North Central students discover local career opportunities through Broader Horizons

Students across the North Central have been stepping out of the classroom and into local workplaces as part of the North Central LLEN's Broader Horizons program. 

Designed to broaden students' horizons and showcase the career opportunities available right on their doorstep, the program connects Year 9 students with local businesses aligned to their interests. 

Over a number of weeks, students spent one hour each week immersed in a different workplace, gaining hands-on experience and learning directly from local employers. During Term 2, students from Charlton, Donald and Wycheproof completed the program. 

Charlton students were grouped according to their interests in agriculture, trades and early childhood education. 

The program kicked off with a visit to Dirt Fabrication at Joe Durie's property, where students learnt fabrication skills by cutting, folding and welding steel to create their own fire pokers. Donald students enjoyed a similar experience at Donald Steel, making their own fire shovels. 

Several businesses welcomed Broader Horizons students for the first time this year. Holmes-Brown Floor and Window Coverings and North Central Smash Repairs and Restorations in Charlton provided engaging experiences from start to finish. At Holmes-Brown, students measured rooms, calculated flooring requirements, operated steam cleaners, cut carpet and learnt how flooring is installed. At North Central Smash Repairs and Restorations, students followed the entire repair process before getting on the tools themselves to remove a bumper from a damaged vehicle. In Wycheproof, students visiting Premier Auto Electrics dismantled an alternator to better understand how it works. 

Agriculture students experienced the diversity of the industry through visits to North West Ag and Gunyah Blooms. The contrast between a larger agricultural business and a small, family-run flower farm demonstrated the many different pathways available within the sector. At Gunyah Blooms, students met Tess, who balances motherhood, full-time study, part-time work and running her own flower business. Tess also shared how she generates additional income through selling flower tubers and seeds, with students collecting seeds to take home. 

Wycheproof students were split into groups focusing on trades, community services, sport and health. They visited O'Connors to learn about careers as a diesel mechanic, Premier Auto Electrics, Central Mallee Health, and the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre to explore a range of community-based career pathways. 

In Donald, students interested in trades and agriculture visited BB Harvesting, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Donald Steel. Those with an interest in health and early childhood education spent time at Goodwin Aged Care and the Y Kinders, gaining valuable insight into caring professions. 

The North Central LLEN would like to sincerely thank every business that opened its doors to support the program. Providing students with real world experiences and the opportunity to meet local employers plays an important role in developing our young people.  

If your business would like to be involved in a future Broader Horizons program, please contact Julie Bourke at j.bourke@ncllen.org.au.  

Steam cleaning carpet at Holmes Brown Floor and Window coverings

Students dismantling a bumper at North Central Smash Repairs