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BALLINA HIGH SCHOOL WOWS BOARD
Ballina High School and its award-winning vocational education programs were the drawcard for the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET) when visiting Ballina on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 February 2005. The focus of its visit was vocational education and training (VET) in schools.
Members had been keen to see Ballina High School’s unique and innovative programs, and to talk to students, staff and school partners .
The school won the 2004 Australian Training Award for Excellence in Vocational Education and Training in Schools.
The Chairman of the Board, Bert Evans, AO, said: ”We are delighted with the recognition Ballina High School has achieved for the fantastic it work it does.
“We were aware of the impressive range of vocational learning opportunities it offers and wanted to see them first-hand. The school has exciting options like aviation, aeronautics, aquaculture and marine industries, and has a highly innovative program for young people who might otherwise think of leaving school early.
“We get out and about a lot and know there are many other great things going on throughout the state in vocational education. For example, TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute, which has a campus in Ballina and in other centres on the Far North Coast, won the 2004 Australian Training Award for Large Training Provider of the Year at the same time as Ballina High was honoured with its award. This is a real feather in the cap for vocational education and training providers of the North Coast – and New South Wales.”
The Board visited the high school on Friday morning and saw first a class of students taking a lesson in using dinghies with small outboard motors on the river. The Board was then shown through the fascinating Marine Resource Centre, complete with large aquariums of fish and skeletons of dead marine mammals washed up in the river that the school has a licence to collect. An inspection of the school’s Aquaculture facilities followed, where trials to rear different species of marine creatures are conducted. Board members also talked to the other vocational education and training teachers, Driver Training teachers and viewed Construction, Hospitality and Metal / Engineering classes. The School’s Careers Adviser and staff described the school’s compulsory Year 10 Work Experience program and showed individual examples of student Skills Logbooks, where students’ achievements are clearly and attractively presented for use in seeking employment. After lunch, beautifully prepared by the school’s Hospitality students, the Board held its February meeting.
The school’s projects for 2005 include a number aimed at environmental sustainability, such as new electric vehicles, to study sustainable technology and processes; the production of biodiesel for the 6x6 troop carrier; and the exploration of alternate energy sources, including solar and wind power.
On Thursday morning Board members took an orientation tour in the school’s 6x6 troop carrier. Mr Evans and other members consulted co-ordinators who arrange work placements, to obtain their feedback for a study into the value of vocational HSC courses.
Other Board members visited the Wollongbar TAFE campus where many students from local high schools, including Ballina, take their vocational classes in subjects like Community Services, Automotive, Animal Care, Beauty Therapy, Child Studies, Children’s Services, Clothing Production, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Plumbing, Tourism and Primary Industries.
On Thursday afternoon the Chairman and Mr Kevin Power, Board member, visited the Ballina TAFE campus. There they viewed the Maritime Operations training centre, where seamanship training is offered to students from entry level to Certificate IV level, and talked to teachers of Community Services and Aged Care and others.
While in Ballina, Board members also called on seven local employers who provide work placements for students taking HSC vocational courses. These included Lower Empire Vale Cane-Harvesting Co-operative, the Ballina Shire Council workshop, NSW Fisheries, Koellner Steel, Sidney and Richardson and the Hughes Group of Companies (designers and manufacturers of lightwing aircraft and boats).
In addition, a number of members visited the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board in Lismore where the BVET Board is helping to fund projects to develop Indigenous employment services and business mentoring, trial agricultural and horticultural enterprises and deliver culturally-appropriate training programs.
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From left to right, Kevin Power, Board Member, Bert Evans AO, Chairman, and Rhett Turner, Head Teacher, Maritime Studies Facility, TAFE NSW - North Coast Institute, Ballina Campus
BVET Chairman Bert Evans, AO; Mick O'Connor, Head Teacher, Science Technology, Marine and Aeronautics, and Marine Studies students in years 9, 10 and 11, Ballina High Schools, in boats
Mick O'Connor at the screen and clockwise: Board members Paolo Totaro AM, Kay Sharp AM, Kevin Power, Bill Wooldridge and Ballina High School Principal Ros Mayberry in the Marine Studies lab.
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