Board Visit Central Coast
Aquaculture, food technology, automotive industry skills and children’s services are just some of the training areas the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training sampled when it visited the Central Coast on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 September.
The trip was part of the Board’s program of regional visits and a great opportunity to see the unique ways in which Central Coast training providers are reducing skill shortages.
“Flexibility is critical to successful vocational education and training across New South Wales,” said Mr Bert Evans, AO, Chairman of the Board.
“This means flexibility in the content of courses offered, so skill shortages are addressed as soon as they are identified, and flexibility in delivery, so opportunities are maximised for students from a wide range of backgrounds.
“The highly responsive cross-sectoral approach on the Central Coast involving industry, TAFE NSW, schools and other training providers is providing great flexibility, and we are keen to hear about successes that can be applied elsewhere.”
Members on the visit were Mr Evans, AO, Chairman, Dr Paolo Totaro, AM, Mr Kevin Power, Mrs Kay Sharp, AM, and Ms Linda Simon.
On Tuesday 13 September the Board toured the combined university/TAFE/community college campus at Ourimbah. The Board was keen to learn more about this model of intersectoral co-operation, which, for example, can see university, TAFE and HSC school students taking combined laboratory technician classes.
At the campus “Previews” Restaurant hospitality students prepared, served and were assessed on a formal three-course lunch for the Board. Board members then toured the campus, meeting staff and students involved in a range of vocational courses.
A large number of secondary school students taking HSC vocational courses were on campus that afternoon, together with students taking pre-apprenticeship training under the Tradestart@TAFE initiative announced by the Minister for Education and Training in March. Under the Tradestart@TAFE program, students take an intensive 16-week preliminary course that provides a year of credit towards an apprenticeship.
The Board also saw a new one-way glass observation room for Children’s Services training, and food technology laboratories operated in partnership with businesses.
Later that afternoon the Board discussed local skill needs, vocational education and training opportunities and the operation of the multi-sector model with the Central Coast Campuses Advisory Board.
On Wednesday 14 September the Board visited the Marine Aquaculture Centre at Wadalba Community School and were interested to learn about a student enterprise education venture selling aquacultural fish futures.
At the Wadalba Community Centre the Board met students from the school’s Plan-It youth mentoring program, for which the Board provided evaluation and operational funding. The Board was delighted to hear of successful outcomes for young people mentored under the program in their transitions from school to further study, training and employment.
The Board next visited Brian Hilton Toyota at North Gosford, a local employer of apprentices and of trainees in the T3 traineeship program.
T 3 - Training and Technology for Tomorrow - is a school-based traineeship program that allows a student to gain their HSC whilst undertaking part-time work and training in the automotive industry. The program offers a range of three qualifications at AQF Certificate II level in the industry - Vehicle Servicing, Parts Interpreting and Business. All students complete their Certificate II training at the local TAFE campus.
T 3 is backed by several of Australia’s leading car companies: Toyota, Holden, Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Saab and Porsche. The T 3 program provides a pathway for students interested in a career within the motor vehicle industry and represents one year of an automotive apprenticeship.
As Chairman of the National Automotive Industry Skills Forum, Mr Evans was particularly interested to learn first-hand about the operation of the program.
Finally, on the afternoon of Wednesday 14 September, the Board visited the TAFE NSW Hunter Institute Gosford campus. There members met staff and students and saw the Mechanical Engineering Centre of Excellence, where metal fabrication, welding, fitting and machining are taught, the computer-assisted drafting laboratory, the Aged Care training facility and Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy salons. All the skills taught in these facilities are currently in shortage, in New South Wales and nationally.
The Board were most impressed with the innovative ways in which vocational education and training programs are being provided in the region.
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