VCE Vocational News

VCE Vocational Major (Senior) Student Profiles

Layton Nguyen Truong - Work Placement at Transcal

Layton is a young man who is completing his final year of the VCE Vocational major course. Initially Layton was interested in pursuing a career in digital design, however, after being offered a position at Transcal, Layton has reconsidered his career pathway.  

Transcal is a quality fleet branding service that is owned by Stephen Thompson, a Mazenod Old boy who completed his education at the College in 1984. He began his company branding vehicles and has built the company to be a truly national business. Transcal brands all types of vehicles and currently has the tender for Ambulance Victoria, Metro Trains, Ambulance South Australia as well as business fleets and bus lines.  

During his Thursday work placement Layton is learning all the stages of ‘wrapping’ a vehicle. Wrapping allows an owner to develop a graphic which is then transferred to film and applied to a vehicle. Wrapping, which can have a life of over ten years allows an owner to advertise on their vehicle and then have the brand removed at a later date without affecting the duco. When I visited Layton, he was ‘weeding’ a design, this can be a painstaking task where small inserts that are not part of the overall design are picked from the graphic sheet prior to being placed on a vehicle.

Layton is being well looked after at Transcal as many of the staff there are Mazenod Old boys. Stephen Thompson loved his time at the College and willingly gives back by employing other past students. Paul Egan (class of ‘95), Peter McCulloch (class of ‘93), Michael McCulloch (class of 95), Matthew Ryan (class of ‘95), and Steven Paolucci (class of ’95) are all current employees and are vital to the running of Stephen’s business.

Mazenod sincerely thanks Steve, the McCullouch boys and all the staff at Transcal for the mentoring and advice that they have shown Layton. The VCE Vocational Major program would not be as successful as it, without the assistance of employers who are willing to give our young men an experience in the industry where they wish to seek a career. 

We wish Layton all the best for the rest of Year 12 and for his future. 

Matt, Michael, Peter and Paul – the Old Boys mentoring Layton Nguyen-Truong 

Aaron Hicks - School Based Apprenticeship: Electrician

Aaron is a young man who has always been interested in working with his hands. In Year 11 Aaron commenced his Vocational Major pathway and gained work placement as a domestic electrician. While enjoying the opportunities he was receiving, Aaron decided to move into the commercial field and began an SBAT (School Based Apprenticeship and Training) with CES, Construction Electrical Services. 

The school-based apprenticeship program allows a student to remain at school, completing the requirements of the Senior Vocational Major course, while gaining greater time ‘on the tools’.  It is a ‘win win’ for both the employer and the apprentice. For the employer they have the opportunity to teach the 1st year apprentice more skills therefore having a more productive individual on the work site. For the student they can complete their final year of schooling, attaining the senior pass in their VCE Vocational Major studies while also completing their apprenticeship 6 months earlier than they would have if they signed up after completing Year 12. 

During the two days that Aaron undertakes work placement he is working with qualified sparkies who teach him all the aspects of what is involved with being an electrician. Aaron has run wires and cables, worked on circuit boards and assisted in all the major tasks that are involved in commercial electrical work. Aaron has been working at Forest Hill Chase shopping centre where CES has the maintenance contract, in fact CES have the responsibility for looking after all the electrical and power needs of most of the large shopping complexes. Aaron’s supervisor, Lewis had worked as an electrician in Scotland prior to immigrating and he said that Aaron’s training under the Australian standards will allow him to work anywhere overseas as his qualifications are recognised worldwide. 

Aaron is being taught and mentored by very caring individuals at Construction Electrical Services and Mazenod sincerely thanks Dean, Kyle, Lewis and all the staff at CES, (soon to become ARA), for the time and effort they provide Aaron in his pursuit of a career in the electrical industry. The VCE Vocational Major program would not be as successful as it is, without the assistance of employers who are willing to give our young men an experience in the industry in which they wish to work.

If you have the capacity to employ a VCE Vocational major student, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr Leigh Harris lharris@mazenod.vic.edu.au or Ms Athena Beshir abeshir@mazenod.vic.edu.au our Vocational Major Coordinators. The work placement days for Year 11 students who undertake the Intermediate program is Tuesday, while our Year 12 Senior students venture out on a Thursday.  

We wish Aaron all the best for the rest of Year 12 and for his future career as an electrician.