WINDSOR GARDENS VOCATIONAL COLLEGE

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:18): On Friday 23 October, at a reception at the Adelaide Intercontinental Hotel for the National Australia Bank's Schools First South Australia and Northern State Awards, the Windsor Gardens Vocational College (which is in my electorate) was awarded a further $50,000 to enhance and develop its community partnerships program.

In September, Windsor Gardens Vocational College received $50,000 under the National Australia Bank's Schools First Awards. The state award is an additional recognition of the wonderful work that Windsor Gardens Vocational College is doing in educating our youth. The college now has the potential to win $1 million at the national NAB Schools First Awards presentation to be held in Melbourne in November.

Some years ago Windsor Gardens Vocational College took deliberate steps to provide vocational pathways for its students because the college realised that something needed to be done about declining enrolments, poor staff morale and the growing number of students leaving the school early with no meaningful career.

There were seven vocational pathways: building and construction, multimedia, community services, business services, skilled metals (engineering), hospitality and university. In developing the vocational pathways, the college established strong links with community partners, and one fine example of such a partnership is with Bianco Construction Supplies, who has been incredibly supportive.

The college has developed 104 partnerships organised around four distinct groups: industry alliances, mentoring alliances, industry sponsors and community partners. The school culture has changed, with staff recognising the importance and value of vocational education. Windsor Gardens' definition of success has broadened as a result of these partnerships.

Vocational education training schemes offered by Windsor Gardens Vocational College enable students to gain employment skills while they are still at school and undertaking studies towards their SACE. In stages 1 and 2, students may be studying at school some days and involved in training at other venues on others. It provides students with the opportunity to gain TAFE qualifications while still at school and gain valuable skills that will prepare them for future employment.

The seven pathways offered by the college are set up to deliver certificates as part of the nationally accredited training packages. The college program effectively prepares students for lifelong learning by ensuring that they leave school with up-to-date technology skills, their capacity to learn independently and a well-developed work-ready attitude.

This is not the first time that Windsor Gardens Vocational College has received recognition for its VET program, having won the MAS National VET in Schools Excellence Award for South Australia in 2006, and I was delighted to be able to attend that.

Special mention needs to be made of Jan Paterson, the college principal; Laura Luongo, the college's VET coordinator; and Jenevieve Foster, the Assistant Principal, Senior School, who I understand put forward the college's written application for the NAB's Schools First awards. Along with visits by the judging panel to the college, the application certainly must have impressed the judges.

I congratulate Windsor Gardens Vocational College on its outstanding success to date, and I am crossing my fingers in the hope that it takes out first prize in the national NAB Schools First awards, as I certainly believe that it will be a very worthy recipient. It is not often that one has an educational facility in one's electorate like this one, and it is exciting and a great credit to all those involved at the college.

The students have a bright and exciting future, and I am sure they will look back on their days at Windsor Gardens Vocational College with much gratitude for the commitment of the staff who played such a valuable role in their education. I certainly look to coming back with some fantastic news in the not too distant future.