Job mobility in Australia is at an all-time high. The estimated national average tenure in a job is now three years and four months; meaning the average school leaver may have up to 17 different employers in their lifetime and they may also have five separate careers, according to an article from McCrindle. This reflects an ever-changing workplace and the need for cross-sectional skills. Some career pathways are changing rapidly with technological advances to the point where one can only wonder if and what jobs will be obsolete in the years to come.
Having coordinated Vocational Education and Training (VET) at Avondale School for the past 23 years, I have witnessed many changes occur during that time and the ever-changing conditions around the decisions our students need to make regarding their chosen pathways for Stage 6. It can be very overwhelming, very quickly, with the range of choices now available to students. Over the course of time, these pathways have broadened and students now have an array of choices before them. One thing that has remained consistent is the need for skilled workers within the Australian workforce.
This week is National Skills Week, dedicated to raising the profile and status of skills and vocational learning. The theme this year is ‘Game Changer’. Ensuring students learn the required skills and achieve appropriate VET qualifications can be the ultimate game changer in their career and life. Our Year 11 students have returned recently from their first blocks of work placement in Hospitality, Fitness, Business Services and Construction. Students were able to put their skills learnt in the classroom into practise in industry with experts to guide them throughout the week. Students got to experience firsthand some of their chosen industries and the implementation of their employability skills. With rapid changes to the work force and the rate of technology growth, one thing that has remained consistent are employability skills; initiative, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, cooperation, honesty and integrity, to name a few. These skills are transferable from one job to another.
As Sister Mary Lauretta is quoted to have said, “To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.” As our senior students face their potential career decisions and subject choices over the next few weeks, the thought sits with me for the students to follow their passions and their enjoyment in learning, as the job will find them through these experiences.
Mrs Donna Nevell
VET Coordinator
Type on the line above then press the Enter/Return key to submit a new search query