Five secondary students have commenced their internship at Charles Darwin University‘s Alice Springs campus as part of the Adopt-A-School project, which aims to enhance learning and employment outcomes for Indigenous students.
The project involves a partnership agreement between Local Community Partnerships (LCP) provider YouthTraX NT, student advisors from secondary schools in Alice Springs and Charles Darwin University.
Five students were invited to be part of the program – Yirara College students Danielle Daniels and Shandell Jackson, Damien Curtis and Francesca Nankivell from Centralian Senior Secondary College and Tova Howard from St Philips College.
Students spent the first day meeting supervisors and support staff from across the campus and learning about their roles and obligations.
Amanda Cawthorne-Crosby, coordinator, Pathways, said the students will complete two units from the Certificate I in Retail.
‘It’s about helping them to communicate effectively and learn what is expected of them in a workplace environment,’ she said. ‘Attendance, attitude and commitment to the task are all part of it. Students are given a broad insight into the workings of an educational institution.’
Students have selected their areas of interest which include horticulture, and administration and library work.
They will spend about five days on campus, spread over three months so their formal studies are not interrupted. They will record their experiences as part of their assessment.
Anita Synnott, Pathways Coordinator for Yirara College said her students were excited about the program.
‘It means our students will be able to experience a real work environment, learn new skills and learn how to function in the work place. It takes their learning to a new level and allows them to apply things that they have already learned.’
Alice Springs campus administrator, Dianne Underwood said: ‘This is an excellent way for the university to engage secondary school students, offering professional and personal growth.’