Able ambassadors … Victoria University Secondary College students Mark, Tien and Michaela hope to find rewarding careers when they complete school. 64014 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Natalie Gallenti
STUDENTS from Victoria University Secondary College are aiming to be leaders of the future and a program established by Beacon Foundation could help them achieve their goal.
The program, implemented this year, offers three motivated Year 10 students the chance to develop links with local businesses in order to improve their job interviewing skills and ultimately their ability to find a rewarding career.
Michaela, Tien and Mark were the students chosen to participate in the unique initiative and all three are grateful for the chance to improve their job-seeking skills.
Young Michaela said the program had made her more aware of the opportunities available to her when she completes Year 12.
All three students believe the program will offer them huge benefits and are more than willing to give up some spare time to help improve their futures.
At a meeting attended by students, teachers and leading business identities, Beacon Foundation Victoria co-ordinator Annie Hinton said the group was committed to supporting young people and encouraged community involvement.
Ms Hinton said the program was designed to “encourage and ignite” young Australians to reach their full potential and was particularly focussed on developing programs that allowed teenagers to interact with potential employers.
She said the foundation’s priority was to keep teenagers at school for as long as possible, and cited the current unemployment rate as staggering.
“It’s important that students are well informed and well prepared,” she said.
“We aim to give students the first and best chance at gaining employment.”
She implored businesses to get on board and participate in mock interviews and in the ‘polish’ program, which sets guidelines to the behaviour expected by employers at an interview.
