African-Australian students at Greater Shepparton Secondary College have been encouraged to use every resource possible in order to find their calling in life.
The college recently hosted a Career Focus and Goal Setting Workshop for African-Australian students in Years 10 to 12.
The workshop was organised by Networking African-Australians and aimed to provide students with a culturally safe environment to receive free career advice and inspiration while learning to set personal goals throughout high school.
The workshop featured three African-Australian panellists, Department of Education and Training school community liaison officer Ladan Ahmed, UNIC group founder and chief executive Providence Delfina and GV Health registered nurse Neema Mukasa, who shared their career journeys with the students.
Ms Mukasa arrived in Shepparton when she was eight years old without being able to speak any English. She attended St Brendan’s Primary School and then Notre Dame College, where she says she found her calling for nursing, encouraging the students to use all resources available to them so that they might find theirs.
“(At first) I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” she said.
“Speak to your teachers, ask questions, go to careers sessions.
“They’re here to assist you, and that’s what helped me get into nursing.”
Before the workshop, African-Australian students and members of Networking African-Australians held an African drumming and dance session during lunchtime to share their culture with the broader school community.
The event was a success, providing a platform for African-Australian students to connect with professionals from their community and gain valuable insights into their future careers, and promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity in education.