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Kwinana Industries Council iMen Project

EXPLORING A VET PATHWAY OPPORTUNITY

Year 10 student, Hunter Frazer recently took part in the Kwinana Industries Council (KIC) iMEN Project, a 7 day program for Year 10 students who intend to follow a VET pathway in Years 11 and 12. 

The program, held in Term 2, took 32 students from the schools in the KIC Education Partnership.  It included site tours of industries in the Kwinana Industrial Area and the opportunity to meet employees in a range of roles.  Students also undertook workshops where they:

  • Prepared a portfolio with cover letter and professional resume.
  • Learnt interview skills and techniques.
  • Experienced mock interviews with industry representatives.
  • Considered social media, health and wellbeing and more.
Students who successfully complete the program graduate on the final day at a Ceremony attended by their parents and school representatives.  The program is endorsed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) and students have the opportunity to gain accreditation which is a C grade towards their WACE.
Hunter Frazer - Year 10 (Custom)

HUNTER’S THOUGHTS ON THE PROGRAM

What did you enjoy most about the program?
I enjoyed the team building exercises where myself and the other students had to work collaboratively to win different tasks and challenges. My group had to create a pyramid by manipulating a stack of paper cups using only an elastic band and 6 pieces of string held by each person. It was hard to begin with as you have to work in sync with each other, but we soon got the hang of it. We were successful at the task and won the challenge!

We attend excursions daily where we visited local construction sites on the Kwinana industrial strip. My favourite outing was attending the Construction Futures Centre in Belmont. This was a hands-on experience where we were able to gain knowledge of what being on a construction work site would be like but in a safe environment. There was simulation training where I used an RV headset and a control to direct a crane on a mine site, as well as a digger simulator that taught you how to use the control panel to move dirt from one place to another. It was very realistic.

Did it give you any ideas/insights around what you might like to do (as a career)?
Before starting the program I didn’t really know what pathway I wanted to take as I didn’t know very much about different trades and the construction industry but the program has helped me gain more knowledge around what is out there. I find the mechanical side of things interesting and am looking at applying for heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeships once I finish school.

What advice would you give other students thinking about joining the program next year?
I would tell them to give it a go! I’ve met lots of kids from other schools and people from local construction companies who have given me great ideas of what my future could be like. The program is heaps of fun and it will help you figure out what you want to do when you leave school.

Header image source: https://kic.org.au/education/imen/