Fast-track to a career

Two Wairarapa college pupils have taken an early leap into the working world through a unique dual enrolment scheme that also places them in trades academy classes in Wellington.
Kuranui College student Hannah Ryan, of Carterton, last week started a year of hair and beauty study at the Wellington Trades Academy, and Wairarapa College student Ben Nikolaison, of Masterton, began a 12-month automotive course at the Petone campus.
Academy dean of studies Trish Collett said the government-funded dual enrolment initiative offered secondary pupils an alternative path into the workforce and was a step up from the single enrolment Gateway (college) and STARS (polytechnic) programmes.
Minister of Education Anne Tolley officially opened the academy last week and congratulated WelTec for being "at the forefront of the new initiative that provides young students an exciting one-year programme in a tertiary setting".
Ms Collett said WelTec was the only institute of technology and polytechnic in the greater Wellington region and alone had a trades academy out of eight similar institutions in the country.
The institute has over 60 students hailing from 30 secondary schools throughout the wider region, including Wairarapa, and offers through its trade academy a 12-month programme aimed at students who would be expecting to move into Years 12 or 13.
The dual enrolment allows secondary students to continue sporting and social extra-curricular activities through their college while they study a range of courses, including mechanical engineering, automotive technology, hair and beauty, hospitality, construction, plumbing or creative technologies.
New academy facilities at WelTec include purpose-built engineering and automotive workshops, working kitchens, beauty and hair salons and virtual technology suites.
Successful students would achieve NCEA Level 2, Ms Collett said, and at graduation they "will be well-prepared" for further tertiary studies or entry level employment in their industry of choice.
She said pupils completed up to 18 hours of class and workshop study a week, alongside nine hours of learning with a focus on readiness for work. "The initiative means the students are at school but not in school," Ms Collett said.
Ben's mother Anne-Maree Nikolaison said her son had considered enrolling at Ucol Wairarapa for similar study but decided on signing with the academy after viewing their facilities and despite the prospective burden of daily commuting.
"Even though it's only the first week, he's excited about what he's learning. It's gives him learning that he can hold in his hands every day, lessons that mean something in the working world.
"It's a blow there's nothing similar here in Wairarapa, but it's really only the travel and food cost compared to the thousands for polytech, because the trades academy is government-funded."
Ben said he had already begun practical welding and metal fabrication and would move next to engine reconditioning. "All I really wanted to do was get out of school and do something I enjoy and WelTec has that."