
Thinking of others is central to many initiatives at St Patrick’s Technical College. Our College takes seriously its core value of service, and like many counterparts in Catholic schools across the state, our Year 11 students have been busy fundraising and donating items for the community.
The College’s Skills for Life and Mentoring programs see students explore the history and work of various charities and organisations. Students then plan and implement projects to help those in need.
Over the course of the year, our students have been responsible for several activities supporting the vital work of St Vincent de Paul Society, Project Compassion, Catherine House, and ASCEND Youth Suicide Prevention through Centacare.
Students have been generous with their time, baking cupcakes, cooking BBQs, making soup, washing cars, selling lucky squares, and gathering donations of clothes and personal hygiene items.
Pastoral Care Mentor Ms Loveder has been mentoring students in the development of their entrepreneurial skills. As part of the process, students have developed their awareness of the need to empathise with those they intend to support. They have proposed various outreach activities, prototyped, streamlined their ideas and processes, and tested prototypes before producing final products and releasing to the public.
The theme of ‘Homelessness’ was selected by the Year 11 Automotive students with the aim to make a positive impact on others, to show they care and provide tangible support to people in need.
“Students came up with their own ideas for outreach work,” Ms Loveder said.
“What many educators realise is that this is also a great opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills.
“They did their own research, spoke with teachers and the College’s Community, Spirituality, and Identity Leader, to then plan, organise, and fine-tune any food preparation and packing.”
Students took on real-life roles to engage them in active learning, including problem-solving, research, planning, and implementation.
Recently, students made and delivered morning tea for the Vinnie’s Women’s Crisis Centre, with reward folders created for the children. A BBQ was cooked and served at the Men’s Crisis Centre, all of which was much appreciated by the residents. Students then evaluated the process for future success.
This is not the first-time the College has engaged in supporting vital support centres. Over several years, students and staff have carried out maintenance and upgrades at the Women’s Crisis Centre and Vinnies in Elizabeth.
This year, students have used their practical skills to prototype the construction of gates, seating, and kennels. This demonstrates another way of thinking about the critical and creative thinking skills and community connection being developed in students as citizens of the future.