Four decades of Studentworks, all for the students

Studentworks, a Launceston-based organisation, held its first open day in a number of years celebrating 40 years of providing valuable work experience to at-risk young people in the state’s North.

Marjorie Knox started the program as a Brooks High School work experience scheme back in 1973, and was a guest of honour for the festivities that drew a crowd of around 50 past and present staff, students, and supporters.

“It’s very exciting for me,” Mrs Knox said.

“I can scarcely hear myself think.

“It’s quite remarkable to be in there and see what everybody has done with it in the meantime.”

Studentworks’ operation has teenagers from a number of high schools across Northern Tasmania spend alternate weeks in the workplace, returning to their high schools in between.

Students spend time in each of the many sections of the organisation – from retail and hospitality, to engineering, carpentry and mechanics – acquiring the skills needed to gain employment.

The inspiration for the program was a simple one for Mrs Knox.

“It was the students,” she said.

“The students are the whole point of the thing, and the workshop is based around that.”

Those past students made up many of the people attending the open day too.

“It’s incredible, they’ve all grown up and you don’t recognise them,” Mrs Knox added.

“It’s wonderful that some of them are here.

“They’ve all got different faces on by this time haven’t they.”

After its beginnings as work experience scheme at Brooks High School, the then Launceston Student Workshop was incorporated as an association with a site at Kelsell and Kemp Complex, Invermay in 1978.

Five years later, in 1981, the organisation relocated to Georgetown Road at Rocherlea – its current site.

In 1999, Launceston Student Workshop became Studentworks through a change of name.

Reading to the gathered crowd from some old quotes of Mrs Knox’s, current Studentworks chairwoman Sheryl Thomas remarked that despite many changes over the years, their mission hadn’t.

“The job asked is unique and challenging, juggling the needs of a teenage workforce,” she said.

“Staff fulfill training expectations, produce goods, and develop relationships with the students from different schools.

“Staff make a difference in the lives of our young people.”

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