Carlisle Adventist Christian College: Mackay school expansion approved

After nine years developing a purpose-built learning centre, a Mackay school is preparing students for lifelong skills in technology and hospitality.

The entire level of a new Mackay school building has been dedicated to robotics and technology.

As Carlisle Adventist College works to prepare its students for jobs of the future, it will open a new Food and Technology building on Friday.

After more than nine years in development, the building has been designed to foster learning in home economics and popular STEM subjects.

But it also supposed the school’s First Nations community through a yarning circle.

L-R: (back) Dana Tapp, Tate Francis, Tommy Stringer, Emily Skinner, L-R: (front) Chelsea Naylor, Liana Cole, Toby Edwards and Dale Skinner at Carlisle Adventist College. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Carlisle Adventist College principal Dale Skinner said the building’s facilities would nurture students’ learning of 21st century skills for their future careers in technology and hospitality.

He said even 10 years ago, the jobs we prepare children for today were not invented yet.

“So it is giving them the ability to create 21st century skills, to collaborate and think outside the box,” Mr Skinner said.

“It’s helping them when they step into their future careers and whatever that is and to help them be lifelong learners, that’s what we really want from our kids when they leave school.”

The bottom level of the building has an industrial kitchen, cafe corner and a function room for students in year 7 to 12 to learn how to cook, serve and learn managing skills.

The second level of the building is for the technology subjects such as robotics.

Carlisle Adventist College Academic Dean Sharlene Cole said the larger rooms would cater for the growing number of students interested in technology and home economic subjects.

“There are more and more students participating in STEM. Previously we had a very tiny room which meant we could not have a larger number of students taking those subjects,” Ms Cole said.

“It is set up to be future proof so it is quite flexible in the way it is used and it has lots of indoor and outdoor space.

“The teachers are really enjoying trying to set up a different way to make sure kids are learning with 21st century skills, such as collaborative learning and problem-based learning.”

Mr Skinner said the landscaping of the building also included a yarning circle for students to further their learning of Aboriginal heritage and culture.

“We have worked with our First Nations community to really help with the reconciliation and to teach our kids about the history of the Yuwibara people,” Mr Skinner said.

“That space is very incredible and, once that is done, we will be able to invite our community members to come out and use that space.

“It was all about how we can teach our kids about First Nations culture.”