St Patrick’s Technical College has been named as one of 12 pilot sites for a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) style program. It is the first site to be named in South Australia. The announcement was made recently at the College by Minister for Education, Senator Simon Birmingham and Minister for Vocational Education & Skills, Senator Scott Ryan.
As part of the $4.6 million P-TECH pilot program, St Patrick’s Technical College will partner with the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) to assist in providing pathways to employment for students in defence and defence-related industries.
Established by the Australian Government in 2007 as the Australian Technical College – Northern Adelaide, St Patrick’s Technical College has been a trailblazer in developing industry-specific curriculum and vocational education and training programs leading directly to employment. To date, over 720 Year 11 and 12 students have commenced apprenticeships facilitated through the school.
The P-TECH program – adapted from the US model of the same name – focuses on direct relationships between school and employers, vocational education and training and the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
St Patrick’s Technical College Principal, Mr Rob Thomas, says, “Participation in the P-TECH pilot will assist in bringing Defence Teaming Centre members such as Century Engineering, BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd – all of which already employ StPatsTech apprentices – into the classroom to collaborate on STEM projects and mentor students on their way to employment.”
The Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) is pleased to support the P-TECH pilot. As the peak defence industry body, the DTC is playing a pivotal role in developing and maintaining a skilled workforce that will meet the demands of the upcoming defence projects in South Australia. STEM initiatives such as this are vital in encouraging and supporting young people to develop new technologies that will deliver the best possible capabilities into the future.
The DTC recognises the great work that St Patrick’s Technical College has done in order to be selected as one of the 12 P-TECH pilot schools.
Acting CEO Kerryn Smith says, “St Patrick’s Technical College continues to lead the way in curriculum best practice through engaging our future workforce with industry, creating strong partnerships that support technological adaptation.”
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