School-Based Traineeships Help Students get the Best Start

Meet Patrick (Pat) Dobing, a remarkable 16-year-old who kick-started his career by completing a School-Based Traineeship at ANZ Bank Wodonga while finishing his high school studies. This opportunity allowed him to gain hands-on work experience in the banking industry, pursue a Certificate II in Business, and lay the foundation for his future business endeavours. Inspired by the traineeship, Pat successfully managed a side business, specialising in computer repairs and building.

With the support of ANZ and his traineeship networks, Pat’s business thrived. Now undertaking a full-time Certificate III in IT at Wodonga Primary School.

Pat continues to harness the skills acquired through his school-based traineeship. Confident and motivated, this talented young man is destined for an exceptional future.

“I chose to do a school-based traineeship because it would give me hands-on work experience in a bank. I’m able to study Certificate II in Business while I was still at school. I would be getting paid, which would later down the track assist me in creating a business,” Pat said.

What this would mean is that I would have a head start leading into my future.

“To have an opportunity while you are still in high school, where you get to experience working in the banking industry. Communicating with adults, meeting new people, getting a taste of what it could be like in a working environment – for a 16/17-year-old that is incredible,” he added.

In 2018, Pat took on the traineeship after hearing about the opportunity from the Koori Leader at his high school, Wodonga Senior Secondary.

“The opportunity sounded fantastic, I really loved the fact I would be working at a bank and dealing with finance as I really enjoyed mathematics.

“I had all the support when applying for the role as we have a great careers team who helps kids with these opportunities.”

“I think it is really important these traineeship opportunities are discussed more in schools. Because they give a young person so much and if I wasn’t told about them, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.”

Pat loved every second of his traineeship. He felt he was learning so many new skills and getting a real understanding of what it could be like if he decided on a career in banking.

“The experience was amazing. I was handling money, dealing with cheques to buy cars and I was given all this responsibility. Although it felt like there was some pressure. I grew so much in the two years I was doing my traineeship, not only professionally but on a personal level.

“I became more mature, I learnt how to time manage since I was juggling high school and the traineeship, I was gaining these amazing diverse skills that put me a head of everyone else my age.”

“And the experience just continued to get better and better. I was given more responsibilities. My team really trusted me and as a young teenager, this is extremely rewarding.”

Halfway through his traineeship, Pat decided to open his own business in repairing and building computers, something he is passionate about.

“Having the traineeship at ANZ gave me the confidence and the income to start my own business”

“My business is doing really well. I have lots of work on and I’m supporting local community events with IT.”

“The person who runs these events, I worked with at the bank. So my traineeship has given me actual networks that has contributed to the success of my side business as well as everything else.”

After completing his traineeship over two years. His supervisor at ANZ was so impressed with his performance they offered him ongoing work.

“At this point I was just 17 years old, so it came as a total shock to me that my employers wanted to keep me on!

“I really felt inspired by this, and it made me realise that I do have potential. That I can succeed in whatever I do.”

He continued working at the bank for another 3 months until he saw an opportunity to do an IT traineeship at a primary school.

“I loved the bank, and I am so grateful for the skills and knowledge I learnt because it set me up for my life however. My real passion is in IT so when I saw this opportunity I couldn’t refuse. The bank was very supportive of my decision, and they were sad to see me go but they said if the traineeship doesn’t work out. They would happily have me back straight away!”

His second traineeship is a full-time Certificate III in IT with Kestral, a local employment agency, at Wodonga Primary School, where he works alongside the main systems administrator helping with IT.

“I help with repairing computers, keeping the network up and doing general maintenance. The experience I am gaining is amazing and my supervisor told me I won’t get this type of experience anywhere else because at a school there are so many components you need to deal with from network to hardware systems.”

“Also transferring the skills I gained through my school-based traineeship into this traineeship. I have a lot more confidence and my communication skills and time management skills are excellent.”

Pat believes that no matter what he does in his career the tools and life skills he gained in his school-based traineeship will always benefit him and help him to thrive.  We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this talented young man!