Businesses back Worklink WA program Work Studies to help Katanning Senior High School students gain new skills

Year 10 students at Katanning Senior High School will soon embark on a new training program giving them hands-on experience in the workplace. As school-based trainees, the first wave of 13 students will spend a day a week in local businesses engaging with prospective employers, learning new skills and building relationships. The scheme came about after a community forum at the school last December attracted support from business, parents and students who backed the program and new curriculum initiative Work Studies. The students have already been taught interview skills and prepared resumes with the support of Worklink WA, which assists young people with careers, training and employment. The school is now busy matching the skills and interests of the students with local businesses with the first tranche of students expecting their placements to commence during the 10 weeks of Term 2, which starts on April 28. Principal Ian Masarei said the traineeships should be a positive experience for the students. “It will help them come to terms with learning new skills that have a range of work-based competencies and expose them to the realities of the workplace,” he said. Deputy principal Bill Stewart said he was overwhelmed by the support of the business community, led by the Katanning Regional Business Association. “Survey feedback from the forum gave 88 per cent endorsement to the school-based traineeships and 90 per cent to the introduction of Work Studies to the curriculum,” he said.