School-based New Apprenticeships in remote areas through RITE
School-based New Apprenticeships can provide kids in remote areas with the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification while also undertaking their formal education. In 2002 Kerri-Ann and Ashley French of Gilberton Station in Queensland both successfully completed a Certificate II in Agriculture while doing their mainstream schooling through the Cairns School of Distance Education.
Kerri-Ann and Ashley have lived on Gilberton Station all their lives and are the sixth generation of the family to live on the property since 1871. With the skills gained from working on the property they were able to complete their certificates in just eight months. Usually School-based New Apprenticeships are undertaken on a part-time basis over two years.
Kerri-Ann and Ashley French at Gilberton Station
The involvement of RITE (Rural Industry Training and Extension) in the training arrangements was critical to Kerri-Ann and Ashley’s success. Russell Toohey, the School-based training Coordinator for RITE in Charters Towers, commented on the strong growth in School-based New Apprenticeships over the last couple of years. This year RITE has over 50 trainees from schools throughout Queensland including eight doing their schooling through distance education. An increasing number of students see a Certificate II in Agriculture as a valuable addition to their secondary schooling.
Russell stressed the importance of the host employer in ensuring a successful outcome for a school-based trainee. As well as providing encouragement to the trainee the employer needs to provide opportunities for trainees to practice the skills they have learnt through their formal training. This commitment from Kerri-Ann and Ashley’s parents, Rob and Lyn French, was very evident. Rob and Lyn French were also successful in applying for a Golden Circle “Kid Start Farms” sponsorship in 2002 which helped with Kerri-Ann and Ashley’s course fees.
RITE prides itself on its flexible approach to training delivery. In Kerri-Ann and Ashley’s case their formal training was provided over four block periods of Wednesday to Sunday at different times during the course. This training was provided at Virginia Park Station which is around a third of the way between Charters Towers and Townsville. As well as the formal training provided at Virginia Park RITE visits the home property at least twice a year. Assessment is undertaken during the training blocks or on-the-job during the visits. Kerri-Ann and Ashley believe that the training provided by RITE has also helped a lot through exposing them to new ideas which they can bring home to benefit the business.
Kerri-Ann and Ashley are extremely pleased that they had the opportunity to gain a Certificate II in Agriculture and expressed the hope that other young people in the rural sector are given the same opportunity. They now have both progressed to doing a Certificate III with RITE and aim to complete this qualification before June 2003. What a fantastic achievement!!