A new program in Western Australia is showcasing career pathways in the transport and logistics sector to Year 10 students.
An initiative of Western Roads Federation (WRF), the Industry Visits program includes hands on, practical activities to engage students and demonstrate real industry roles.
The program is delivered with engagement by MEGT Apprenticeship Support Services to connect students with potential workplace opportunities, with several successful Perth events already taking place.
Former high school teacher Natalie Grinceri has been tasked with bringing the program to fruition, in her role with WRF.
A pilot of the program was held with Goldstar Transport in Kewdale last October, with 12 students taking part. That event provided an opportunity to make any necessary tweaks to the program, before launching it on a larger scale.
This was followed by a visit to Macknsons Transport in March. “The students got to pack commercial fridges for transport, pull apart an ATM machine that was being decommissioned, and then they got to sit on the forklift and move the forks up and down – they had such huge smiles on their faces. These are all things they wouldn’t be able to see or do in the real world, without a program like this.”
There are a further seven Industry Visits scheduled through to the of June at transport businesses that include Sadliers, KTrans, Matic, and further visits to Macknsons Transport.
WRF is currently exploring opportunities to expand the Industry Visits program into the Goldfields region in July, with three schools interested in taking part.
Asked what was behind the program, Natalie explained, “While working as a high school teacher, I used to struggle to find things that interested kids who didn’t want to be at school but had to be at school – and perhaps had bigger plans.
“I organised an industry driving program for students as an idea to see if transport companies would be open to it.”
The idea of the program was to introduce students to careers they may otherwise have never considered as an option.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. There are so many career paths you can take in the transport industry, but if you don’t smell it, see it, hear the noises, you’re not going to know about the opportunities or how to get there,” added Natalie.
“That’s how the idea was developed. My area within Western Roads is truck driving. Year 10s can’t drive trucks but we have to focus on that age group because they are deciding what they want to do before they get to Year 11 and 12.
“Although they can’t yet drive a truck because they’re too young, they can work in areas that lead to opportunities to work in a yard and then get their truck licences.”
Some of the pathways students have found interesting during previous Industry Visits are truck washing or working in a warehouse. “There are always opportunities to learn until you get to the next step and can get your licence. From there, you can start out in a delivery van and work your way up to a rigid,” added Natalie.
“Showing transport and logistics as a viable career pathway is the ultimate goal. It’s a pathway that can take you in so many different directions.”
MEGT Apprenticeship Support Services also takes part in each of the visits, to talk to students about school-based traineeships, TAFE apprenticeships, work experience and post-secondary education options.
Aimed at engaging students, Natalie says the Industry Visits are much more than just looking in from the sidelines.
“The students get to take part in activities, not just walk around the warehouse,” she said. “We even had one student who wanted to do a light vehicle mechanic apprenticeship but was now asking about changing to heavy vehicles because he was really interested in trucks after the visit.”