Every Wednesday at Cape York Girl Academy is a step towards a brighter future. School to Jobs (S2J) Manager Karl Adams, and Program Coordinator Sammy Sabatino, engage with seniors in Years 10, 11 and 12, teaching them essential skills to prepare them for life after school, like understanding professional and personal values, resumes and mastering the basics of professional behaviour. Karl emphasised how these weekly sessions help smooth the transition for senior students, preparing them for life after school.
"A lot of these students have never had a job before and they are coming to the end of their schooling," he said. "We want to ensure they are as prepared as possible to enter the workforce or go on to further education. We want them earning or learning."
Recently, the students were visited by staff from Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to discuss work experience and employment opportunities. The students were inspired by conversations about workplace diversity, the potential for growth within different departments and the chance to connect with people from around the globe.
Harteys Crocodile Farm is known to be one of the oldest running tourist attractions in the Cairns region and a large employer of locals. To get a clear understanding of the work environment, Year 12 student Maree asked the team from Hartley’s Crocodile Farm, “What is it like to work at the farm?” While student Akeira said, ”It was great to learn about the different areas for growth. I’m excited to start with reptiles and amphibians.”
At the end of the session, several students expressed an interest in completing work experience at Hartley's with the hope of securing a traineeship after school. School to Jobs is now in the process of onboarding students for work experience and some potential casual roles.