TAFE’s First 2025 Yes Program

Two weeks into Term 2, the YES Program commenced at TAFE NSW Griffith, with 17 Marian students registering to take part.

The YES (Youth Engagement Strategy) Program offers high school students a hands-on introduction to various vocational trades and industries. It’s designed to provide students with a practical taste of TAFE learning and potential career pathways. For many, it can serve as a stepping stone towards TVET courses, SBATs, apprenticeships, or traineeships.

Our Year 9 and 10 students participated in four engaging workshops, each offering valuable experience:

Construction: Students built Garden Outdoor wooden beach chairs.

Welding & Fabrication: Students designed and constructed outdoor fire pits.

Automotive: Students were hands-on in the mechanics workshop, gaining insight into car maintenance and repair.

Hair & Beauty: Students practiced shampooing, styling, and working with both hair mannequins and live models.

Key Features of the YES Program:

Hands-on experience: Students learn in real TAFE environments such as the Engineering Workshop, Automotive Workshop, or simulated salon.

Industry exposure: Some sessions include guest speakers and workplace visits to broaden students’ understanding of trade industries.

Career exploration: The program introduces students to different training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Skill development: Participants gain confidence using tools, applying WHS practices, and transitioning into a vocational learning setting.

Over the five weeks, our Marian students were actively engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A big thank you to Mel, Diane, and Dee from TAFE Griffith for their ongoing support and for giving our students such a valuable opportunity.

I highly recommend the YES Program to any students considering a career in the trades. If your child is interested in participating in future YES programs, please keep an eye on Compass notices for updates from Ms. Lole.

White Card Term 1 & Term 2 2025

The White Card course continues to be a popular and in-demand program here at Marian, with student participation increasing each term.

The course is delivered by Western Riverina College (WRC) and is a mandatory requirement for anyone intending to work on construction sites across Australia. It is especially important for senior students studying Construction as a VET subject and for those wishing to undertake work experience in the construction industry, including placements with builders, electricians, plumbers, and other trades.

USI Requirement

To enrol in the White Card course, students must first apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI). A USI is a lifelong education number that creates an online record of your vocational education and training undertaken in Australia.

To apply for a USI, students can visit:

🔗 https://www.usi.gov.au/students/find-your-usi

Australian residents can register using forms of ID such as a Medicare card.

Non-permanent residents may use a passport or seek further assistance by contacting 1300 857 536 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm).

Once students receive their USI number, they must:

Keep a copy for their records.

Send a copy to Ms. Lole at: loles@ww.catholic.edu.au to complete the WRC registration process.

Term 3 Update

The final student list for the Term 3 White Card course has now been finalised and there is no course in Term 4. Any students who wish to participate in the course in future will need to register their interest for Term 4 for 2026.

Please feel free to contact me if you require any further details or assistance.

Ms. Lole at: loles@ww.catholic.edu.au or Lucia Dickie: dickiel@ww.catholic.edu.au

Carevan

At Marian, we are proud to support our local community by providing nutritious, cooked meals to assist individuals and families who are facing hardship due to poverty, hunger, or homelessness. Once a term, on a Wednesday, dedicated staff and students volunteer their time to prepare, cook, and clean as part of our Carevan duties. Participation is entirely voluntary, and Term 1 was a great success, with many enthusiastic senior and junior students stepping up alongside our committed staff.Griffith Carevan serves up to 300 meals each week and operates one night a week at three different locations: Thomas Place, Dave Taylor Park, and Parkinson Crescent.A heartfelt thank you to Katherine, Maureen, Lucia, Trish, our senior and junior students, and Maureen’s Year 9 class for doing a fantastic job ensuring our industrial kitchen was left spotless. A special thank you also to Katherine’s Year 12 Hospitality class for their excellent preparation of ingredients for the caravan. Students from Marian who would like to be part of this great initiative are encouraged to email Ms Lole at loles@ww.catholic.edu.au. We are currently in need of student helpers during lunchtime and recess.If you are a parent and would like to get involved with the Griffith Carevan, please contact Janice Sartor on 6962 4144.

Ms Lole

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