FOR students at Whittlesea Secondary College organising a day for their peers to meet first responders is an experience they won’t soon forget.
As part of their curriculum students applied their project management skills to incorporate four major learning occasions into the senior school timetable last Thursday.
The senior students facilitated the school’s major event to thank Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, CFA and the SES for the critical work they do with a program the school holds annually. The occasion presented an opportunity for the students to practice their administrative event management protocols and communication skills by facilitating four concurrent presentations aimed to enlighten the students on first responders’ day-to-day responsibilities with a workshop each.
The occasion also offered Year 10 and some year 9 students a one-on-one opportunity to ask career questions.
Victorian Police spent time indoors with the students to be together in a non-threatening environment as they played adrenaline-pumping rounds of card games together and later spent time outdoors on the sports courts.
Ambulance Victoria staff held an indoor basic first aid course giving the students hands on experience with a training mannequin. The up-close encounter with two paramedics and some of the equipment needed to treat their patients and the inner workings of the back of an ambulance were highlighted.
Whittlesea CFA volunteers came out in force and brought their fire truck, showcasing equipment needed to contain a chemical spill or extinguish a fire.
Later, teams were arranged to do a real time CFA training drill requiring the students to quickly connect hose couplings to the tanker all the while adhering to the occupational health and safety requirements, no running.
Finally, the SES personnel shared the satisfaction they find in having the specialised skills to support first responders, the volunteers also showed the students around their vehicle.
One student said they learnt a lot about chainsaws from their workshop, and the flood lights to light up a scene to make 000 callouts safer for all involved were impressive.
The students co-ordinated the workshops over the recent school term. Their teachers and school council members assisted when required but encouraged the students to use their initiative and put their knowledge to the test.
Catering and hospitality skills were another highlight of the thank you day with a smoking BBQ for the whole school, facilitated from start to finish by students.
WSC students Falcon Tofete-Su’a and Zac Burns took care of the catering.
The Whittlesea Lions Club, who have been supporting communities through floods, fires, and a number of community driven projects for decades joined the brigade of first responders.
To conclude the ceremonies the students thanked the organisations that attended with certificates of appreciation.
