experiment aimed to inspire young people to investigate the idea of becoming sustainable on Mars, should the need for colony food production be required. The challenge was more than simply keeping the seeds alive, it was also designed to prepare young people for the quick-changing nature of a future in industry.

Some weeks later, after young people had returned to campus, Gold Coast team leaders organised the inaugural AITC Greenhouse Challenge. The challenge saw young people work in teams to build a model Martian greenhouse structure where their crops would thrive.

Leading up to the challenge, young people researched methods to grow microgreens in a hydroponic system; a method used to grow plants without soil, instead using only

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S INDUSTRY LEADERS

water infused with mineral nutrients. The young people had been conducting additional research into how plants adapt and change in different environments, including in space and space-like conditions.

The teenage researchers found that Mars has an extremely inhospitable environment, including very cold temperatures, less sunshine than Earth, and a thin atmosphere that does little to trap any heat or prevent the build-up of radiation and carbon dioxide. Following this discovery, young people spent time looking at methods employed by scientists who have successfully grown plants in low-gravity environments, such as on the International Space Station. Each team was supplied with newspaper, masking tape, solar panels, mirrors, an oxygen capturer, water storage, and water recycling mechanism to construct a geodesic dome.

In addition to the hands-on learning experience that came with constructing the model dome, each team was tasked with explaining how their greenhouse operated and how they would arrange the crops. The unit required critical thinking, collaboration and communication in teams, while applying theory learned in Science, Maths and English.

As well as constructing the model dome, each team was tasked with explaining how their greenhouse operated and how they would arrange the crops. The project was created to provide young people the opportunity to learn across subject areas through the hands-on experience of taking an idea, designing, developing and prototyping it.

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IPSWICH’S FIRST SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICE

P A I N T I N G T H E W A Y , O N E M I L E S T O N E A T A TIME

The AITC Ipswich campus celebrated its first school-based apprentice, Billy Mole, who commenced his career in painting just in time for National Skills Week in August.

With fanfare in tow, including a presentation by CEO Mark Hands, Head of Education Eliza Lane and Regional Principal Tracey Miller, the confident and reliable Year 11 student was signed-up by local Ipswich business Kendall Custom Painting for the campus’ inaugural school-based apprenticeship.

“Billy’s work experience feedback was perfect, he scored straight 10s,” says Industry Consultant Jason O’Halloran. “Billy’s employer Shane Kendall said he had never seen a happier young guy who just got in and worked.”

“Shane was very impressed with Billy, saying he was never distracted by his phone, and actively engaged Shane and his team in conversation over lunch,” says Mr O’Halloran. “When I placed Billy with Shane, I knew their personality would be a match.”

Billy has commenced his Certificate III in Painting and Decorating and will work with Shane five to seven weeks out of each term, in alignment with the AITC’s curriculum, and will move into full-time work upon his graduation.

“Billy is a great example for all our young people, he is proof that doing the small things well and living by our AITC values will see you snapped up quickly by an employer in your chosen industry,” says Mr O’Halloran.

When Billy first entered the College, he was interested in engineering, but after trying some painting and building tasks during the AITC’s induction program, Billy chose house painting for his first work placement.

New AITC students have the opportunity to try a selection of trades when they first enter the College, which helps young people determine the industry they may be interested in pursuing. Many AITC young people, like Billy, will wind up in a different career than they initially planned.

Upon enrolment, each AITC young person is assigned an Industry Consultant who will support them in securing work experience and an apprenticeship or traineeship over the course of their senior schooling.

Young people are encouraged to be proactive in seeking work experience opportunities for themselves, however their Industry Consultant is never more than a phone call away.

The Ipswich campus is excited to see many more young people follow in Billy’s footsteps and achieve apprenticeships and traineeships in the coming months and years.

IPSWICH

EDUCATING TOMORROW’S INDUSTRY LEADERS

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CELEBRATING OUR SIGN-UPS

GOLD COAST

AMBRA CANU

15 July 2020 + Childcare After a few days at Bluebird Early Childhood Centre, the director could see Ambra was a natural in childcare, and offered her an apprenticeship.

JACK GAPES

6 August 2020 + Electrical Jack’s employer wasn’t looking to hire an apprentice when Jack completed work experience, but his work ethic, attitude, patience and persistence changed the employer’s mind, and he was offered an apprenticeship.

LINDEN FLORY

22 July 2020 + Electrical Engineering

Linden entered the College with a goal to become a locksmith, something his grandfather passed down to him. He was signed-up after only a few weeks of work experience.

TYE WICKHAM

12 August 2020 + Welding

Tye’s work placement feedback was excellent, with the employer saying he

‘could not fault’ Tye. It was no surprise

Tye was signed-up shortly afterwards!

REDLANDS

JACK TAYLOR

31 August 2020 + Plumbing

Daniel from Yates Plumbing decided back in July that he wanted to offer Jack an apprenticeship, but wanted the moment to be a surprise and have the whole team present. Jack was asked to come to a café, where the Yates Plumbing team and his mum were waiting to surprise him with an offer of an apprenticeship.

MADISON HEAGNEY 27 August 2020 + Childcare

Madison’s employers saw how caring she was when working with children, and knew she would be a

great addition to the team.

FLYNN DAUTH

4 September 2020 + Electrical Flynn completed a few work experience placements, and was signed-up after his employer saw Flynn’s potential.

BEN JACKSON

17 August 2020 + Engineering - Heavy Machinery Ben trialled a few different trades before choosing to work with Shine Precision to complete a Certificate III in Engineering. The team at Shine say he is a fantastic addition to the team.

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SUNSHINE COAST

CHRISTIAN HELYER 27 August 2020 + Plumbing

While walking his dog one day, he saw an O’Brien Plumbing vehicle, and promptly called them to request a work experience placement. The employer was impressed with Christian’s initiative and attitude on the job, and offered him an apprenticeship a few weeks later.

KALAN DOWDLE

21 August 2020 + Locksmith

Kalan has completed a number of work placements at two locksmith businesses owned by the same employer, and impressed with his hard work, dedication and attitude.

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BRANDON KERSWILL

13 August 2020 + Welding/Boilermaker

Matthew was offered an apprenticeship after only three weeks of work experience. Brandon began at the AITC in January in Year 10, and has already been snapped up by an employer! This speaks volumes about Brandon’s work ethic and employability skills.

DARBY BANKS

2 September 2020 + Electrical Darby lives the College values and has a strong work ethic, both of which paid off when he was signed-up into an electrical apprenticeship.

JORDAN CARR

20 August 2020 + Tiling Jordan was signed-up into his apprenticeship after only two days of work experience.

TOOWOOMBA

OLIVIA ZAVONE

18 August 2020 + Patisserie After showing the industry team one of her cakes, Olivia started thinking baking and patisserie might be more than a hobby. Her employer was so impressed, they offered her an

MATT GELDARD

11 August 2020 + Carpentry - Cabinet Making

apprenticeship straight away.

RILEY BRODRICK

19 August 2020 + Carpentry

Riley’s sign-up came as no surprise, as he has made a strong commitment to his career since beginning at the AITC. We know he will continue this commitment throughout his career.