Ex-student from Newman Senior Technical College (NSTC), Mitchell Everingham, became the first apprentice to complete their trade training through the John Henry Institute (JHI) engineering apprentice program and is now a fully qualified engineering tradesperson.

Mitch, apprenticed to Birdon Marine, has completed the MEM30205 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade having excelled in all the theoretical and practical course work throughout the last 3 years. Mitch has become a highly valued member of the Birdon team and has a bright career future with this world class marine engineering enterprise. His typical work role involves him inspecting and re-building complex drive systems for marine apparatus together with associated fabrication and welding work. Mitch studied Metal & Engineering in his time at Newman completing the HSC in 2017. He was a member of our SRC and an active student in all facets of the College.

The JHI engineering apprentice program has been highly successful and has earnt the support  and involvement of many of the engineering firms operating in the Hastings region. The success of the program is largely due to the hard work and dedication of our apprentice trainer, Michael ‘Cookie’ Cook, whose passion for engineering and youth development is legendary here at the College and within the wider community. Thanks are also extended to Newman College’s Technical Assistant, Lindsay Dobell, who acted as a mentor to Mitch, passing on much of his vast technical skill and knowledge during Mitch’s time in the program.

NSTC would also like to extend their appreciation to Sue Watts and Jill Cummings from the Catholic Schools Office and to Ben Castles, Manager of John Henry Institute, without whose outstanding support and direction, the program would not be possible.

Article by Tom Moriarty – Leader of Learning: VET Curriculum, Newman Senior Technical College