School Industry Roundtable Conference

Wangaratta High School was lucky to be invited to the first North East School Industry Roundtable conference last Friday at the Quality Gateway Hotel. The event was hosted by Robyn Farley and Claire Grellman from Jobs Skills & Pathways Ovens Murray-North East Victoria Region. The conference was facilitated by Karina Dooley from Projectura.

The conference was aimed at finding a link between school and industry and looking at the future local workforce. The three industries targeted were Agriculture, Engineering and Natural Resources, in regard to the increase of technology in the workplace and the development of future workplace skills.

The morning started with a quick introduction of attendees including all of the students, there were three schools represented, Wangaratta High School, Myrtleford P-12 and Cathedral College. The conference was also attended by senior leaders from the Department of Education, Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Change, NELLEN, EVERO Engineering, Rural City of Wangaratta, Northeast Catchment Management Authority, NE Tracks LLEN, Department of Jobs Skills Industry and Regions, Carter Holt Harvey, Connex Group to name a few.

Students and staff were broken into groups and each group had mix of school, industry and government. During the morning there were activities that each group undertook that stimulated some informative and inspiring conversations, the students who were there were open in their opinions and ideas and there were some very positive contributions made.

With the collection of information, the action plan is to improve school-industry partnerships and support pathways and careers for young people.  There was a real ‘buzz’ of positivity at the end of the conference and an excitement of the possibilities that are in front of us and the future of our students. 

Cate West

Careers Practioner