The careers programme at Hauraki Plains College supports its students through various initiatives – one being the Gateway Programme.
Careers advisor Pippa Lawlor and Gateway Co-ordinator Lauren Scott told The Profile: “we aim to open up prospects and future pathways to students, helping them to broaden their horizons and become ready to be contributing citizens in their communities”.
Hauraki Plains College had a number of different programmes operating through the curriculum and subject choices, as well as through the pastoral care systems, they said. “Every student at HPC is a part of the careers programme for the duration of their time at school.”
The programmes are diverse and tailored to individual students – “it’s not one size fits all”.
Mrs Lawlor and Mrs Scott said the Gateway Programme offered students work experience within particular trades or sectors: “65 students have already completed a work experience placement”.
the Gateway Programme is 16-year-old Marty Shaw, who said he was doing his work experience at Hauraki Plains Motors every Thursday.
It’s “a lot of hands-on” work, but Marty said he was supported by the helpful staff there.
Fixing quad bikes, “taking the motor apart and also learning how to fix the brakes” were some of the things Marty said he had been learning.
One challenge so far was “remembering how to put stuff together – it takes a long time to sink in”, he said.
For others thinking about doing Gateway, Marty’s advice was that it helped students prepare for the “real world”.
“I’m grateful for having this experience,” he said.
“I can picture myself doing full time [work] in this area, so I can get my dream job – being part of a pit crew for motor sports.”
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Aimee Johnston-Biggs has been doing her gateway work experience at Annarehab Equine Rehabilitation and Therapy.
Some things Aimee said she had learned about were horse behaviour and welfare, how to be confident when identifying sand colic in horses and using a microscope to look at faecal worm count.
When asked what it was like working there, Aimee said: “It’s amazing. I’ve learnt to believe in myself”.
The best part about the experience for Aimee so far was being around the horses and learning about how different they are from each other, she said.
It was Aimee’s “dream job” to be a dairy farmer or vet who worked with horses, she said.
For students interested in the Gateway Programme, Aimee’s advice was: “it’s really important to apply for opportunities as I didn’t know fully about this and it has really helped me”.
