Newcomb Secondary to add tech. component

from w
Good news for the youth of our suburb that Newcomb Secondary School will have a P-Tech component.
In the Addie today:

GEELONG & REGION NEWS

NICOLE MILLS   GEELONG ADVERTISER   AUGUST 06, 2015 9:23AM

AUSTRALIA’S first P-Tech school will be opened within Newcomb Secondary College, with the objective of getting more kids into careers in maths, science, technology and engineering.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is in Geelong to make the announcement today along with a $14 million cash splash to open a new Industry Growth Centre in Advanced Manufacturing at Deakin University. Mr Abbott said the advanced manufacturing centre would help link local businesses with global companies and look at ways to give Australia a technological edge to make the sector more competitive. “The plan will identify jobs and skills needs, provide a pipeline of innovations ready to commercialise, and consider areas for reforming regulation, manufacturing transformation and growth,” he said. “It’s trying to ensure that Geelong goes from being a declining manufacturing centre to an advancing manufacturing centre.”

Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said the centre would send a signal to Australia that Geelong was at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. “This is a very exciting initiative for jobs and advanced manufacturing,” she said.

“This is really going to ensure that we can say to the nation, not just our region, that we are a very important centre of advanced manufacturing and going from strength to strength.”

The PM’s visit also coincides with the announcement that Newcomb Secondary will be the home of Australia’s first P-Tech school. The model, which has been successful in the United States, will encourage businesses to take a more hands-on role in schools to mentor students and steer them towards careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. Mr Abbott said it was another step to “help galvanise the transition from old to new manufacturing”.

“We want youngsters to come out of school not only well versed in science, technology, engineering and maths but really excited about them,” he said. “No one should think that an apprenticeship for instance in electronics or an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering is second best, that can often be a first best option for people and that’s what I hope this school will help to do.”