Over the past 6 years staff have been developing partnerships with external training providers and Senior Development Officers from the Department of Education and Training. The culmination of these relationships has enabled greater access to employment data for informing the vocational pathways we train and encourage our students to embark upon. As such these connections have been used to provide the current senior cohort (11’s and 12’s) programs that directly align with job areas that are in high demand.
Current Subjects on offer for our students:
- Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation—4QCE points
- Certificate I Construction plus 6 Certificate II competencies—5 QCE points
- Certificate II in Engineering Pathways—3 QCE points
- Certificate I PLUS in Furnishing—5QCE points
- CAD Partial Certificate III in Manufacturing and Partial Certificate III in Engineering—9QCE points
- Graphics—Authority subject 4 QCE points
The Marsden Apprenticeship Program is designed to give our students the opportunity to build employability skills, awareness of, and experiences in a variety of trades. Top Performing Students (TPS) identified within the Marsden Apprenticeship and Women in Trades Programs are given opportunities to build an awareness of, and a greater understanding of the variety of trade based employment pathways available to them. They are also invited to ‘Master Class’ training sessions which are designed to specifically target employability skills and requirements of the employers taking them for work experience.
Opportunities include:
- TP students and their parents are invited to the Industry Symposiums (bi annual) to showcase their skills and meet with potential employers.
- TP students are invited to excursions and information sessions, competition events and on site visits.
- TP VET students are invited to attend “Master Class’ pre work experience training sessions. On successful completion they receive certificates of participation for their resume portfolios and contacts for work experience.
Construction Program:
The year 12 Construction program in particular focuses on 4 key areas within the construction industry that are currently and/or projected to experience skills shortages. These areas include, Brick and Blocklaying, Wall and Floor Tiling, Roof and Wall Framing and Concreting. The Brick and Blocklaying course is conducted over a 10 week period (or 1 term) in a team approach with trainers from the Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation. Wall and Floor Tiling, Roof Framing and Concreting are also run over 1 term in partnership with Lead Vocational Mentors from SkillsTech. The course of study is strategically managed culminating with Master Class sessions for the TPS in each of the following disciplines.
Year 11: Timber Wall Framing, Plastering, Fix Out and Painting.
Year 12: Bricklaying, Roof framing and soffits, Wall and Floor Tiling and Concreting.
Women in Trades Program:
The Women in Trades Program here at Marsden offers female students within the ITD Department opportunities to explore job prospects in traditionally male dominated industries with other like-minded students. The program is coordinated by our female automotive teacher and focuses on providing students with experiences to make informed employment decisions for their future. These experiences include information workshops, excursions, trade tasters and links with industry mentors and contacts. The specific try a trade experiences are adapted to suit the student’s interests and where possible delivered by qualified tradeswomen from industry including:
- Painting
- Tiling
- Electrical
- Welding
- Bricklaying
The Year 11 & 12 Engineering Program provides students with industry skills relevant to the engineering trades. The delivery of the Engineering Program is ideally suited to project-based activities and units of competency that are linked together in the context of projects that reflect workplace and industry practice. Students are given the opportunity to build on their industry skills with activities such as: welding, mechanical cutting, grinding, use of hand and power tools, use of workshop tools and oxy cutting. This Engineering Program delivers broad-based underpinning skills and knowledge in a range of engineering and manufacturing tasks which will enhance the students’ entry-level employment prospects for apprenticeships, traineeships or general employment in an engineering-related workplace.
Furnishing Program:
Furnishing is a two year program dedicated to achieving MSF10113 Certificate I in Furnishing plus 3 certificate II competencies. Marsden State High School guarantees that student will be provided with every opportunity to complete the certificate as per the rights and obligations outlined in the enrolment process and information handbooks. Successful completion of the competencies requires students to provide evidence of what they are learning in a variety of forms both theoretical and practical. Evidence gathering for this qualification is continuous and units of competency have been clustered into groups for completion at the end of each semester. Combined with further study in this field, students can complete qualifications (some as high as diploma level) in the following furnishing sectors:
furniture making, furniture finishing, cabinet making, timber and composites machining, glass and glazing, soft furnishing, upholstery, security screens and grills, picture framing, soft furnishings production, blinds, awnings and shade sail – productions and installation, window coverings installation, upholstery, mattress and base making.
Graphics Program:
The Year 7-12 graphics programs put students through the process of developing designed solutions to everyday needs and wants. The graphics program has students working through folio based projects, requiring them to produce design solutions for a range of contexts. Students develop a solid understanding of all processes involved in creating graphic based assets for production including conceptualization, research and planning through to production outcomes and uses. Students are given the opportunity to learn and use the latest in design software and hardware used by industry professionals, such as: 3D modelling software; architectural design software; image manipulation software; laser cutters and 3d printers.
Participation in the graphics program can allow students to develop skills necessary in the fields of:
- Engineering
- Town Planning
- Architecture
- Product Design
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
- Animation