Equipping work ready students for business and industry utilising authentic workplace learning.
EQIP Gladstone is a world-class education/business initiative which targets identified skill shortages and enhances the transition from school to employment. In 2010 & 2011, around 20% of Year 11-12 students enrolled in the State Schools in the Gladstone region participated in EQIP programs.
The establishment of EQIP follows a comprehensive study commissioned jointly by Rio Tinto Community Fund and Education Queensland, which investigated the unique educational and training programs offered in Gladstone, and the potential to manage all of the programs more efficiently.
EQIP Gladstone overarches four successful programs that have been operating for up to nine years, and provide work ready students for employers. The four programs were developed from partnerships between the three state high schools, local industries and businesses in Gladstone. Students undertake part of their schooling onsite with big industry and/or with local employers.
EQIP Gladstone’s Partnerships
EQIP Gladstone was established to manage and administer the FOUR existing ‘work ready’ and ‘pre-trade training’ courses available to senior high school students.
• EESC EQIP Engineering Skills Centre NRG Gladstone Power Station
• EBITS EQIP Business and I.T. Skills Centre Boyne Smelter Ltd.
• TCGR EQIP Technical College Gladstone Region- Numerous employers
• ED2CC EQIP Doorways to Civil Construction McCosker Contracting Pty. Ltd.
• EPMA EQIP Processs Plant Operations (Certificate II)
• PREQIP Year 10 Indigenous students working across the EQIP sites and with employers.
The future sustainability of these programs requires a collaborative approach between local businesses and employers, Education Queensland, local state high schools, students and other community organisations. EQIP Gladstone aims to ensure supporting organisations benefit from the partnership.
EQIP Gladstone’s major financial supporters are: NRG Gladstone Power Station, McCosker Contracting Pty.Ltd, Rio Tinto Alcan – Community Fund, Education Queensland, Gladstone State High School, Tannum Sands State High School, Toolooa State High School, Arrow Energy, Australia Pacific LNG,Gladstone LNG (GLNG) and QGC.
Our other financial supporters are: Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, Gladstone Job Skills, AK Auto Electrics and Veolia Environmental Services, NAB Schools First, Queensland Minerals & Energy Academy (QMEA),and Phoenix Group CQ .
EQIP Gladstone also has The Observer, Versestyle, Gladstone News Weekly, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited, Stonestreet’s Coaches, Gladstone Engineering Alliance and GAGAL as valued supporters.
The Six EQIP programs
The three state high schools, Gladstone SHS, Toolooa SHS and Tannum Sands SHS, cater for approximately 3000 students or 85% of high school aged students in the region. Working together the schools have developed the following specialised environments:
• EQIP Business and I.T. Skills Centre (EBITS) at Boyne Smelters (BSL)
• EQIP Doorways to Civil Construction (ED2CC) at McCosker Contracting
• EQIP Engineering Skills Centre (EESC) at NRG Gladstone Power Station
• EQIP Technical College Gladstone Region - (ETCGR) a campus of Gladstone State High School
EPMA EQIP Processs Plant Operations (Certificate II) in partnership with CQ TAFE
• PREQIP Year 10 Indigenous students working across the EQIP sites and with employers.
- Category:
- Government organization