When Year 12 VCAL student Shane Carroll approached Don Kinley, manager of a property near Navarre, he was most interested in gaining Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placement close to home. What he has come to appreciate about work on the land is the variety of tasks on offer. Shane has been assisting with routine farm maintenance as well as stock related activities. His tasks vary from fixing a dog chain (pictured) to drenching sheep, loading hay and feeding out. He is getting to experience, hands on, all aspects of work on the farm.

Shane has proven himself under the experienced guidance of property manager Don Kinley.

Shane said his study of Certificate II in Automotive at school (Stawell Secondary College) has been very useful on the farm but he most enjoys the opportunity to learn how to operate the farm machinery.

Property owners, Shane and Karen Ware, started Shane on a probationary period and he has proven himself under the experienced guidance of property manager Don Kinley. Mr Kinley said he was enjoying having Shane on SWL, ‘I enjoy teaching someone else’ he said ‘especially when they are ready to listen and learn’. Mr Kinley confessed that he knew little about the VCAL and SWL programs until Shane came to work with him and he now knew a bit more about the choices and opportunities available to students today.

Shane doesn’t know what he wants to do next year after he finishes school. With the experience he has gained from his automotive training and SWL at Tullok he has a broad range of skills and abilities to offer – ‘maybe a farm hand or working tractors or I could get an apprenticeship’ he said.

If you would like more information about the SWL program you can contact the CGLLEN’s Local Community Partnership SWL Coordinator, Dianne Stewart on 0438 502 411 or email dstewart@cgllen.org.au .