General News
25 June, 2021
Skilling students for the future
The newly refurbished $1.58 million state-of-the-art Design and Technology Lab is officially open at Woree State High School, providing opportunities for students to skill themselves for the jobs of the future.
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt officially opened the refurbished F Block design facility today.
“The Queensland Government’s Schools Infrastructure Enhancement Program has invested $1.58 million to completely refurbish, fit-out and reconfigure F Block, to provide students with a real-world environment, ensuring they are at the forefront of innovation.
“The new technology centre boasts a Design Technology Lab which provides opportunities for prototype design and testing, as well as 3D printing.
“The entire teaching space has been transformed so that students can work at their own pace, and move seamlessly between the stages of solution design using technical drawing and computer modelling, prototype building of projects through 3D printing, laser cutting and traditional construction and engineering techniques, and finally testing, evaluating and redesigning.
“New open plan engineering spaces has also been created, which houses multiple welding bays, metal lathes, milling machines and a range of other engineering machinery. The new open plan design of this workshop enables teachers to support students at all stages of project completion within the one room which had previously not been possible.
“A new state of the art dust extraction system installed throughout the entire building is providing a cleaner and safer working environment for students and staff.
“We know that jobs in STEM related fields are growing at more than twice the rate of other industries and occupations, so these upgrades provide students with real world learning environments”, Mr Pitt said.
Woree State High School Principal Kathryn Todd said that students welcomed the new teaching spaces. “It’s quite exciting for students to have the opportunity to experience how their schoolbased learning is relevant, and understand how it will be applied in future employment or further studies.
“The centre’s modern resources and equipment allow students to discover a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths”, she said.
“The addition of these new design facilities really complements our existing SchoolTech program, which delivers options for school-based vocational learning.
“Our SchoolTech program partners with TAFE Queensland to allow students to complete their senior schooling and obtain a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
“Our strong emphasis on work placement and vocational training gives students every opportunity to secure an apprenticeship whilst still completing their senior schooling”, she said.
The Woree High School Parents and Citizens Association also recently received $35,000 from Round 108 Queensland Government’s Gambling Community Benefit Fund, to upgrade their basketball courts.
P&C President Maria Chatfield embraced the opportunity to share details of the upgrade with Mr Pitt and the students today.
“This grant funding will enable us to grind, wash, pressure clean, patch and reseal the 2,360m basketball court surfaces.
“Once this is complete new line markings will be installed and three coats of non-slip plexipave will be applied.
“This will enhance the playing experience for students, and hopefully give them a competitive edge in interschool tournaments, as well as provide a more robust surface for multi-use, Health and Physical Education lessons.
“Through our own fundraising activities, the P&C have contributed an additional $5,000 to improve line markings on our netball and tennis courts’, Mrs Chatfield said.
Mr Pitt thanked the P&C for their additional contribution to the Gambling Community Benefit funding.
“Once court upgrades are complete, the school has the capacity to enable a range of community organisations and groups to use the facilities.
“I have often said that Queensland State Schools are assets for the whole community, and through the work of the P&C, even more people could benefit from these sporting facility upgrades”.
