Glenn Davis is driving a campaign to see work experience offered and be easily accessible to students attending schools in the Mid Coast region.
This week he spoke to Taree Christian College students about career pathways that do not require university attendance, and advocated to students the need to also consider traineeships, apprenticeships and on-the-job-training. The Distinctive Building Co owner thinks “schools are so focused on year 11 course selection, ATAR and university” and it drove his decision to create the first Taree Careers and Trades Day.
The choice to speak to students at the school follows the “outstanding success” of the event at Taree PCYC on Saturday, December 1. Glenn rallied more than 30 local businesses to participate and between 9am and 1pm he said more than 250 students attended with their families.
“It was a fantastic day. Peter Bolte from Taree Bi-Rite did a count and at 10am we had 132 students in the hall at the PCYC. You’d have to estimate that probably double that figure, maybe 250 – 300 kids came through on the day,” Glenn said.
“The energy and enthusiasm from the people who attended and businesses was absolutely amazing.
Harris AC and Electrical was one of the businesses to make staff available to discuss the air-conditioning and electrical trades industry, and Lara Harris described the day as “absolutely amazing”.
“This was my first expo and I found it incredible. The kids were engaging, they came with their résumé ready-to-go, they knew exactly what they wanted and why they wanted it, which is fantastic to find in a local community,” Lara said.
Glenn will now seek to work with businesses and schools to discuss student access to work experience.
“In general, most parents expressed disappointment in the schools and the ability for students to do work experience. It was not just one school, it was a general consensus from parents of students at numerous schools.
“The push is going to continue, we are going to keep on with this and we need parents to raise the issue of work experience with schools.”
