A Beacon Foundation program has provided St Helens District High School students with an early taste of life in the workforce.
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About 30 grade 8 students benefited from the mentorship of nine business representatives at the one-day PREPARE program on Thursday, which aimed to equip students with the necessary communication and interpersonal skills to successfully enter the workforce.
School assistant principal Kristen Kelly said students had been surprised at how much they enjoyed the session and the chance to meet industry professionals.
“The feedback from students was really good... they felt they had gained an understanding of what it would take to be ready for work and they learnt some (skills) around how to meet people and how to communicate,” Ms Kelly said.
Ms Kelly said the program - one of many aimed at helping St Helens students prepare for work after year 12- would likely benefit students on a number of levels.
“One of the things that stood out is how they gained some self-confidence through the program.
“The program really encouraged the students to step out of their comfort zone and participate in new activities and skills they might not have done before so it was really encouraging for everyone.”