My job: Bridging gap between school and work

Jacquie Brayshaw says students start to see practical applications of theory learned at school. Photo / Ted Baghurst

What is Gateway?

Gateway is a partnership with the student and their family, the school, a business, and an industry training organisation (ITO).

It provides senior secondary students the opportunity to make more informed career choices through structured workplace learning with businesses and industries, while continuing to study at school.

Work placements include building, crane driving, engineering, electrical, banking, law, medicine and research. We've also placed students in the university environment when interested in subjects such as astrophysics or archaeology.

What do you do?

There are two major parts to my role. I organise work placements and individual learning plans for students. Students apply to be in Gateway at the beginning of the year and are placed within an industry of their choice.

Normally they go one day a week (six hours) but we are flexible about student and business needs. Some students work outside school hours at Middlemore Hospital or the South Auckland Health Foundation. Some do placements during school holidays.

By the end of term three we pull back to focus on NCEA final exams unless they want to stay on for an apprenticeship. They must complete a theory workbook in their own time and are assessed on unit standards within the workplace. I spend 50 per cent of my time in the school office interviewing students and parents, doing administration and encouraging students with their unit standards.

And the other 50 per cent?

I am in the community approaching new businesses, maintaining relationships with businesses in my contact list and visiting students on placement. I take several unit standards descriptions along with me so the employers can select standards they think a student may achieve in his/her workplace. In 2009 I placed 77 students. Last year I placed 97 and I'm on track for about 120 this year.

Occasionally students change their mind during a placement; sometimes they will do three different placements over the three terms to get an idea of other options. A huge academic benefit is that they start to see practical reasons for school subjects, such as use of angles and Pythagoras theory in building and engineering.

Your history?

My relationship with schools began through my children and sport; I was a sports co-ordinator for seven years. Then I became a teacher aide at Rutherford College working with transition students. When Gateway was launched in 2003 I became Rutherford College Gateway co-ordinator and was seconded to Waitakere Enterprise as Gateway broker which involved finding work placements for all Waitakere Gateway school students. The broker role eventually became full time as more schools joined Gateway. In 2009 I moved to Otahuhu College because I was always keen to work in South Auckland.

Is it hard to find placements?

No. I have a wide circle of acquaintances and networks to draw on. If you select your students carefully and send them to the right employers, it grows itself. Once you have built up trust with employers, they are happy to stay involved and often recommend other businesses.

Employers seem to like supporting their local school and getting a chance to identify potential full-time or part-time employees or apprentices.

Success stories?

Students getting full-time jobs from Gateway placements, one is now a second year building apprentice with Canam Construction. It is also a success if a student says "I thought this was what I wanted but it is not".

Useful training?

There is no specific training but our Gateway cluster meetings are essential. This is where co-ordinators share ideas, resources and concerns.

Important skills and qualities?

You need to enjoy people, especially young people. You need to be persistent, organised and empathetic.

You need to multi task and have a jolly good memory. You need reasonable computer skills.

You need to be up to date with the economy. I check the Department of Labour website regularly and am always interested in learning more about business and economic issues.

And you need to be outcome driven. Gateway's success depends on where the students end up at the end of the year and the decisions they make about their future.

Most enjoyable aspect?

I have been blessed with a job that allows me to see the future through students completing their apprenticeships and tertiary qualifications and living happy lives. I also thoroughly enjoy the interaction with all the businesses that have supported the Gateway programme since 2003.

Biggest challenge?

Giving students confidence to be what they want to be. I ask, "what's your dream job? I won't laugh".

Name: Jacquie Brayshaw
Position: Otahuhu College Gateway co-ordinator
Working hours: 20 - 60 hours depending on Gateway student numbers
Average salary: $16 - $35 per hour, depending on student numbers and school. Some co-ordinators are on salaries instead. Salary component can be no more than 60 per cent of Gateway funding.