28 June 2018

Geelong Future Leaders

Article by Mr Bruce Connor

Geelong Future Leaders

Geelong Future Leaders of Industry (GFLOI) Program

Recently I had the opportunity to participate in an excursion with three of our Year 10 students (Darby O’Meara, Marcus Vaughan and Jools Bond) who are involved in the GFLOI program.

The day was spent at three local organisations around the Geelong region:

i/ Lyondell Basell Australia – produces homo-polymer polypropylene. Polymers are used in customer applications such as film, fibre, industrial strapping, caps and closures, rigid and flexible packaging, housewares, flower pots and blow moulded products. All members of the tour were fitted out with coveralls, a hard hat, gloves, steel capped boots hearing and eye protection.

ii/ Thornton Engineering – a quality steel fabrication company that supplies its clients with quality design, steel fabrication, construction and maintenance services and site installation services. This highly specialized organization produces large scale engineering products for clients across the country.

iii/ Boomaroo Nurseries – grow a wide range of vegetables and plants from seed. This very expansive, highly sophisticated, automated enterprise produces 300 million plants per year and during their busiest period employ up to 120 staff.

The day was a real eye-opener for the students and for myself. Geelong has a wide variety of manufacturing facilities and this program provides students with the opportunity to safely observe the various enterprises that are making a strong contribution to the local economy.

The students will continue to visit various organisations across the year and will learn about advanced technologies, innovative manufacturing and engineering, participate in leadership development activities, develop communication and presentation skills and have the opportunity to shadow mentors in industry.

The program is sponsored by Skilling the Bay and involves a partnership arrangement with the Victorian Government, Deakin University and The Gordon TAFE. The project is managed by the Geelong Manufacturing Council.

Pictured are our three young men at Thornton Engineering.

Mr. Bruce Connor Work and Further Education Coordinator

Feature

Events