Year 10 Students Discover New Skills at Try-A-Trade
Sometimes the best way to explore a future career is to roll up your sleeves and give it a go.
This week, a group of Year 10 students stepped outside the classroom to participate in the three-day Try-A-Trade program at the Try-A-Trade Centre in Forrestdale. This immersive experience gave students the opportunity to develop practical skills while discovering the wide range of careers available in the trades industry.
Throughout the program, students worked on a variety of hands-on projects, learning new techniques, using industry-standard tools and experiencing what it’s like to work in a trade environment. Along the way, they also developed teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills.
An Experience Full of Surprises
For Year 10 student Amelia, the experience was full of surprises.
“I really enjoyed Try-A-Trade more than I thought,” she said. “I originally wasn’t sure about it or if I would even like it, but I ended up really enjoying it.”
One of Amelia’s favourite activities involved working alongside her classmates to build a brick pillar and wall before combining their efforts to construct a pergola.
“After a lot of teamwork – adding wood pillars, sand, screws and using lots of tools – we ended up with a pergola as our finished task,” she said.
The project was a rewarding way to see how individual skills come together to create something much bigger, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration on a worksite.
Ending on a Memorable Note
The experience ended on a memorable note.
“We walked down the deck as if we were walking down a catwalk while playing music,” Amelia laughed. “Then we had to destroy the pergola and clean everything up. I was a bit sad to destroy our masterpiece.”
While dismantling the structure was all part of the learning process, it gave students an appreciation for the planning, effort and craftsmanship involved in trade work.
Beyond learning practical skills, the Try-A-Trade program encouraged students to consider the many pathways available after school and provided valuable insight into careers they may not have previously considered.
Reflecting on the three days, Amelia summed up the experience simply:
“Overall, it was an extremely fun and wonderful experience, which I very much enjoyed. Now I wish I could do it again.”
Experiences like Try-A-Trade empower students to explore their interests, build confidence and make informed decisions about their future, whether that leads to a career in the trades or simply a greater appreciation for the skills and opportunities the industry offers.
- Career Pathways, Featured, Future Careers, Hands-on Learning, Santa Maria College, Secondary Education, Student Opportunities, Trades, Try-A-Trade, Vocational Education, Year 10
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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