FORMER Toronto High School students Sam Wellard and Jack Buckton are well on their way to their dream jobs.
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The 17-year-olds have just graduated from STEM-ship, an innovative new program developed by Hunter TAFE that is aimed at preparing students for the jobs of the future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Both Sam and Jack have been offered traineeships in drafting at EDC Consultants, in Newcastle.
“STEM-ship is perfect for people who want to pursue a career around maths and engineering,” Sam said.
“It places you straight into the field you want to work in and uses a learning environment that teaches you what you’re interested in.”
The 15-week pilot program was developed in consultation with the Department of Industry (Training Services NSW) and Regional Development Australia.
STEM-ship coordinator, Rick Evans, of Training Services NSW, said the program had been a success.
“Many students are now going on to study at TAFE in areas such as electrotechnology, automotive technology and information technology, while several students have already secured employment,” Mr Evans said.
Due to the success of the pilot program, STEM-ship will expand to two groups in 2017.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, has announced apprentices studying at TAFE across Hunter campuses will be taught lifesaving road safety skills from early next year as part of a new program to save young lives on NSW roads.
Towards Zero: TAFE Road Safety Partnership is an initiative of Transport for NSW, Roads and Maritime Services, and TAFE NSW.
“This program has been specifically developed for young drivers, to give students an overview of some of the main issues affecting road safety on regional roads,” Mr MacDonald said.
“The workshop will cover five key issues including speed, driver fatigue, animals on rural roads, driver distraction – particularly the use of mobile phones, and alcohol and drugs.”
Hundreds of TAFE apprentices at Dubbo had already benefited from the pilot program, so it was great to see the program being extended to the Hunter, he said.
