Big step towards work

Students receive their work boots.

 New work boots will help Cire Community School students to kick open doors to future employment.

James Simon from Port Melbourne-based Workwear Group handed over the 40 pairs of boots to Cire’s Mount Evelyn campus on Friday 3 August.

It was a bit like Christmas when students undertaking Vocational Education and Training (VET) horticulture eagerly selected their very own pair.

“It is an incredible donation because it is such a huge boost to the students and their futures,” Karen Swankie said.

She’s the school’s VET/Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and student pathways leading teacher.

“Having their own boots that comply with OHS requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) helps open the doors for students to future employment and structured workplace opportunities, as well as work placements and experience, on-the-job training, and hands-on learning,” Ms Swankie said.

The boots will benefit Cire students at all year levels and across varying programs, including those in VET horticulture run in conjunction with Swinburne TAFE, and the Hands On Learning program at Yarra Valley ECOSS, which focuses on sustainability.

Ms Swankie said the donation was particularly timely give that students would be involved in structured work place learning later this term in areas such as building and construction, nurseries and mechanical roles.