Senator to officially open multi-million-dollar Newcastle Catholic Schools Trade Training Centre
On Tuesday 5 May at 9.30am, Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO will officially open the multi-million-dollar Newcastle Catholic Schools Trade Training Centre (TTC) at St Francis Xavier's College Hamilton (SFX).
SFX is the lead school of a cluster group of Catholic schools, including St Paul's, Booragul; San Clemente, Mayfield; St Pius X, Adamstown; and St Mary's, Gateshead, which received Commonwealth funding of more than $6.8 million to build Trade Training Centres providing state-of-the-art Vocational Education and Training resources for students. The facilities developed in these schools focus on skill shortage industries such as Hospitality and Building and Construction.
A unique aspect of this cluster was the inclusion of the Yula Punaal Centre at Mandalong. This partnership allowed for the development of a TTC facility at the Mandalong site with the express purpose of addressing access to skills development for indigenous students, especially in the field of Land Management and Horticulture.
Vocational Education Officer at the Catholic Schools Office, Lyndelle Neville, said "We're excited to offer these amazing TTC facilities to students and we're looking forward to welcoming Senator Sinodinos to SFX and representatives from all cluster schools to celebrate this exciting opportunity for Vocational Education and Training in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.”
“VET offers students courses which contribute to their HSC in areas such as construction and manufacturing trades, office work, retail, hospitality and technology and the growing need for agricultural development.”
"It's been identified by students, parents and industry groups that exposure to work placements through VET programs and work experience career immersions have a significant impact on the ability for students to successfully progress into post school pathways," said Ms Neville.
"Students gain industry and employability skills to assist their transition to the world of work and exposure to career areas in which they may have an interest,” she said.
All courses qualify students to continue on a pathway to further study. The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is proud to offer VET at most of its secondary schools.
Visit mn.catholic.edu.au to find out which Catholic Secondary schools offer courses in:
- Agriculture
- Business Services
- Construction
- Electrotechnology
- Entertainment
- Furniture Making
- Hairdressing
- Hospitality
- Information and Media Technology
- Metal and Engineering
- Retail Services
- Sports Coaching
For more information, please contact Communications Manager, Kylie Cooper, on 0419 263 901.
