School Tech has proven to be a real family affair for one Cairns family, with Fiona and Heath’s three children all participating in the program.
Fiona and Heath (surname withheld for privacy reasons) praised the initiative, which has been an immense success for all of their children.
“It is a wonderful pathway for those who want to work with their hands and seek another way to complete school education that will lead to employment,” Fiona said.
“From the practical subjects to sport, then trade subjects and learning, the students have the best of everything.
“Our youngest son is a third-year apprentice in plumbing all thanks to SchoolTech.
“Two days of school subjects, two days of work experience, then a day’s trade suited him so much.
“We have one son who is a qualified electrician, he was one of the first to go through the program all those years ago, he’s very grateful to have a trade.
“Our daughter is now a teacher’s aide, but the skills she learnt through carpentry helped her with being able to make furniture for herself and at one stage she was selling her pieces.
“Two of our children even received ‘top student’ trade awards.
“We cannot speak highly enough about the program Carmel (Iivonen, head of SchoolTech) and her team run. The teachers are wonderful, they’ve been so supportive and flexible.
“SchoolTech is a great pathway for students that leads to employment – it’s opened so many doors for them.
“It’s like year 12 with a difference. It’s also great for employers, because once students have completed School Tech, they’re already one step ahead of the other students.
“We can’t speak highly enough about the program – it’s been absolutely brilliant and so successful for all of our children.
“They even participate in activities like other year 12s students, like the school formal, interschool athletics and the SchoolTech year photographs.
“If you are a parent looking for another way to educate your child and they want to work with their hands in a trade, there are so many courses to pick from.”