News cadet Caleb Francis was out and about around town and spoke to Notre Dame College trainees to gather first-hand accounts of their experiences back in the classroom.
A traineeship in secondary schools is a gap year program designed for recent graduates who are looking to gain practical experience in various fields of work within the school setting.
Ollie Guthrie
How has the traineeship been so far?
It’s been fantastic. I really enjoy it. I do the learning diversity traineeship. I go into Year 7 and 8 classrooms and help the students if there’s anything they’re struggling with or don’t understand.
What advice would you give to current Year 12 students?
Go for it. It’s a great opportunity. I’ve really enjoyed it this year.
Steph Cardamone
How has the traineeship been so far?
It’s been really good and exciting. I’ve enjoyed it a lot.
What advice would you give to current Year 12 students?
It’s a great opportunity for growth. You’ll find out very quickly if you want to go into teaching after this or not.
Brodie Whitehead
How has the traineeship been so far?
It’s been amazing. I’ve got a good team, and I’ve learned a lot of new skills that I didn’t have before. I’m doing the media traineeship.
What advice would you give to current Year 12 students?
Put your hand up for it. It’s a good opportunity for you to learn new skills in an environment you may or may not be familiar with. There are good people, and it’s a way to make connections.
Xavier Scott
How has the traineeship been so far?
It’s been pretty good, actually. I’m in the learning diversity position. I really enjoy the experience in the classroom.
What advice would you give to current Year 12 students?
It’s not at all like school, even though you’re working at the school. The timetable might look the same, but it’s very, very different. The complete opposite of what I really thought would happen.