Imagine going to school, boarding school, where your learning was contextualised to suit where you were heading in life. Where you had the chance to pursue your vocation, so to speak ? Where classroom time was alternated with workshop time. Where practical learning was in the next room to theory ? Where working in the industry you were keen on was experienced over months not one week. Where you developed your belief in your abilities and realised your potential.
Where, upon completion of Year 12 you were not only industry ready but understood completely the responsibilities of being a practicing technician and a valued employee. Imagine then, being head of a school that is facing Australia’s job challenge head on and providing real solutions for employers – employers that are undertaking some of our nation’s greatest projects.
Ross Jorgensen is the Principal of Tec-NQ based in Townsville, with campuses in Cairns and Mackay. But today we’re talking about Townsville because this landmark school has a boarding school too.
From Year 10 this co-ed school allows kids to experience each of their offered disciplines from automotive, to construction, plumbing, electrical, engineering, health and hospitality along with the Australian school curriculum they’re do weeks of each vocation.
Once they finish Year 10 they choose which vocation they’d like to strive for and strive they do, in an environment that completely replicates real world experiences – industry grade workshops and equipment. Industry mentors and expert teachers. In year 11 the kids will rotate every two weeks between classroom, trade workshop and work, with an added 13 weeks industry work experience. By year 12 the students are in the field for 21 weeks. All the while being guided and nurtured in a fraternity that meets their needs, their level of maturity and age.
Sound too good to be true? Well it’s happening in Queensland, it has been since 2007 and I couldn’t wait to get the inside story this week with Ted-NQ’s head of school. Imagine being in a position where you get to facilitate the further education of our future workforce ? To see those young people grow and thrive learning in a way that suits them and provides so much value to their community.
I know you’re going to want more information about this boarding school so I’ve put a link show notes.
Enjoy this chat with Ross Jorgensen.
Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast.