Monthly Archives: August 2019

Electro-Technology students spent a day touring the PepsiCo snack food manufacturing facility in Regency Park. They were given access to areas not usually seen by the public including the production lines, packing facilities and logistics.

Highly visible was PepsiCo’s innovative workforce consisting of people working alongside automated solutions and intelligent appliances. The students were amazed with the level of automation including the autonomous forklifts and computer-controlled robotic packing arms. PepsiCo innovation lies not in altering the product but in altering the production and processes around the product.

Fascinated by the computerisation and inquisitive about the end products, students were encouraged to investigate by taste-testing hot unseasoned chips straight off the production line.

It was an amazing experience and opened a whole new world of industry to our students.

“It was fun… the hot chicken Twisties were great.”

“The self-drive forklifts were cool.”

“The conveyor belts which identified everything and the robot arms with the suction on the bottom was great.”

PepsiCo Australia & New Zealand encompasses three business units: The Smith’s Snackfood Company, PepsiCo Beverages and Bluebird Foods, with iconic brands such as Smiths Chips, Red Rock Deli, Twisties, Sakata Rice Crackers, Pepsi Max and Gatorade.

Our 2019 College leaders were formally acknowledged today during a special Liturgy. Following their recent appointments, Captains Ethan Saul and Scott Larsen, and Vice-Captains Corey Lloyd and Charlotte Simmons were commissioned in their roles among family and peers.

College Chaplain, Mr John Neate, led the service through prayer and invited the newly appointed leaders to come forward and be blessed while granting them wisdom, courage and honour to serve.

Delivering an account on the qualities of good leadership, Principal Danny Deptula spoke of the importance of attitude and good skills. Honesty and integrity, commitment and passion, a good communicator and listener, taking accountability, decision-making, and vision were among the key traits defined in the success of leadership.

“A lot of people think that a leader needs to be seen all the time to be doing good things,’ Mr Deptula said.

“What I’m saying to you is, to me, what’s more important is what you do when people are not looking.”

The leaders were presented with badges; a symbol of their leadership and to remind the College community of the special role these students will maintain.

Mr Neate finished the memorable service with a final blessing of the badges.

“Heavenly Father bless the badges that the student Leaders will wear as a sign of their leadership which has been entrusted to them. Let the students who wear these badges be leaders who generously serve others.”

IT and Electro-Technology students have spent the last few weeks looking at the design requirements behind a Remote Target Detection system.

The project, based on the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), was developed by BAE Systems, a partner in our P-TECH program. It fosters students’ technical STEM skills by developing their mathematical, electronic and IT capabilities.

Some of the key features of the systems and control project include calculating distance using the time it takes for a sound wave to return from a target, considering the angle of reflection from the ionosphere and the curvature of the Earth. The build of the project required 3D modelling, 3D printing of parts, the assembly of parts, programming in Python and integration with a Raspberry Pi computer system.

Representatives from the multinational defence, security, and aerospace company were impressed with what the students have already achieved during a recent workshop at the College. Lou Pivato and John Kiejko mentored students and provided them with valuable guidance and instruction on how to achieve their targeted outcomes.

This project highlights how central and effective P-TECH programs are in offering mentor support for students and enabling access to the latest technologies used in industry. Working in partnership with industry skills young people and strengthens their prospects for employment.

The Year 11 and 12 students now look forward to a tour of BAE Systems to see first-hand what they are renowned for.

Local Member of Parliament, Tony Piccolo MP, has announced the establishment of a Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) for the Light Electorate.

The aim of the program is to give young people a voice and hear about their views on a range of issues they care about ensuring political decisions are reflective of community attitudes.

St Patrick’s Technical College Captain Scott Larsen and Vice-Captain Corey Lloyd feel privileged to be chosen as representatives for the program as well as helping to assist Mr Piccolo in launching this great initiative as part of International Youth Day (Monday, 12 August).

Year 11 student Scott Larsen said the opportunity to contribute in discussions will help recognise some of the challenges that today’s youth can face.

“I look forward to being part of the program and talking about real-life issues concerning young people, but also what we are good at and passionate about,” Scott said.

Mr Piccolo said the YAP will be created to provide young people with opportunities to speak directly and regularly with him about issues they care about.

“I want to hear from young people about their views on a range of issues, not just youth matters,” Mr Piccolo said.

“The panel will provide a forum for young people in our community to speak their minds and this will assist me to become a better local representative.

“It is important, in our democracy, that we give young people a voice in the political process, to ensure our decisions more accurately reflect community sentiment.”

Mr Piccolo is exploring opportunities for YAP members to gain academic recognition for the skills they develop from their involvement in the program.

All secondary schools in the Light Electorate, as well as those with a significant number of students living in the electorate, have all been invited to nominate two students to be part of the program.

“Two young people – who currently do not attend local secondary schools – will also be invited to join the YAP.

“I have chosen to do this because I believe it’s important for the YAP to reflect the diversity of views and backgrounds of the young people in our community.”

It is planned that the YAP will meet formally about four times a year and communicate through social media at other times with the first meeting to be held in mid-September.