Trades and Training

Welcome to the new iNewsletter page for Trades and Training. This newly grouped section of the college includes Automotive, Bees, Design & Technology, Engineering (Metals), Equine, and Forestry. I will be leading this section into the future. Some families will know I have been here for a long time, mainly in the teaching areas, but I also have a strong agricultural and engineering background with experience in a range of cropping and industrial settings. I am a Cert IV Trainer and Assessor holding the required certificates to operate in a range of areas.

Our aim is to further develop the Trades and Training experience to support students in courses and activities that will be interesting and beneficial to their progress into employment and adult life. We will do this by leading and supporting our students and trainers to gain skills, knowledge, and experience. As always, we plan to provide facilities and resources in line with industry expectations.

My aim is to develop increased interest and confidence in our College training programs as well as forge improved links with industry and develop strong local partnerships.

Please get in touch if you have an ideas, comments, or suggestions for us. I am very keen to hear about possible work experience partnerships and apprenticeship opportunities.

Staff in this newly grouped section include:

Automotive – Mr Kemp

Bees – Mrs Duffall

Design & Technology – Mr Toon

Engineering (Metals) – Mr Hamilton, Ms Pepper and Mr Chopping

Equine – Miss Pagan

Forestry – Mr Adams

Automotive

Term 2 in Autos sees Year 12 students getting stuck into electrical circuits. Trailer wiring can be problematic so Mr Kemp has been sharing his tips on making good electrical connections that will last in all conditions. Students are also using the various electrical testing equipment to help test and diagnose problems.

The Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation Unit of Competency AURETR103 Identify automotive electrical systems and components requires students to learn and gain experience in a range of different common electrical systems.

Bees

The Year 11 & 12 beekeeping students have been busy practising their beekeeping and enterprise skills by inspecting our hives, extracting honey, making products from wax and celebrating International Bee Day!

Our bees have been on a ‘honey flow’ for the past few months and the students have extracted a whopping 200kgs of raw honey which we sell through the front office.

As well as the golden sticky stuff, we made gifts to show the students how to value-add wax, a by-product of honey production. Some lucky mums and Grandmothers received yummy-smelling lip balm, candles and honeycomb (see pic) for Mother’s Day this year. If you missed out, then we’ll have some available at our College Open Day in August.

The Year 12 group were also lucky enough to undertake a giant origami project, making core-flute nucleus boxes (see pic) to be used for transporting the full honey frames to the bee shed.

While the weather has been fine, we have been focusing on competencies around correct use of bee smokers, hive equipment and personal protective equipment. We are trying to improve the temperament of our College bees by introducing some very chilled golden bees. So far, we have 2 happy hives up and running. The students love working with them.

Equine

Equine students continue to grow in confidence and abilities in this area. Students across the year groups have been out riding and working towards the Units of Competency such as Perform Basic Riding Skills and Developing Riding Skills for Exercising Horses. Other riders are looking at more advanced skills and appear to be having a great time.

Year 10 Metals

Mr Toon has been using our new computers and software to support students in working towards their AHCINF208, Fabricate and repair metal and plastic structures Unit of Competency.

Students are investigating different metal profiles such as SHS, RHS, UB, UC. Using ICT CAD 2D as a strategy to identify these shapes. The Year 10s also learned about line types within CAD software, in particular “Lines to Polylines”. This is an important process of drawing an image in DWG and converting it to DXF format. This is essential for transferring the drawings for CNC plasma cutting.

Forestry

Our new Forestry qualification has just been approved for delivery and we are excited to get started on delivering and assessing the new units. As always Mr Adams is one step ahead and ready to go.

Year 10 students had a visit to the Shire of Denmark and got involved in native plant propagation, the students get to experience propagation methods used for the development of new plants for revegetation and replanting projects. Developing strong links with the community and the environment.

Year 11 Forestry students received extensive training in effective sharpening of chainsaws and maintenance of the saws themselves. Once prepared they got busy with a cross cutting job on the College farm.

Students in Year 12 Forestry were involved in an investigation into the trees on Farm’s Harris Block. Here they examined tree species and growth, taking measurements for the Tree Inventory.

Students also attended two weed (blackberry) control workshops. The presenters were South Coast Bush carers, formally the Denmark Weed Action Group. They deliver bush regeneration workshops and some on ground activities.

Andrew Dickenson (Group Leader) and Mark Spencer (Trainer) guided the students in the creek-line which runs through the culvert off East River Rd. They discovered a variety of unwanted plants and focussed on removal of ivy and blackberry.

Metals and Engineering

The metals and engineering area continues to develop and with that the projects seem to get bigger! Some Year 12 student projects are nearing completion. Some of the toolboxes, trailers and ute trays are looking almost ready for paint and electrical wiring very soon.

The New MEM20422 Engineering Pathways (which supersedes MEM20413) course is now being used with all Year 11 Students. All staff in this area have been working hard to develop new plans, activities, and knowledge-based questions for this refreshed course. It is an ideal fit for our young people looking to get into this industry area.

Year 11 projects are looking great with many students constructing fire pits and other smaller projects. The skills learned here will certainly be a great foundation for larger and more complex projects next year.

Mark Boynton

Program Coordinator – Trades and Training

WACOA - Denmark

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Excellence and Innovation in Agricultural Education

Issue 3 · 26 May 2023

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