Centralian Senior College partners with Repco for ‘Vroom’ program, proves a hit with students

A group of Red Centre students have been learning the in-and-outs of the automotive industry, in a program which has left even the Chief Minister impressed.

Oliver Phelps from Centralian senior college talks cars with Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A partnership between a private business and a Red Centre school has proven a smash hit with students – with the Territory’s Chief Minister even impressed with the program’s success.

On Monday July 29, students at Centralian Senior College in Alice Springs, welcomed the Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler and showed her how they have been learning the ins-and-outs of the automotive industry with help from Repco.

The Centralian Senior College partnered with Repco on a program called ‘Vroom’, which Centralian Senior College principal Joanne Alford said supported students in their transition to work.

“It’s really important for us so that young people don’t feel locked into one model of education that we actually can be flexible around what we offer to support them in their learning journey,” she said.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler talks cars in Alice Springs with a tutor from Centralian Senior College's Vroom program. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“And alongside being work ready, we also then are teaching those work-ready skills.”

For Centralian student Oliver Phelps, learning how to service and repair cars has given him the “many skills I’ve needed to join the workforce”, he said.

“They can be applied to any job I get in the future,” he said.

The partnership with Repco has proved so successful in the Red Centre, the company is “strongly considering” expanding the model, according to Ms Lawler.

“It’s great to be here at Centralian Senior College with these young Territorians, who have been doing a pre vocational education and training course around motor mechanics; around getting to know vehicles,” she said.

Ms Lawler said the government was strongly focused on supporting the roughly 420 students in vocational education and training to “make sure we have the workforce of the future”.

“But this isn’t just happening in urban Alice Springs. We’ve also got work happening out at Hermannsburg at the Tjuwanpa Outstation resource centre where there’s been 41 students there who’ve done vocational education and training out there remotely.

“It is about making sure whether you’re in Alice Springs or whether you’re in a remote community, that you have the opportunity to do vocational education.”