Imagine … getting up before 4am and working 13 hours in the Pilbara heat and red dirt on some of the biggest trucks in the state! That’s what Year 11 Duncraig Campus student, Cameron Borkwood was doing during the April school holidays.
Cameron is one of only 17 WA students chosen to be part of the first-ever two-year school program run by Roy Hill at their Newman iron ore site. By participating in this program, Cameron is fulfilling the work experience component of his electrical pre-apprenticeship which he is completing through the College of Electrical Training (CET) while studying Year 11 at St Stephen’s School.
Cameron had a fantastic, albeit short-lived stay at the Newman site in the holidays.
“We flew up to site on the first day of the holidays. On our first day we were up at about 3.45am but we had to do a breathalysertest before we were allowed on site and then we went on to do our pre-start and safety checks. Safety is the number one priority on site. I spent the whole day out on the road doing checks on the pumps that take the bore water out of the pits, the generators and the solar panels that power the pumps. It was absolutely amazing to see the size of the pits. There were huge machines with buckets big enough to fit a car in, but they looked tiny in the pits.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to stay the whole eight days because there was a cyclone coming in and they were worried that it would hit the site. Even so, the whole experience was a lot of fun and I learnt what it was really like being on site in terms of the safety requirements and living conditions. I still want to go up again for the full eight days next holidays and I’d like to do a bit more electrical work. It was really promising and it looks like a really good career. Something that I would really get behind doing.”
Cameron is part of the St Stephen’s School Vocational Education and Training (VET) program where students spend one or two days out of school at external training providers to complete qualifications in areas such as Building and Construction, Health Sciences, Education and many more. Nicki Hipgrave is the Head of VET and sees the benefits to our students every day.
“VET is an awesome pathway with real workplace outcomes. When looking at subject selection I really encourage families to think carefully about the pathway that is best for their child. ATAR is not the only or even the best way for some students. At St Stephen’s School we aim to put students on the right pathway for them. Being in VET enables students to get a taste of their preferred industry. Cameron is seeing real world experience firsthand before he even graduates. It’s not just a course, it’s really valued outside the school environment. It’s clear that large companies like Roy Hill really value VET pathways for students”.