I Joined CST to help me achieve my goal in becoming a Pest Technician like my brother and father who I aspire to be like. Learning in CST class is really helpful as the flexible timetable allows me to be out of the class 3 days a week working at my workplace as an apprentice. I know that when I return to school the next week, I'm not falling behind in class and I'm getting one step closer to getting my NTCET. I now have my pest licence to do General Pest and will soon be able to do Timber Pest and start my Certificate III in Pest Management. The CST classes are really useful for a person like me who’s getting a head start in the world of trade because the lessons are based on skills and knowledge like literacy and numeracy that will be a great help in workplace.

I joined the Centre for Skills and Training (CST) at the beginning of this year. I'm in year 11 and went straight into looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship. I had my eye on completing a certificate 3 in business, ideally through a traineeship. Although I didn't see myself in a business career, I plan on getting into Agriculture, so a certificate in business will help me with bookkeeping and accounting which is crucial when running a property/business.

After many applications I finally found a business willing to take me on as an admin trainee- a locally owned safety shop. They offer training services, safety audits and inspections, as well as selling safety products in their retail store front.

I work there three days a week as the office trainee. The majority of the customers my work deals with are thirty-day accounts, meaning most of my work is putting together customer and supplier statements, filing, entering and remitting payments, and other basic admin duties.

I use MYOB and Retail Express along with other software applications and computer systems to access documents and enter remittances/payments/information. I work in a small team who are patient, supportive and always take the time to help me out.

As part of my theory to complete my certificate 3 in business, I have to do an online course with Alana Kaye, my Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Overall, I like my traineeship and the CST has given me the chance to still complete my subjects and gain enough NTCET points and graduate a year early.

Pictured above: Rowan Hollingworth - Year 10

I joined the Centre for Skills and Training (CST) class so I can work on my apprenticeship and finish school at the same time. The CST class is flexible through being able to allow me to work on my assignments and schoolwork and do my apprenticeship by scheduling my work and deadlines with the days I’m not in school. School helps me learn my numeracy and literacy skills for work as well with working around measurements and quantities and helping me communicate with workmates. The CST helped me get my apprenticeship by showing me how to communicate with the employer, write out my resume and look employable to my employer. I am now in a school-based apprenticeship for plumbing working four days a week and being able to do one day of school while still being able to get my NTCET. The CST helps me through my pathway by giving me the time to be able to work through my apprenticeship and get my NTCET and pass school.