Surf Coast Secondary College students will gain hands on experience in building and design, when they refurbish the shire’s Youth Pod.
The partnership project involving the school’s Hands On Learning program and Surf Coast Shire will see students redesign and fit out the Youth Pod before it returns to community use.
The Youth Pod was originally created (from a shipping container) in 2017 with support from local Lions Clubs and local businesses to provide a space dedicated to supporting young people.
Hands On Learning is an innovative education program that schools use to cater to the different ways young people learn, encouraging participants to stay at school and realise their potential.
Surf Coast Shire Torquay Ward Councillor Martin Duke said he looked forward to seeing what the students came up with.
“Council is a big supporter of partnership projects like this, as they deliver benefits for many.”
“The students will learn practical skills that they can use throughout life and they get to really take ownership of the project. Plus our local young people get a reinvigorated Youth Pod.”
Surf Coast Secondary College Hands On Learning Coordinator Adam Micallef said students from Year Seven to Year Ten would work on the project.
“The students are excited to get stuck into the refurbishment of the Youth Pod and turn it into something special that can be enjoyed by young people across the Surf Coast.”
“This is a great opportunity for the students to develop a range of trade skills, such as framing, cladding, painting, flooring, all the way down to some general maintenance.”
“To have a project built by youth and delivered to youth in the same shire will be an amazing achievement; one which our students will be very proud of.”
The refurbishment works will begin in the coming weeks once all students return to school.
