More than 160 Year 9 and Year 10 students from Punchbowl Boys’ High School stepped beyond the classroom to explore hands-on career opportunities during a recent Try a Trade Day, designed to introduce young people to the wide range of possibilities available in vocational education and training.

The event allowed students to experiment with a variety of trades and industries, giving them a practical glimpse into real-world careers. Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive activities that included virtual reality welding simulations, tyre changing, bricklaying using foam blocks, and inspecting trucks, motorbikes and air-conditioning units.

The event showcased opportunities across several sectors including manufacturing, transport, automotive and electrical trades, offering students an engaging way to understand how these industries operate.

The initiative forms part of the Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program, which works to connect students with industry and encourage them to consider vocational education and training pathways such as apprenticeships or selecting VET subjects during their senior studies.

Regional Industry Education Partnerships officer Felicity Zahra said the program plays a vital role in helping students gain a clearer understanding of career options available to them.

“The Try a Trade Day provides students hands-on experience and a realistic view of what it’s like to enter into a trade,” she said.

“This enables students to have a complete understanding and reality of trades and make informed career decisions which will assist in subject selection and future career planning.

“It’s important to have a wide experience of things and learn from people who can share their career journey and story.”

Punchbowl Boys’ High School Deputy Principal Aziz Elbeb emphasised the importance of exposing students to opportunities they may not have encountered before.

“We want our boys to aspire to big things and there is a world out there of trades and opportunities,” he said.

“So many of our boys might have never seen these fields before or have an idea of what they could do post school, so today is a good chance to spark interest and drive them towards it.”

Punchbowl Boys’ High School is one of the state’s most culturally diverse schools, with around 60 per cent of its students coming from Arabic-speaking backgrounds. The school views this diversity as one of its greatest strengths, creating a vibrant learning environment where students from many cultures are encouraged to pursue a wide range of career pathways.

Head Teacher Jamal El Hindi highlighted how important it is to equip students with the skills needed for the rapidly changing modern workforce.

“The world is evolving with technology with the work climate changing dramatically,” he said.

“We need to build and equip kids with skills of the future and introduce them to 21st century skills. We can’t sit back and wait for change; we have to keep going and make sure students are successful contributors to society.

“Success comes in different ways, more than a doctor or lawyer, and today proves that a trade like a carpenter or builder is just as good.”

Students themselves welcomed the opportunity to explore different options and test their interests.

Year 10 student Maalik G said the event helped confirm his future ambitions.

“I think I want to be a chef in the future, but my dad is a mechanic and my brother is an electrician, so I thought why not try it out today?” he said.

“I tried my hand at it and now know that I still want to be a chef.”

Another Year 10 student, Hassan El Helou, said the event helped him better understand the hands-on side of trade work.

“I plan to be a surveyor one day. I enjoyed looking at the tradie stuff to get an idea of what tradie life would be,” he said.

“I liked working with the cars and bricks at the event to get an idea of what to do.”

By offering practical experiences and direct engagement with industry representatives, the Try a Trade Day provided Punchbowl Boys’ High School students with valuable insights into career possibilities, helping them make informed decisions about their futures while broadening their understanding of the many paths to success.