Tradie places: Hands-on study proves the real deal

Technical colleges are helping South Australian school students forge crucial industry connections, paving the way for a skilled future workforce.

Findon Technical College Year 12 student Cooper Bills is appreciating the chance to develop hands-on skills that will stand him in good stead for his future career. PIcture: Russell Millard

Today’s secondary students are already preparing to be tomorrow’s skilled workers, combining job-specific training with high school to fast-track their careers – as well as South Australia’s economy.

To meet SA’s future skilled workforce needs, the Department for Education has introduced an array of training options into secondary schooling as well as relevant career education to ensure students pursue the right opportunity for them.

Flexible Industry Programs are available as part of existing Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VET in Schools) programs across SA’s 140 government secondary schools.

The programs better connect students with industries in need of workers and give them entry-level skills to be job-ready when they graduate.

One technical college at Findon is already open, with four others earmarked to be open by early 2026 to provide specialised industry training, which can contribute to students’ South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and lead to apprenticeships and traineeships, further education or university.

Education Department Student Pathways and Career Division executive director Clare Feszczak.

Student Pathways and Careers Division executive director Clare Feszczak says career education is embedded in schools to give students as much career experience as possible. “Young people need to start early in school to understand what the opportunities are, to develop their skills and capabilities and to connect with industry,” she says.

“Then, they have the ability to make good choices about their careers because they’ve had that experience and that support in school.

“It’s about vocational education and training and the opportunities it creates, as well as developing the employability skills that young people need to pursue their career.”

New tools and resources have strengthened career education for students as well as parents, who can be just as likely to be unaware of career opportunities as their children.

Resources include a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence that can advise students from Year 7 about careers and the pathways open to them in SA.

“We’re using some world-leading models in career education,” Feszczak says. “Young people also make connections with employers while they’re in school through opportunities for work experience and workplace visits, having industry come in and talk at schools and virtual work experience.

“It’s opening students’ minds as early as possible to all the options, and then students start to understand who they are and what careers would suit them.

“In Years 11 and 12, they can specialise if they choose to and start to train and develop the skills so they’re starting their career as early as Year 11.

Then, post-school, it’s a seamless transition into a job, into higher education or further training.”

Technical colleges are being embraced by students who are suited to practical learning or have their mind set on a job in a particular industry.

While students still study subjects such as maths and English, the content is taught in the context of their desired industry, which also makes completing SACE more appealing.

“It’s very much practical, project-based learning and students are working on real, authentic industry-type projects,” Feszczak says.

“They spend a fair bit of time with employers and can start their apprenticeship in Year 12 in that industry.

“It’s very appealing for any students who know the industry they want to work in to get the opportunity to fast-track and accelerate their training so they’re into their career earlier.”

Local, national and international employers such as BAE Systems and BHP as well as industry associations including Master Builders SA and the Motor Trade Association SA/NT have partnered with technical colleges to help design the industry training programs and guarantee jobs and careers to students. While the programs equip students with vocational skills, it does not hinder nor steer them away from pursuing a university course.

Findon Technical College student Cooper Bills. Picture: Russell Millard

Trade school move pays off

Cooper Bills was one of the first students to start at Findon Technical College when the school opened in January 2024 to provide practical education to the state’s future workers.

He came across the college while attending a careers expo to find out how to get work on submarines, and decided to enrol in its Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering stream.

“(Findon Technical College) sounded like a pretty good place and I wanted to give it a shot,” the 16-year-old says.

“The school I was going to was more orientated on woodworking and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) rather than trades.

“I thought, ‘I want to get into a trade, so I might as well go to a trade school’.

“I learned more at the tech college than in all of my metalworking classes at my old high school.”

He says the subjects are different to his former high school, such as learning computer-aided design (CAD) skills and obtaining a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways.

Attending the college also gave him special insight into the work that SA’s defence companies such as BAE Systems and Axiom complete, as these employers partner with the college.

“I got to do some work experience at both places as well as learn a bit about machinists, and we got to do a bit of work as a fitter and turner and a fabricator,” Cooper says.

“It was a good way to meet up with some people in BAE.”

This year in Year 12 he is undertaking a school-based machinist apprenticeship, working full-time at BAE Systems at Edinburgh Parks and training in a Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade).

When he finishes his school-based apprenticeship, he is considering applying for a mechanical engineering degree apprenticeship, which will further his trade as well as provide a university education.

Port Augusta Technical College will be open for semester two this year while colleges at Modbury Heights, Tonsley and Mt Gambier will open in 2026.

technicalcolleges.sa.gov.au

Originally published as Tradie places: Hands-on study proves the real deal