Newman College Leaders, Tayla Swan and Tom Wilmot answer questions on why they chose the VET pathway at Newman.
Taylah Swan – Year 12 at Newman Senior Technical College 2021, Age 17 years
- What vocational study are you doing at school? The vocational study I am studying at Newman is Human Services Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33015. What I am learning through Human Services are the all-important roles for my later career, from the little things like bedside manners and communication to the big things, like being able to advocate for patients, how to provide support and comfort to others.
- Why are you doing this now, rather than waiting until you have finished school? I am completing this study now rather than when I leave school to be able to use my Certificate III to help me get into university to further study nursing, and to be able to use the experience and my current employment in the nursing home as a stepping stone that has relevance to the industry I am interested in.
- How will what you are learning through VET help in your later career? What we learn in class gives us more experience and insight into the nursing industry to know what will be expected of us, including the challenges and rewards that come from working within the industry. I feel that when I start working in this role, I will be able to communicate and support patients with more confidence than someone who hasn’t got hands-on experience when it comes to working.
- What are your plans post-school? I plan on going to university and further study in nursing so one day I will have the experience to move to rural places around the world and make a difference in these communities.
Tom Wilmot Year 12 Newman Senior Technical College 2021, Age 17 years
- What vocational study are you doing at school? I am currently studying Certificate III Construction and the HSC. I also have a School-based Apprenticeship in Carpentry.
- Why are you doing this now, rather than waiting until you have finished school? Why wait, studying VET has provided me with part-time employment with a builder and will set me up with full-time employment straight out of school, plus I’m also getting paid for my work which gives me a head start on other kids my age.
- How will what you are learning through VET help in your later career? What I learn at Newman is directly linked to what I will use in the workplace. It prepares me really well for work-life as we experience working in the community one day a week through Year 11 and two days a week in year 12. Even if you don’t have a school-based apprenticeship you still get to experience workplace learning in every VET subject studied. It also helps you gain knowledge in a range of different work environments and helps with picking the career, best suited for you.
- What are your plans post-school? Once I finish attending school at Newman in September, I will go on to full-time employment with my employer as I only have to sit a couple of HSC exams in October to complete my HSC. Then in January 2022, I will be a second-year apprentice and continue my study at TAFE for another three years. By the time I’m 21, I plan to be a fully qualified Carpenter with five years of experience under my belt.