Beacon pilot program helps students turn a training opportunity into a career

The Beacon Foundation is working to create a job-ready generation of Tasmanian students.

Beacon CEO, Scott Harris, today congratulated 14 Newstead College students who have turned a training opportunity into an exciting career opportunity.

“Over the past two years, Beacon and the Department of Education, have been working together on the Vocational Placement Pilot Program,” Mr Harris said.

“The program brings together students, schools, businesses and the local community to trial a different way to help students get the training they need as well as opening the door to an exciting career.  The 14 students graduating today have all completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.  As part of the program they’ve also had real world experience to the workplace and mentoring from local businesses.  In fact, all 14 students graduating today either already have a job or have been offered a job.

“It’s fantastic that by working together with students, schools, businesses and the community we’ve been able to not only make sure these students get a skill for life, they get a job that will help set them up for life.

“The program takes students who are studying VET courses and matches them up with an employer in that industry.  The student gets to understand what it’s like to actually work in the industry they’re studying and the employer gets to mentor a young person and potentially even find their next star recruit.

“There are so many fantastic career opportunities available to young people in Tasmania at the moment and there is a real shortage of skilled employees in some areas.  It’s programs like this that are going to plug the gap and make sure we are all working together to create a job-ready generation.”

Find out more about our Vocational Placement Pilot Program here.