We are ending National Skills Week with a success story from the College. Jesse Noort fell in love with motorsport as a young teenager and knew she wanted to be part of the high-octane action one day. She was able to do just that thanks to securing a School-based Apprenticeship while at St Patrick’s Technical College.
“When I was in year eight my mum and dad took me to Clipsal and I loved the action, the environment, the high adrenaline. I just fell absolutely in love with it. As soon as I experienced it, I knew that is what I wanted to do,’’ Jesse said.
With a clear focus on her goal, Jesse was among the first students to complete their Year 12 from #StPatsTech’s $15 million purpose built facility in Edinburgh North. Studying the automotive stream at the College, Jesse was able to secure an apprenticeship with the MTA Group Training Scheme in 2009.
Her enthusiasm saw her apprenticeship fast-tracked, with her being signed off an impressive 14 months early.
As soon as she had her qualifications, she got herself onto the Brad Jones Racing team on the V8 Supercar circuit. She travelled around the country firstly as second mechanic and later in the sub-assembly area.
“I still can’t believe how much I did during my time with the Brad Jones Racing. In my first two weeks we built a whole new car. It was an awesome experience,’’ Jesse said.
Now 25, Jesse returned to Adelaide after her time with Brad Jones Racing and took a sales role with Repco.
An Automotive Parts Interpreter at Repco Modbury, Jesse is the first point of contact for industry when searching for parts. She also handles general public sales.
“I basically help mechanics get the right part at the right time. My job is to help industry get the parts they are after, and there’s so much terminology around all the different parts I really like being able to identify what they need.’’
StPatsTech teacher, Bruce Hall, was Jesse’s teacher in 2008 and was delighted to recently catch up with his former student.
“Jesse is certainly one of our success stories,’’ Mr Hall said. “She had her head screwed on and new what path she wanted to follow and saw that through to the end. It is awesome to see how our former students have flourished. It’s really rewarding.
“Having a trade behind you really opens up so many different career pathways, and some students may not be aware of.’’
Jesse recently got engaged and bought her first home in the northern suburbs. She plans to start a family in the short-term and is saving for a trip to Disneyland.