Year nine students got the chance to try out what it would be like to work in the real world.
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Gloucester High School students were able to choose from a range of career options, as part of the ‘Try a Trade’ day held on Wednesday, September 21.
Twelve groups spread across town trying different professions.
They experienced things like dairy work, beef production, automotive, hospitality, beauty therapy and outdoor recreation.
Dylan Green, Jake Danton and Sam Ballentine spent the day at IGA learning about retail.
They were able to restock chips, milk and butter and change the tickets on the shelves.
Jake thought it would be pretty fun to spend the day at IGA and thinks it would be a good place to work.
Dylan Green said “it would be good to have a little bit of experience before getting a job here.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, six students spent the day learning about hospital care.
Ayrleah Tull, Emily Murray, Ella Blamires, Sara McBride, Maggie Hennesy-O’Rielly and Neve O’Brien were treated as part of the staff at the Gloucester Soldiers Memorial Hospital.
Deputy Director Nursing, Renee Worthing showed the students around the building and let them try out some of the equipment.
They even had a chance to put on hospital scrubs and check out the operating theatre.
Sara chose the hospital experience because she wants to work in aged care.
Ella said” I’m interested in nursing and enjoy spending time with the oldies.”
She often spends her spare time at Hillcrest Nursing Home.
Ayrleah said she picked the hospital because her grandmother used to be a nurse.
“I wanted to know what it was like for her.”
The days activities were organised so students could participate in hands-on experiences in a professional environment.
Months ago, the students completed surveys, which gave an indication of what kind of work students wanted to experience.
Based on this information, local employers and North Coast TAFE were contacted and arrangements were made to conduct the activities on the day.
The sessions allowed students to engage with professional workers within the industry, ask questions, perform basic tasks and/or observe the daily operations of a business. Some employers gave students a tour of their facilities creating a very realistic view of how a particular business operates.
This experience precedes the Work Experience Program the students will engage in next year.