Case Study – Industry Speaker Bank at Diamond Valley College
During a recent event, Brian Woodhead spoke to Year 7 students about his diverse working life, shaped by change, choice and keeping an open mind.
On 6 October, students at Diamond Valley College heard about the career journeys of several volunteer speakers, including Brian, a retired Non-Executive Director at Sportscover Australia. It was his first time speaking at an ISB event.
He spoke about the different directions his working life had taken, showing students that careers can change over time and that people often work things out as they go.
For Brian, the value of the session was in helping students keep an open mind. He hoped students would leave with a broader understanding of work and the many careers available beyond the jobs they already know. He encourages young people to consider the variety of jobs available, and to look for opportunities to apply their interests and passions.
For Year 7 student Mason, the session was a chance to ask questions and learn about opportunities he had not previously considered. He said the event was a good opportunity for students to hear “a lot about what’s out there.”
His key takeaway was to “follow his dreams.”
“Anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” he said, when reflecting on what he had learned in the session.
Diamond Valley College Careers Practitioner, VET and Work Experience Coordinator, Graham Sinclair, said students benefited from hearing career stories from someone outside their usual school environment.
“If teachers were to talk about similar topics, it would be boring for them because they hear their teachers speak every day,” Graham said. “It’s good to hear from different people so students get to see a huge amount of career diversity and pathways.”
By bringing industry and community voices into schools, the Industry Speaker Bank helps students see that career pathways can look different for each person. The program introduces young people to different industries, roles and life experiences before they begin making decisions about future subjects, training or employment.z
During a recent event, Brian Woodhead spoke to Year 7 students about his diverse working life, shaped by change, choice and keeping an open mind.
On 6 October, students at Diamond Valley College heard about the career journeys of several volunteer speakers, including Brian, a retired Non-Executive Director at Sportscover Australia. It was his first time speaking at an ISB event.
He spoke about the different directions his working life had taken, showing students that careers can change over time and that people often work things out as they go.
For Brian, the value of the session was in helping students keep an open mind. He hoped students would leave with a broader understanding of work and the many careers available beyond the jobs they already know. He encourages young people to consider the variety of jobs available, and to look for opportunities to apply their interests and passions.
For Year 7 student Mason, the session was a chance to ask questions and learn about opportunities he had not previously considered. He said the event was a good opportunity for students to hear “a lot about what’s out there.”
His key takeaway was to “follow his dreams.”
“Anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” he said, when reflecting on what he had learned in the session.
Diamond Valley College Careers Practitioner, VET and Work Experience Coordinator, Graham Sinclair, said students benefited from hearing career stories from someone outside their usual school environment.
“If teachers were to talk about similar topics, it would be boring for them because they hear their teachers speak every day,” Graham said. “It’s good to hear from different people so students get to see a huge amount of career diversity and pathways.”
By bringing industry and community voices into schools, the Industry Speaker Bank helps students see that career pathways can look different for each person. The program introduces young people to different industries, roles and life experiences before they begin making decisions about future subjects, training or employment.