VET

Learning Pathways MS ARLIE HOLLINDALE, CO-ORDINATOR OF LEARNING PATHWAYS

2019 was a positive and fulfilling year for the Specialist Elective program and other learning pathways exploration.

The opening of the Health Hub in August 2019 was a highlight of our year. With the injection of $14,000 worth of P and F funding, the College was able to open a two-bed (threebed capacity) simulated Nursing ward and Allied Health station. This first-of-its-kind, privately-funded, in-school facility allows our students who are interested in pursuing Nursing, Health and Allied Health careers to train for a Certificate II in Health Support Services and then branch into a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance or Allied Health Assistance. Mater Education delivers training on a fortnightly basis to our Health students; a program which continues to be the most high in demand amongst the Specialist Elective choices.

The opening of the Health Hub sparked great interest and support from our dynamic, local Health industry, and our health students enjoyed enhanced Health experiences, visitations and simulations through partnering with Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) and LifeFlight. Another new advancement to this program this year, was the four-day practical placement spent in the Mater Hospital, Brisbane. In addition to this, we partnered with St Vincent’s Hospital to provide a second practical three-day placement locally. New partnerships were also secured with local Allied Health networks providing two-weeks’ experience to our Allied Health students. These invaluable placements have provided our girls with a most realistic exposure to the Health industry. An additional high point of the program was to see three of our Year 10 students, who were studying their Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) through Darling Downs Aero Club, spend an intensive two-day Gateway to Aviation program at Wellcamp Airport. Fairholme College and Wellcamp Airport partnered to create the immersive experience where the girls spent a significant amount of time airside on the apron (tarmac) welcoming the Cathay Pacific 747 Cargo Freighter, Qantas Dash-8, Airnorth Embraer, Regional Express SAAB340 passenger aircraft and the ACC King Air Charter planes. However, more than this, the experience was aimed to expose the girls to a much larger picture within the Aviation industry. Flight deck inspections on all the aircrafts, including discussions with the pilots formed an interesting part of exploring career pathways and sharing lunch with (past) General Manager, Sara Hales opened the girls’

minds to what a young woman can achieve with determination, grit and guts.

The Year 10 students had hands-on experiences in ground operations, baggage handling, check-in procedures, runway inspections, weather and wildlife checks and they even trained with the security and screening team on their simulated security facilities. Discussions with the business development and marketing departments and assisting to make the lunch meal in catering services, formed part of the immersive, unique partnership experience. The highlight, of course, was an up-close inspection, tour and flight deck visit to the Cathay Pacific Cargo Freight carrier. The dynamic Wellcamp team created a first-class experience, where our girls could immerse themselves in all things ‘Aviation’ and explore aviationrelated pathways beyond what they could have imagined.

STIMulAtED – Science/Technology, Innovation, Mathematics, Arts, Engineering and Design

Our STIMulAtED program also received recognition. The students won the Best Pitch award at the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards for the research, design and pitch of their prosthetic hand concept; SecondHand. The students spent the year developing a number of STEMrelated skill-sets through programs of coding, 3D printing, robotics, virtualreality design and other concepts required to design a prosthetic hand for children; one which had technological enhancements aimed at children’s interests. This concept looked at allowing those students with deformity to not be stigmatised and to improve their mental health through creating fun and engaging prosthetics for children. For example; lights, sounds, functions that mirrored Marvel, Disney and other super-hero and fantasy characters.

The Hospitality students were also involved more heavily with the College events and other sponsored engagements, such as the Women of Strength and Mother’s Long Luncheon, RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service Breakfast, Junior and Senior Sporting Carnivals, Grandparents’ Day, Senior breakfasts and many other on- and off-campus events.

New Developments leading into 2020

Exciting new partnerships were formed this year, which has led to the development of training opportunities within the Specialist Elective program into the areas of Aviation, Dance, Virtual Reality and further Health opportunities. The 2020 program will now offer a Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot License – Visual Line of Sight) and a Certificate III in Dance, as well as a Diploma in Social Media and Marketing which will be delivered via Virtual Reality training. Our Health program also has enjoyed interest from the Aged Care sector, which looks promising for further exposure in 2020. Exploration of rural placements through partnering with SQRH and UQ, as well as tertiary entry pathways to USQ, are being negotiated.

2019 Specialist Elective Enrolments (by demand)

23 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (plus Certificate II in Health Support Services) 14 Certificate II/III in Hospitality 12 Certificate III in Fitness 10 Certificate IV in Crime and Justice 8 Diploma of Business 7 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (plus Certificate II in Health Support Services) 7 Certificate III in Education Support (Teacher Aide) 3 Recreation Pilot Licence 2 Certificate IV in Fitness 1 Certificate IV in Education Support 1 Certificate III in Early Education and Children’s Services (0-5years) 7 School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Agriculture 2 School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Early Education and Children’s Services (0-5years) 1 School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Hospitality 1 School-based Traineeship - Certificate II in Hairdressing 1 TAFE - Diploma in Nursing 1 TAFE - Certificate III in Beauty 12 Alternate Program (no qualification) - Active Citizenship and Service *mid-year entry students 5 Alternate Program (no qualification) – STIMulAtED 5 Alternate Program (no qualification) - Music, Song, Dance, Drama