St Patrick’s Technical College this week celebrated its 200th apprenticeship commencement in the Building and Construction industry.
Year 11 Construction student Lainie Thomson this week signed an apprenticeship with Career Employment Group for a Certificate III in Carpentry and will be hosted by a local builder.
StPatsTech shared the celebration this morning with South Australian Minister for Industry and Skills, the Honourable David Pisoni, who visited the Edinburgh North College to meet Principal Danny Deptula and Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) leaders.
“Lainie’s signing recently means we are edging closer to our 900th apprenticeship or traineeship commencement,’’ Mr Deptula said.
“I was very pleased to share the news that the last two Construction apprenticeships gained by our students were secured by young women and congratulate both students on taking the first big step on their career path.”
During his visit to the College, Mr Pisoni met with students and staff and toured the $15 million purpose-built facility.
In the past year the College has signed 86 Year 11 and 12 students onto an apprenticeship or traineeship. Over the next 12 months the College forecasts at least 80 more apprenticeship or traineeship commencements and is on track to sign South Australia’s first digital trainee.
During the visit, Minister Pisoni was able to meet students undertaking the College’s inaugural Information Technology program and see some of their work including the College’s VEX Robotics program.
“We are really ahead of the game with our Information Technology course at StPatsTech. Digital traineeships are the way of the future for industry to ensure a good supply of information systems workers and Vocational Education and Training will play a major role in this emerging workforce,’’ Mr Deptula said.
“Our Year 11 class are not just doing a general information technology course, they are studying a Certificate IV in Programming to industry standards and learning all the core computer skills and languages which industry say are a requirement for employment in the digital space. It is very exciting for the students’ career outcomes but also for the wider South Australian workforce.’’
The meeting included Chairman of the SA Commission for Catholic Schools Professor Denis Ralph and CESA Assistant Director Monica Conway.
StPatsTech is taking enrolments for 2019 and 2020. For information www.stpatstech.sa.edu.au