“That ICPA Qld lobbies the Department of Education (DoE), local government and relevant government departments for the establishment of a boarding facility in St George, recognising the critical need for improved access to secondary opportunities for rural and remote students and families.”
A boarding facility built in St George would support not only the St George State High School but also the Agriculture, Water and Environment (AWE) program conducted by the school. This facility would benefit the school, the shire and the outlying areas of the district with boarding being a viable option for students and families in surrounding areas and further west. With such a strong agricultural program, families have the option of sending their children to a state school approved facility offering an agricultural program closer to home.
The AWE Career Immersion Program is a hands-on agricultural education initiative run through the Agriculture, Water and Environment (AWE) partnership between St George State High School and the Balonne Shire Council. The program is designed to expose secondary students from across the state (with plans for interstate students) to real-world careers and pathways in agriculture, environmental management and ag-tech. Rather than learning only in a classroom, students participate in an immersive six (6) day camp with 10-14 site visits to farms or businesses across the agricultural sector to participate in hands on activities across the week. A major focus of the program is helping students understand the diversity of modern agricultural careers. Students interact directly with producers, agribusiness professionals, researchers and industry leaders, giving them insight into both traditional and emerging careers in agriculture. The program has gained recognition for helping bridge the gap between education and workforce needs in the agricultural sector, particularly in regional Queensland.
The program is also designed to:
• Build industry connections and networks
• Develop employability and leadership skills
• Increase awareness of rural and regional career pathways
• Inspire students to pursue agricultural careers or further study
• Strengthen school-to-industry partnerships
Approximately 285 students from both State and Private schools have travelled to St George to complete this program. Visiting school attend from across Queensland, including Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Toowoomba. The program also involves students gaining a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) credit through the Short Course in Career Education.
The Blue Light Shearing camp is run in partnership with the Queensland Police to incorporate Youth Mentoring along with practical learning in the wool shed. Students complete a Certificate II in Rural Operations. This program has had over 140 students engage in the program in seven (7) years.
Students attending these camps are housed at the St George State High School. Each student is provided a mattress and must bring their own bedding. Catering is supplied by the St George State High School P & C.
Currently, seven (7) AWE Career Immersion Camps and three (3) Bluelight Shearing Camps are held per year. Multiple (5-10) Primary School workshop days are also held throughout the year. There are plans to expand these camps in the future.
