YEAR ten students from Stawell Secondary College and representatives from nine businesses sat down together for a business breakfast to celebrate the second year of the Stawell 50/15 Program.
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The breakfast gave students the opportunity to network with the business owners and managers who they will be visiting every Friday for the next two months to gain a working insight in local career opportunities.
The rotational work experience program which was created by Harry Murray, Human Resources Manager at Stawell Gold Mine and Chris Waack, owner of Waack's Bakery seeks to provide students from the Stawell Secondary College with a better understanding of the career options available to them locally.
Over nine days the students shall experience a diverse range of different businesses. Harry Murray highlighted the benefits of the program.
"For the Year 10 students it's a great opportunity to explore different career paths," Mr Murray said.
"The students will be making choices about studying VCE or VCAL next year and this program gives them the chance to experience different options, whether it's a 'hands on' trade or working in an office environment."
Last year's program highlighted the benefits of the 50/15 Program, with one student gaining a School Based Apprenticeship with Northern Grampians Shire Council and other students discovering careers that they didn't know existed.
The success of the program is due to the great support of the local businesses that include Stawell Gold Mine, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Stawell Toyota, Eventide Homes, Carey Covers, Ricksteel, Waack's Bakery, David O Jones Mitre 10 and the Central Grampians LLEN.
"It's only through the support of these local businesses that this program can run," Partnership Broker and program coordinator from the Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network, Aidan Leahy said.
"That all the businesses have committed to another year of the program is testimony to their support for young people within the Stawell region."
The program highlights the benefit of the Stawell Secondary College working in partnership with the local business community.
The name of the program came about through the goal that 50 students would take part in the program by 2015.
