How a Traineeship Inspired my Son to Become a Teacher
“Tom’s experience was and continues to be the most wonderful introduction to a professional workplace and helped solidify his decision to study for a degree in Education.”
Ngaire Edwards is the mum of Tom, who completed his Certificate III in Sport and Recreation at St Pauls Catholic School in Bridgewater, Tasmania in 2019.
Tom’s traineeship inspired him to pursue teaching as a career and now he is working at his host school full-time whilst studying at university.
Ngaire believes a traineeship pathway should strongly be considered by parents of children completing high school and, in this interview, she tells us why.
How did your child hear about the traineeship program?
I first heard about the program through word of mouth and then Tom and I visited the AFL SportsReady website to see what job/traineeship opportunities were available.
What did you think of the traineeship at first and why did you think it was right for your child?
Tom was planning to take a gap year before going to university. He was unsure of what he wanted to study, but Education was always on that shortlist. When we learnt about AFL SportsReady, we both knew it was a great opportunity for Tom to use his gap year to see whether Teaching was the career choice for him.
What are your thoughts about your child’s experience?
Tom’s experience was and continues to be the most wonderful introduction to a professional workplace and helped solidify his decision to study for a degree in Education.
The school Tom was placed with during his traineeship supported a broad range of children and families, many of whom were faced with social, financial and physical challenges.
I feel that Tom established himself as a trusted, reliable and supportive influence for many of those children and that gave him an immense sense of achievement and impact. Tom received this beautiful piece of feedback, emailed to AFL SportsReady by one of the teachers from St Paul’s whose child was a student there. The note read:
“On another note, and this is just one as a parent. I just wanted to pass on to you how fantastic Tom has been at St Pauls Catholic School. My son has had so much interaction with him over this past year and he is just a lovely kid that can relate to both the kids at the school and also the parents. You won’t find a person like that very often and he really is a great reflection for AFL SportsReady. “
At the end of his year at St Paul’s Catholic School, Tom accepted an offer from the principal of full-time employment for the duration of his four years at the university with support time for study and exams.
Have you noticed a change in your child since taking on a traineeship?
Tom has become a much more mature and empathetic person and is more resilient. He has always been a confident person but now he has a clear career pathway ahead of him.
What is the education like and what support is provided in the traineeship?
His connection with Tracey at AFL SportsReady was a great one. She was so flexible and supportive, and they worked well together to ensure Tom achieved his traineeship. Tom being a finalist in the Tasmania Training Awards for Trainee of the Year is a testament to how well his traineeship went.
What would you say to other parents considering this pathway for their child?
I have encouraged other parents to investigate the traineeship program as it’s a fantastic opportunity for their child to enter the workforce, gain great skills and even give their career choice a “test run” in a safe, supportive environment.
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This article is part of our partnership with the National Careers Institute (NCI) to highlight the real benefits of Vocational Education and Training (VET).
IMAGE: Ngaire & Tom Edwards
