CHS students sign up for school based traineeships
Wednesday April 8, 2009
Cobar High School student Callie Black, Cobar Shire Council’s Karen Irvine, CHS
principal Peter Cochrane, Australian Apprenticeships Centre Business Coordinator Kayleen Murray, program coordinator Robyn Alderman, CSA Mine’s Sue Ham and CHS student Kate Beard at the contract signing on Friday at the council chambers.
Three Cobar High School (CHS) students and three local employers have signed
up to take part in a new program that
will give students the opportunity to
start their careers while they are still at school.
The three senior students, Stephanie Hay, Callie Black and Kate Beard, recently signed on for school based traineeships with the Cobar Bowling and Golf Club, Cobar Shire Council and CSA Mine respectively.
CHS teacher and coordinator of the school based traineeship program Robyn Alderman said the traineeships will provide students with the opportunity to attain a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification as well as their Higher School Certificate (HSC).
“It gives students a great start to their careers and also helps with the retention of students in secondary school,” Ms Alderman said.
The students will carry out the theory component of a Certificate II in Business Studies at school and complete a minimum of 100 days of paid on-the-job practical training with their host employers.
Cobar Shire Council’s Human Resources Officer Karen Irvine said council is very pleased to be involved in this program.
“Not only are we assisting to provide a local student with some on-the-job experience while they are studying their business units at school, but we are also doing our bit to encourage our local young people to stay in Cobar to be trained for their future careers,” Mrs Irvine said.
CSA Mine’s Human Resources Advisor Sue Ham said CSA’s involvement in the school based traineeship program had come as a direct result of a community survey the mine conducted last year.
“The survey identified that there were limited options available for local girls who wanted to stay in town and pursue employment in traditional female roles such as administration.
“This initiative also complements our existing apprenticeship program,” Mrs Ham said.
CHS principal Peter Cochrane said since arriving at the school it had been a target of his to have students completing traineeships and he was now pleased to see three students involved.
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