LOCAL secondary school students had an opportunity to identify local career opportunities recently through the Southern Grampians Young Leaders Program, taking part in Business Industry Tours by visiting businesses and organisations.

The program is facilitated by the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network (GSGLLEN).

On Thursday, August 11, the selected Young Leaders explored a wide range of careers and opportunities available to them in the local area, beginning with a range of options presented by the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC).

Starting at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange, students got to learn more about cattle, sheep and lamb sales and careers from manager, Chris Dahlenburg.

Next stop was at the Hamilton and Grampians Visitor Information Centre, with Simone Logan highlighting the area’s tourism, careers, and volunteering at the centre.

Quinlan Donehue then provided a tour of the Hamilton Indoor Leisure and Aquatic Centre, talked about career opportunities and the importance of maintaining safety in day-to-day operations.

Students were then fortunate to undertake a tour of SGSC Council Chambers to learn about the history, councillors and council meetings, from Eda Williamson and Jane Coshutt.

Other staff from the SGSC, including maternal and child health nurse, Clare Hogan, communications coordinator, Ashlea Sealey, and sustainability and environment coordinator, Sherie Bain, spoke about their roles with Council.

Mayor, Bruach Colliton, spoke on behalf of SGSC and said “a huge thanks to our community’s young leaders who learnt all things about Council this week as part of the fantastic LLEN program”.

Mayor Colliton said that staff were thrilled to share a little more about what they do, and the role Council had within the Southern Grampians region.

“(It’s been) a real privilege to host the group, and a real highlight for staff to have the opportunity to meet with a potential future mayor, councillor or staff member in the making,” he said.

The final visit of the day was at Vickery Bros, Coleraine, where the group heard from Josh and David Vickery about the growth of the company, fertiliser distribution, logistics, technology and careers and opportunities.

Students learnt how much work goes into getting the fertiliser from the port and into the paddocks and how technology and logistics is a big driver for the company.

As well as providing the opportunity for students to explore local industries and related career paths, where they were matched with an industry mentor, they also participated in workshops in leadership, technologies, presentation and public speaking skills. 

The Young Leaders Program is one of many programs coordinated by GSGLLEN.

The organisation also helps school students undertaking VET as part of their VCE and VCAL studies, including School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs), to access Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placements in industry and business.

GSGLLEN has contacts with employers in metals and engineering, tourism and hospitality, construction, furnishing and other sectors.

Students applied for the Young Leaders Program online through the GSGLLEN website.

All applicants went through an interview stage, from which 15 students were shortlisted.

GSGLLEN executive officer, Anne Murphy, said “often our young people are lured into career opportunities away from the region, without a serious consideration of the myriad of opportunities right at their doorstop”.

“You can only be what you can see,” she said.

“The Young Leaders program assists senior secondary students to build their knowledge of local careers and to clarify their career aspirations through building strong industry networks with local businesses. 

“Thanks to all of our partners who do so much in the program to assist the young people in the region.”

Now in its second year, the 15 students selected to participate in the program were from Monivae College, Good Shepherd College, Baimbridge College and The Hamilton and Alexandra College.

Participating students in the 2022 program were Ella Jackson, Aliesha Crane, Jordi Mitchell, Hamish Murrihy, Charlie Smith, Lauren Borgmeyer, Charlotte Cook, Klay Collins, Jasmine McIntyre, Jasmine Young, Lachlan Rees, Will Merrin, Grace Macpherson, Hayley Spence and Arbella Little.

The Young Leaders program is sponsored by local business and philanthropic partners, including the Southern Grampians Shire Council, Bendigo Bank Coleraine, Bendigo Bank Dunkeld and District, Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal, Gwen & Edna Jones Foundation, The Ray & Joyce Uebergang Foundation, South West TAFE and Wannon Water.

The GSGLLEN is financially supported by the Department of Education and Training.