
3 minute read
Career Development
Mr Kevin Johns
Career Development Coordinator At the close of 2006, we can look back on the past few years and see real progress in the provision of services to students. Trinity career resources help all students, particularly our university-bound students who benefit from web programs, printed materials, guest speakers and private consultations.
Thanks to the OECD taking the initiative in 2002, many countries in the world have turned their focus on to career development. If people of all ages are going to find quality of life, they must move from the one-jobfor-life thinking and take on lifelong learning as part of their career. Perhaps they will find a career path in the one industry for life but even within that industry they will need to be flexible and be able to perform multiple tasks.
Local Community Partnerships
From 2006, Australian Government Local Community Partnerships (LCPs) will be incorporated. These are not-for-profit, community based and locally operated organisations contracted by the Department of Education, Science and Training. LCPs will partner with industry and employer groups, schools, professional career advisers, community organisations, parents, young people, youth service providers and other government and community organisations to assist all young people aged 13-19 years to gain the skills, experience and professional guidance to help them achieve a successful transition through school, and from school to further education, training and employment. Trinity College belongs to the Western Career Alliance which covers as far west as City Beach and north to Leederville. There are nineteen schools in this local partnership area.
Senior Enterprise
Under the new management of Peter Duckett, the Senior Enterprise Program will offer twelve (approx) students the opportunity to be involved in several business ventures and a variety of skill based subjects to equip them for employment at the end of Year 12. Some will engage in structured workplace learning and some will complete Certificate I and/or II in Business. Thanks to Marie Zwart for guiding the program to this point.
Career Development Council
To help create a sustainable structure for the College, a council was set up two years ago consisting of staff and parents initially, with the intention of adding students as the council “matured”.
The council represents the interests of the stakeholders in career education. Currently, parent representatives are Judith Marinoni, Michael Brown and David Love. Staff are Kevin Johns (Chair), Doug Simpson (VET), Martin Tobin (Leadership Team) and Tony Webb (Enterprise Education). Marie Zwart has new responsibilities in 2007 and we thank her for her contribution over the past two years. The council has presented two comprehensive reports to the Principal with many recommendations which are being dealt with effectively. Next year, the council will extend its connections with the Local Community Partnership and with other agencies.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
After careful consideration of the needs of some of the boys at Trinity, the IT department will offer a “stand alone” VET course in 2007. Students who enrol in this course will not be required to consider the outcomes set by the Curriculum Council. They will focus on the National Training Authority competencies only. This move is considered to be good for everyone and it will replace the current embedded Certificate II. Students may advance to Cert III in 2008. For several years now, staff in the IT, Physical Education and Senior Enterprise Program have been helping students to gain dual certification by satisfying the requirements of the Curriculum Council for WACE and at the same time gaining competencies designed by the National Training Authority. Forty one students successfully completed a certificate in 2006. Four students completed traineeships. Thanks to Mr Douglas Simpson who as VET coordinator kept track of all these activities.
DREAM TEAM students completed the first half of their program with Housing Industry Apprentices earning a Certificate 1 in General Construction. Congratulations.
Mr Kevin Johns
Career Development Coordinator