Gateway Student Nominated for Regional QLD Training Awards
Year 12 student Kate Crowdey from Gateway to Industry Schools Program Advanced Manufacturing (GISP AM) Glenala State High School, was recently nominated for the Regional QLD Training Awards for her success in Vocational Education Training (VET).
Kate, who was given the opportunity to participate in VET courses at the Glenala State High School’s Trade Skills Centre was one of the few females to take part in the program, where she worked on trucks, engines and learnt about the heavy vehicle industry. Joining the program was somewhat of a turning point for Kate, who struggled through her junior years of schooling after her mother suddenly fell ill. Connecting with her teacher, Head of Department – Senior School, Sharina Gibney at this time, was a life changing moment.
After joining the VET program, a new world of opportunities opened up to Kate. Kate along with 50 other female students from Glenala, in March 2019, attended the International Women’s Day: Women in the Workshop, hosted by SCANIA Richlands. Hearing from successful women who held responsible positions within their organizations and industry inspired Kate to follow her dream and pursue further studies in business and management.
Kate subsequently participated in the popular Queensland Manufacturing Institute’s (QMI) Women Who Weld (WWW) Program. The WWW aims to provide an opportunity and safe environment for young women to try the practical skill of welding. This one day program provides students with an understanding of welding and an idea if STEAM school subjects and a trade career pathway is something they wish to explore further.
With the goal of building gender diversity in the workplace, WWW aims to address our national trade skills shortage. The program encourages young women to consider a trade pathway where 76% of jobs within Queensland’s manufacturing sector are occupied by men. Following the successful rollout of the WWW Program, results have shown a 20% rise in female interest in trade pathways, with Kate Crowdey being just one of many success stories.
In addition to her participation in the WWW Program, Kate was selected to be part of the QLD Mineral Energy Academy mentoring program where she attended a camp with her mentor and other selected students from all over Queensland. She also secured a Peabody and USQ scholarship to help with her senior schooling expenses.
“Being a student, student leader, part-time worker, carer for my mum has helped me grow up rather quickly. The opportunities VET has provided me whilst at school will be one thing I would value for ever. It certainly gave me a clear direction of a pathway I want to follow post school,” she says.
After all this success, Kate was nominated for the Regional QLD Training Awards, which celebrates individuals and organisations that strive for and have achieved success, best practice and innovation in VET. The regional awards will be announced in July and if successful, Kate will go on to contest her category at the state level – competing against other regional winners for a coveted Queensland Training Award.
Regardless of the outcome, Kate is definitely a winner in the eyes of her teachers, friends, family, peers and of course all of us here at GISP. We’re proud to have been a part of Kate’s journey and provided opportunities for her to self-select a meaningful pathway into the world of work. We can’t wait to see where it will take this young achiever! Good Luck Kate! Kudos to Mrs Gibney for being a great teacher and caring for this young achiever when she needed it the most.
Image: Jules McMurtrie (GISP AM Program Manager, Sharina GIBNEY (HOD Senior Schooling, Glenala State High School), Kate Crowdy (Regional QLD Training Awards Nominee)