REDLAND BAY students are stepping confidently into the workforce as part of National Apprenticeship Week, with The Industry School’s Redland Bay campus celebrating strong employment pathways in both health and construction.
Year 12 student Niamh Andrews is already gaining hands-on experience in healthcare through a school-based traineeship with Metro South Health at Redlands Hospital.
Working alongside Queensland Health professionals while completing her senior studies, Niamh is ahead in her training, recognised for her reliability, and is scheduled to complete her traineeship around the September school holidays.
“I’ve always wanted to help people, and doing a school-based traineeship with Queensland Health has given me the chance to start my career while I’m still at school,” she said.
“The Industry School offered me a pathway to do exactly what I wanted.
“I applied, got the traineeship, and now I get to help people every day I work.
“Every day I’m learning something new, from patient care to teamwork.
“Being on-site has taught me skills I could never get in a classroom.”
Communication and teamwork have been the most valuable skills she has developed.
“Being able to work with different people, communicate with them and show empathy has helped me build my confidence and skills,” she said.
She also praised the support from The Industry School.
“My Industry Coordinator Pat was the BEST,” she said.
“He helped me every step of the way.”
Niamh is aspiring to become a paediatric nurse in an emergency department and plans to continue further study while remaining employed with Queensland Health after graduating later this year.
Also celebrating National Apprenticeship Week is Darius Nicol, a Year 12 student who has secured a carpentry apprenticeship with local company Bero Build.
Darius’s older brother John graduated from The Industry School in 2020 and started with Bero Build, but Darius initially didn’t want to follow in his footsteps.
But after completing work experience with the company last year, he found he really enjoyed the work and jumped at the chance to become an apprentice this year.
“The Industry Coaches made it easy by telling me exactly what I needed to do and pushing me to take action on my own,” Darius said.
He has already gained hands-on experience on a variety of projects, including an over-50s housing project in Logan Village and a trip to the Sunshine Coast.
“The team I work with make work fun, but safety is always the most important thing – don’t do something if it feels unsafe or could lead to injury,” Darius said.
The Industry School, Redland Bay campus works closely with employers across the Bayside region to ensure students graduate with more than a certificate – they leave with real workplace experience, nationally recognised qualifications, and clear post-school employment pathways.
