Departmental Media Release
Wednesday 8 August 2001
A young year 12 Indigenous student from Canberra’s Erindale College today called on ACT business to welcome school students into their workplaces to train and learn.
Speaking at the Go Career seminar for business this morning, Melissa Bulger, a school-based trainee, encouraged ACT employers to join about 50,000 businesses around Australia that are already reaping the rewards of inviting enthusiastic young people to participate in their workplaces.
Melissa is doing studies in a vocational course in Business Administration with the Indigenous Business Chamber.
Melissa is paid for her on the job training and is gaining valuable industry experience during her final college year. At the end of 2001, Melissa will have achieved a Certificate 2 in Business Administration in addition to her Year 12 Certificate.
In 2000, 4,136 ACT students from Government, Catholic and Independent schools participated in Enterprise and Career Education, an increase from 2,022 students in 1997.
Also speaking at the seminar, the First Assistant Secretary, Schools Division within the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Mr Tony Greer said, "Helping our young people, assists businesses now and in the future. Melissa is a great example of how Enterprise and Career education benefits both students and business.
"Businesses hold the key to ensuring a skilled and motivated workforce for Australia in the future, through partnering with local schools and offering work place training for students.
"Young people who participate in Enterprise and Career Education are better trained and better motivated to meet the needs of business. Businesses benefit through more productive employees and an improved competitive skill base.
"Enterprise and Career Education programmes such as vocational programmes in school, work placements, New Apprenticeships in school or career advice, are common features of senior schooling, and are examples of the changing methods of teaching to help better prepare our young people for life in the workforce.
"It is evident that students gain invaluable experience from work-based training and the opportunity to experience ‘real work’ offered under the Go Career initiative. This is illustrated in the recent report School Innovation: Pathway to the Knowledge Society," said Mr Greer.
The Chief Executive of the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Christopher Peters, said that the business community welcomed the new "Go Career" campaign which focuses on promoting the benefits of Enterprise and Career Education to businesses in the ACT.
"A number of new relationships between businesses, industry and secondary colleges have been formed through the Chamber’s on-going dedication to Vocational Education and Training. There is a range of benefits for all stakeholders in these relationships, but the big winners are the local businesses that can rely on professionally trained staff to increase profits.
"It is vital for students to learn these industry skills and attitudes at a young age to allow them to pursue a fulfilling and lucrative career so that industry has access to job ready and willing staff," said Mr Peters.
In March, Dr Kemp, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs launched the Enterprise and Career Education Foundation (ECEF) as a way of supporting partnerships between schools and industry by more effectively linking them with the community. The Howard Government has funding of about $100 million for ECEF.
Further details are available on the Enterprise and Career Education web site http://www.gocareer.gov.au/