Additional assistance to help students find work placements

Year 12 students at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College

With many work placements not possible in 2020 due to COVID-19, The Skill Engineer (TSE) has opened at North Gosford to help assist HSC students find Vocational Education and Training (VET) work placements.

HSC Entertainment students from Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College will be one of the first groups for the year heading out on work placement.

Three Year 12 students will be assisting in creating video content for GoClimatarian, an organisation committed to fighting climate change through diet awareness.

TSE Chief Executive, Maggie MacFie, said working in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines will give the students the chance to implement their classroom skills in a workplace setting.

“Employers play an integral role in assisting our young people to make that important transition between school and work,” she said.

The Skill Engineer (TSE) is a not-for-profit organisation contracted by the NSW Education Department which aims to advance vocational educational opportunities and find work placements for those who have completed their VET courses.

TSE facilitates economic, social and civic inclusion for disadvantaged students, particularly at-risk young people, First Nations people and those with a disability.

“2020 put an unimagined strain on local businesses, which had to adapt swiftly to changing regulations to stay afloat, and also on HSC students, who were unable to complete their mandatory work placements due to the pandemic.

“Despite these challenges, the Central Coast community has proven itself to be strong and resilient,” MacFie said.

“Already, we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from businesses willing to host work placement students this year.

“It’s because of the generosity of employers on the Coast that our young people are able to become equipped for the jobs of the future.”

The company delivers co-ordination services in industries such as automotive, business services, construction, electrotechnology, entertainment, financial services, hospitality, human services, information and digital technology, primary industries, retail services and tourism, travel and events.

Jacinta Counihan