糖心vlog官网

Often struggling to motivate Jaelen to get out of bed, his parents Angela and Jasen could see his attendance at school slipping. When Jaelen was told he needed to attempt Year 10 for the second time, they knew something needed to change.

鈥淚 was a good, quiet kid, but school just wasn鈥檛 for me,鈥� says Jaelen when we caught up over the phone.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 enjoy having to sit at a desk all day and learn from books,鈥� added the 16 year old.

Then at Collarenebri Central School in the far North West of NSW, Jaelen鈥檚 parents decided to meet with the school and explore options for his future. It was in these meetings that Head Teacher Careers Rachael Shearer and SBAT Engagement Officer Melissa Daskey got to know Jaelen and learned about his interest in trucks and heavy machines.

Rather than trying to push him back into the classroom, Rachael and Melissa explored options that would get Jaelen into a different learning environment and experiencing various industries.

The first opportunity was a week of work experience with Black Truck and AG, a truck and agricultural machinery dealer and servicer in Moree.

A 300km round trip from Collarenebri meant a week of 6am starts and 6pm finishes for Jaelen, which for someone who wasn鈥檛 getting out of bed only a few weeks prior, was an impressive change.

鈥淎fter that week of work experience, I knew that was what I wanted to do,鈥� says Jaelen.

Miles Renwick, the Operations Manager at Black Truck and AG Moree was impressed with Jaelen鈥檚 dedication and saw him come out of his shell during his work experience.

鈥淗e definitely became more confident. I see it a lot with our apprentices when they are working with adults all day,鈥� says Miles.

After completing his work experience, Rachael and Melissa looked at other options together with Jaelen and his family, and thanks to the 糖心vlog官网al Pathways Program, there were a few to decide between.

The next step for Jaelen was taking part in the TAFE NSW YES+ initiative and attending a taster course in engineering, which he also loved.

Jaelen then experienced the Civil Construction industry through the 糖心vlog官网al Pathways Program鈥檚 Apprenticeship and traineeship head start initiative. With Group Training Organisation Yalagan Group, Jaelen attended the one-week course in Lightning Ridge, learning all about working at heights, elevated work platforms, forklifts, and the world of being an apprentice. He gained competencies that would prove very useful in his apprenticeship as a Heavy Diesel Mechanic.

鈥淗e was out of bed early, with no help from his parents, waiting for the bus each morning,鈥� says Rachael.

When Jaelen told his parents he wanted to start an apprenticeship, they knew it was the right decision for him.

鈥淛aelen had a clear vision on his career pathway, and he set himself a goal,鈥� explains Jaelen鈥檚 mother Angela.

With Rachael and Melissa鈥檚 guidance, and the support of his parents, Jaelen explored the possibility of commencing a full-time apprenticeship with Black Truck and AG Moree. But with an apprenticeship involving work from 8am to 5pm, commuting from Collarenebri to Moree each day wasn鈥檛 an option for a 16-year-old with a Learner Driver Licence.

鈥淲e had a chat with Jaelen and his parents to talk about him moving to Moree,鈥� says Miles Renwick. 鈥淢oving anywhere by yourself at 16 is a huge commitment so we had to make sure it was the right decision for him.鈥�

鈥淚 was very nervous about moving to Moree by myself,鈥� explains Jaelen. Describing the first week as the hardest and a huge learning curve, he now proudly boasts that he cooks his own meals every day!

鈥淗e has come a long way in 2 years, and we are all proud beyond words of Jaelen鈥檚 achievements,鈥� says Angela.

Jaelen and Angela both know this wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without his support network and are very thankful for the EPP team and Collarenebri Central School for supporting Jaelen to follow his career ambitions as a Heavy Diesel Mechanic.

鈥淥ver the last year when times were tough for Jaelen and he needed motivation, it was Rachael who would come to the rescue with a motivational talk,鈥� says Angela.

鈥淚t would immediately boost his confidence and help him find his path once again.鈥�

Rachael鈥檚 support also extended to sharing the driving with Jaelen鈥檚 parents to ensure he made it to Moree each day for that initial week of work experience.

Rachael and Melissa are as modest as they come and shrug this off as 鈥榡ust doing their job鈥�. But it鈥檚 the dedication of people like them, and the opportunities provided through the 糖心vlog官网al Pathways Program, that see students like Jaelen thrive.

鈥淚鈥檓 working and getting paid, and I鈥檝e never been happier,鈥� says Jaelen.