BUSINESS leaders from Terang and district are getting involved with the next generation of workers after meeting high school students yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
More than 100 people from the local community attended a breakfast to hear about the opportunities business and community members have to actively engage with Terang College year 10 students.
This year the school has collaborated with the Beacon Foundation for the first time to raise student aspirations and creating new community and business connections.
The list of collaboration opportunities through the program includes mock interviews, work experience, career days and industry tours, as well as inviting business and industry into the classroom to enrich the curriculum.
Terang College Beacon co-ordinator Narelle Holliday said students and staff were excited about the opportunities available through networking with local businesses.
“We had 30 year 10 students take part in the breakfast with their parents and about 30 business people from Terang and district,” Mrs Holliday said. “There was really positive feedback from them all and I really think the local businesses will engage students and assist them with their career pathways.”
Student Naomi Attrill said her involvement with Beacon had helped in her role as the event’s MC yesterday.
“I don’t think I would’ve had the confidence to do it if it wasn’t for Beacon because they teach us about public speaking and how it doesn’t matter if you muck up if you pick yourself up and keep going,” the 16-year-old Beacon ambassador said.
“Since the start of the year we’re just getting to know other Beacon schools, meeting and interacting with them, meeting different mentors from different businesses and talking about their experiences and how they got to where they are.
“These events help us to not feel so scared of them.
“We can go up to them and have a conversation now because we’ve been introduced to business people in our community.”
She said the upcoming self-development Polish program on September 2 would emphasise career skills and give students a chance to sit down to lunch with community partners.
“It will be about getting to know business people more and sort of like speed dating, you get some time with each person to find out how they got where they are.”