NORTHAM Senior High School's (NSHS) school-based traineeship program shows the key to success lies in a collaborative effort between motivated students and staff, the community and training organisations.
NSHS has offered school-based traineeships to their students for more than 14 years, with some students being offered full time employment upon completion of their qualification.
Students are placed directly with employers or host employers through group training organisations, South Metropolitan Youth Link and AFL SportsReady, with the registered training organisation, CY O'Connor, responsible for training students within their workplaces.
Dianne Dwyer, career and vocational education manager at NSHS, has seen how school-based traineeships benefit the students, the school and the Northam community by helping students find their individual career pathways.
"Students have the opportunity to choose a training pathway by studying certificate courses and engaging a work placement," Ms Dwyer said.
"We have some fabulous students in the school, both Indigenous and non-indigenous, and dedicated staff members who are keen to provide pathways beyond school for our students," she said.
"In 2014, four Indigenous students completed a school-based traineeship and a certificate II in a number of disciplines, including business, hospitality and horticulture," Ms Dwyer said.
"One of the Year 12 school-based trainees, Bianca Garlett, completed her traineeship at Avon Youth and graduated with her certificate II in business.
"She has since been successful in getting a full-time traineeship with group training organisation, Directions, and is going on to study her Certificate III in Business, which is fantastic."
A further four Indigenous students in Year 11 will continue their traineeships through to Year 12 and five Indigenous students in Year 10 are ready to be signed up this year.
To have so many Indigenous students graduate their traineeships is important for the local Indigenous community in North am and Ms Dwyer said it had a domino effect within the school community.
"Success breeds success," Ms Dwyer said.
"Students see their classmates have positive experiences successfully completing their traineeships and gaining a certifcate II at the same time.
"This provides wonderful role models and mentors for the younger students."
Ms Dwyer said school-based traineeships expand students' awareness of industry and employment requirements and give them the opportunity and confidence to pursue further qualifications after school that they may not have considered possible before the traineeship.
"When they are ready to apply for work, they've got that edge because they have the work experience as well as the qualifications," Ms Dwyer said.
Jessica Edmonds is a North am-based Workplace Training Adviser with CCI Apprenticeship Solutions, a Statewide Australian Apprenticeship Centre.
If you have any questions about apprenticeships for school leavers and training options in your community, phone Jessica on 9622 7890.
