blueprint
australian industry trade college
A Personal Industry Coach (PIC) provides coaching and mentoring to young people throughout their Education and Industry blocks. The PIC can be seen as a conduit between Industry Consultants and young people and also Team Leaders and young people. Sunshine Coast PIC, Melanie Snow says, “We are often helping young people build confidence on how to call employers to gain work experience, how to show initiative on the worksite, and instil the AITC values and expectations in regard to positive attitude, behaviour and performance.” PICs also work closely with Campus Managers and Regional Industry Officers, attend parent/young people meetings and develop goal and action plans that a young person can work towards achieving.
WORK EXPERIENCE CAN BE A BUZZ FOR OUR PERSONAL INDUSTRY COACHES
A typical day for a PIC is to visit young people while out on work experience and see how they are going, “learning about their industry and letting them know we support them.” Working one on one or in small groups with young people who may need coaching or mentoring on a variety of topics (employability metrics, career planning, goal setting, wellbeing). Meeting with staff to see if there are any young people who may need extra support. Checking-in with young people to see how their day is going, and popping into their education classes from time to time to see what they are learning. “Every day is different,” says Melanie. “I thoroughly enjoy making a personal connection with each young person and watching them grow and mature across their years at the College. It’s also great to work with such an amazing team here on the Sunshine Coast. It takes a village and we truly do that every single day. Working closely with multiple staff, young people and parents is what allows the AITC young people to flourish.” “The favourite part of my job is seeing young people in action when they are out on work experience or at their traineeship/apprenticeship workplaces. It allows me to see the young people in their element. When they are passionate about their work, it clearly shows! I also enjoy seeing them at graduation—all dressed up with QCEs and apprenticeships—such a proud moment for them, their parents and for staff who work with them every day.” Recently Melanie visited young person Ava who is learning the apiarist trade (beekeeper) at Beyond Honey. Even though Melanie admits she’s “kind of scared of bees (I just don’t like them buzzing around me)” she couldn’t wait to visit Ava out on her work experience. “I tried to show courage, don the bee suit and get up close and personal while taking photos of her in action. The focus and skill she showed was amazing.” N
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2021
“There is always something new to learn every day as a PIC like how to ethically source honey,” says Melanie. “Beyond Honey is going above and beyond with their hives in every natural way they can. Each of their hives produces honey of varying colours and flavours depending on where it’s located and what types of nectar and pollen those bees bring back to the hive.” Under the careful eye of Cooper (owner of Beyond Honey), Ava checked the hives for several things; if the queen is still there, if there are any eggs, how the bees are doing and if any pests have tried to invade the hive. They keep track of their hives on an app where they monitor important factors including temperament, production and genetics. The queen bee is the one that is blue. They slightly mark the queen bees with a pen/marker and then track them by colour on their beekeeping app. It also makes it easier to locate the queen when they are checking the hives. They currently have 90+ hives located across various paddocks on the Sunshine Coast.
