General News
27 July, 2026
Hands-on experience for students across region
STUDENTS across the North Central have been stepping out of the classroom and into local workplaces as part of the North Central LLEN’s Broader Horizons program.
STUDENTS across the North Central have been stepping out of the classroom and into local workplaces as part of the North Central LLEN’s Broader Horizons program.
Designed to broaden students’ horizons and showcase the career opportunities available right on their doorstep, the program connects Year 9 students with local businesses aligned to their interests.
Students spent time immersed in different workplaces that align to their interests, gaining hands-on experience and learning directly from local employers.
“Providing students with real world experiences and the opportunity to meet local employers plays an important role in developing our young people,” program coordinator Julie Burke said.
Charlton College students were grouped according to their interests in agriculture, trades and early childhood education with a group out each week over five consecutive Wednesday afternoons.
The program began at Dirt Fabrication, where students were shown many aspects of a career in fabrication learning some hands-on skills including grinding and welding steel to create their own fire pokers. Mrs Burke said Holmes-Brown Floor and Window Coverings and North Central Smash Repairs and Restorations in Charlton provided engaging experiences for the trade group.
At Holmes-Brown’s, students measured rooms, calculated flooring requirements, operated steam cleaners, cut carpet and learnt how flooring is installed.
At North Central Smash Repairs and Restorations, students followed the entire repair process, paint mixing and baking, before getting on the tools themselves to remove a bumper from a damaged vehicle ready for repair.
Agriculture students experienced the diversity of the industry through visits to North West Ag, Teys Aust. Charlton Feedlot and Gunyah Blooms.
“The contrast between larger agricultural businesses and a small, family-run flower farm demonstrated the many different pathways available within the sector locally,” Mrs Burke said.
At Gunyah Blooms, students met Tessa Fitzpatrick, who shared her interesting pathway.
“She is currently balancing full- time study in environmental science, part-time work at Fosterville mine, running her own flower farm and parenthood,” Mrs Burke said.
Tessa shared how Gunyah Blooms can generate additional income through selling not only flowers but also tubers and seeds, with students collecting seeds to take home.
In Wycheproof, students visiting Premier Auto Electrics dismantled an alternator to better understand how it works with the power of magnetics.
First stop was to travel to Birchip to visit O’Connors to learn about careers available not only as a diesel mechanic but the variety of roles available within the business across branches in Victoria and New South Wales.
Next stop was the Wycheproof Community Resource, the heart of Wycheproof community-based focus and the career roles that they have and support.
After the session Jess from Centre Central Mallee Health was running a clinic from the WCRC and gave her time to present a detailed presentation on her journey from subjects selections to university advice, allowing students to explore a range of community-based career pathways.
The final business to complete the day was Premier Auto Electrics where Josh Pelegrino shared his passion as an auto elect where the students got on the tools and dismantled alternators and identified a fault using technology on Ute. Several businesses welcomed Broader Horizons students for the first time this year.
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