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Media Statement
Attention: Editor/Chief of Staff
28 October 2010
WA public school wins $100,000 for job training partnership
A WA senior high school is $100,000 richer after winning a prestigious banking industry award
for helping students to study for future trade jobs.
John Forrest Senior High School in Morley was named the State Impact winner in the 2010
Schools First competition run by the National Australia Bank (NAB).
The award recognised an industry partnership program which has resulted in more Year 11
and 12 students staying on at the school to complete pre-apprenticeship studies.
The program is run in conjunction
with MPA Skills –
the principal training arm of the Master
Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA and the Master Painters Association of WA.
The Schools First awards have
provided more than $10 million to schools across Australia
since they were launched by NAB,
the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
and the Foundation for Young Australians.
NAB’s Jodi Cryan said judges assessed John Forrest’s program as being WA’s leading
example of how a school and a community can work together.
Principal Di Turner said the school was ecstatic about the win and the $100,000 will be used to
promote the pre-apprenticeship project to other WA public schools.
“The pre-apprenticeship training is delivered by our industry partners at
the school
and has
many benefits for everyone involved,” Ms Turner said.
“While students get valuable training, industries get access to a reliable source of potential
apprentices.”
Ms Turner said students in the program complete Year 11 and 12 and graduate with a
Western
Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and a pre-apprenticeship qualification
which provides a pathway to a full apprenticeship.
The program will soon be delivered from a new Trade Training Centre under construction at
the school. The building is expected to be completed in November.
About 880 schools Australia-wide lodged applications in this year’s Schools First awards.
John Forrest Senior High School will now represent WA at the Schools First National Impact
Awards in Sydney on November 26. The national winner will receive a further $400,000.
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Eight other WA public schools also scored significant prize money in the awards:
Baldivis Primary School - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Balga Senior High School - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Bunbury Primary School - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Bunbury Senior High School - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Lakeland Senior High School - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Halls Head Community College Education Support Centre - $50,000 Local Impact Award
Kununurra District High School – $25,000 Seed Funding Award
Westminster Junior Primary School – $25,000 Seed Funding Award
Ends
Media contact: Chris Lawson 08 9264 5921
NEWS 
