With National Skills Week on the horizon for next week from August 21 - 27; Year 12 students finalising their last few weeks of school before heading off to further study and/or work and Year 10 students choosing their subjects and pathways for 2024, parents are asking what the most important skills are to equip our young people as they embark on their journeys.
The University of Queensland released a study which suggests “Most people remain in the workforce for around 45 years (typically from their early 20s to their mid-60s), and the average person changes jobs every 2 years and 9 months. So, you could easily accumulate around 16 jobs on your resumé before you retire.” Of course this will vary with each individual but it is a good reminder that courses studied at school can help students become more employable and help them stand out from other applicants.
Employability skills are the skills transferable to a range of careers; teamwork, collaboration, communication, planning and organising, problem solving, critical thinking, leadership and work ethic to name a few. With the ever-changing work force and the demands that constantly change in the world of work, educators are constantly developing the best ways to teach these skills.
Transitioning from school to the workforce is often met with enthusiasm, excitement and sometimes overwhelming feelings as a lot of decisions need to be made. However, with a focus on employability skills and the ability to adapt to a range of situations, young school leavers can make the transition with confidence that they are prepared for the challenges ahead.
I reflect on the VET team’s quality implementation of vocational education over the past two decades here at Avondale School and our diverse range of courses offered to the students: Business Services, Construction Pathways, Fitness and Hospitality. Changes frequently occur to training packages and our teachers and students need to constantly adapt to industry standards to reflect current practices.
I am very proud of our VET school students and the staff who instil and develop the students' employability skills throughout their courses of study.
The many impressive work placement reports that Avondale students achieve showcase their employability and practical skills developed throughout their courses of study collectively across the campus. It is a credit to the students, their parents and the teachers here at Avondale School.
Mrs Donna Nevell
Secondary Head of VET / PROPEL
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