CURRICULUM
Home Economics News
Year 8 Food for Living Excursion - Sugar Shed, Sarina
Tuesday, 26 August, saw our three Year 8 Food for Living classes visit Sarina Sugar Shed as part of their Paddock to Plate unit. Our classroom lessons focus on how food is produced, processed and prepared from the farm to the table.
Students began the excursion with an outside tour, viewing what sugar cane looks like up close and looking at various pieces of machinery used in the early days to cut and harvest the cane. Hearing about the hard work involved in producing sugar was very informative. Students were then treated to a tour of the ‘mini mill’ learning about the stages of sugar production once the cane arrives at the mill. Students sampled the cane juice with mixed reactions and were amazed at how the machines operated. To conclude our excursion, students were able to sample some well-known sugar products (fairy floss and non-alcoholic ginger beer) while viewing an informative video summarising the harvesting, transporting and processing of sugar cane throughout Queensland into many of the products we consume daily.
From all accounts, students enjoyed this interactive tour that explained the process of getting a natural product from paddock to plate. We thank Sarina Sugar Shed for their contribution to our Food for Living experiences.
Lisa-Maree Doyle - Teacher
English News
Book Week 2025 - A Day of Adventure and Imagination!
Our 2025 Book Week dress-up day was a spectacular celebration of reading, creativity, and school spirit! With the theme “Book an Adventure”, students and staff brought their favourite characters to life, and the spirit of imagination was alive and well across the day.
A huge thank you goes to our SRC members for organising the event, the Digital DJs for keeping the energy high with their fantastic tunes, and our judging panel, who faced the very difficult task of selecting our inaugural best-dressed staff and students. Your enthusiasm and dedication made the day a resounding success.
We can’t wait for future opportunities to dive into the world of stories, celebrate the joy of reading, and continue fostering a love of literature across our school community.
Suzanne Gakowski - Dean of English (Senior)
VET News
Work Experience
Year 10, 11 & 12 students are now in the process of organising their work experience for this term and the September holidays. Students can also now book in for Term 4 and the Christmas holiday.
Employers are booked up well in advance, so if you want to secure your ideal work experience, now is the time to book your placement.
STEPS:
- Collect Student Work Experience Application from Mrs O’Brien
- Student to organise placement with the employer
- Term-time Student Work Experience Application needs to be signed by teachers
- Return completed & signed Student Work Experience Application to Mrs O’Brien
- Collect Work Experience Agreement, Evaluation Form and Logbook from Mrs O’Brien
- Visit Employer, have workplace induction and get Work Experience Agreement signed
- Return signed Work Experience Agreement to Mrs O’Brien and complete and sign the Work Experience/Student Induction.
- Mrs O’Brien will go through the School Induction Form for student to sign.
- Attend placement, collect Evaluation Form from the employer on the last day and return it and your Logbook to Mrs O’Brien
- Debrief with Mrs O’Brien
Jonathan C (Year 10) has been signed into a Certificate III in Carpentry with Cougar Developments. HSC would like to thank John Cowley for giving Jonathan this opportunity.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Next Accounting
Trainee Accountant
Why Join Us? We value our team and offer fantastic benefits:
- Sign-on bonus
- Up to 5 weeks annual leave
- Paid study leave
- Flexible hours
- Christmas closure
- Active social club
- Supportive mentoring and career progression opportunitites
Perfect for school leavers or those starting their career. You’ll be mentored by senior team members and gain experience in all areas of public practice accounting.
Apply Today:
Email: admin@nextaccounting.net.au
Call: 07 4963 1800 to speak with a partner
Inspire Accounting & Business Services
Kickstart your career while you study! Work, learn and get ahead
- $1000 scholarship for onboarding trainees to go towards initial tuition, textbooks or other study costs *scholarship is paid at completion of probationary period
- 4-day work week to support study routine
- Internal study support from other trainee accountants studying in the same industry
- Weekly training sessions with the whole team to offer personal development within your career
- Fun and friendly environment with a social workplace
- Potential for 5 weeks of annual leave
- Paid Exam Leave
This role will suit you if you are enthusiastic and see yourself being more than a number cruncher, enjoy being around people and intend to commence your business/accounting degree.
Start date of January 2026 or earlier
If you would like to gain some practical experience while studying, apply to Inspire Accounting & Business Services for a career to start in January 2026.
Email: shayem@inspireacc.com.au
Local Eyes Optometrists
Junior Optical Assistant - Full Time
See Mrs O'Brien for more information
Mint Escape for Hair
First Year Hairdressing Apprentice
See Mrs O'Brien for more information
Svensson Boats
- Work experience in boat building
- Fabrication trade
- Will be looking for apprentices in 2026
See Mrs O'Brien for more information
Kookaburra Child Care
School Based Early Childhood Traineeships
See Mrs O'Brien for more information
Brown and Bird
Accounting Traineeship for Year 12 Graduates
Are you finishing Year 12 and looking to study towards an accounting degree? This is a great chance to get paid while you learn and gain real experience in an accounting team.
Brown & Bird Accountants, based in Mackay, are offering accounting traineeships starting mid-January 2026.
What we can provide for you:
- Starting salary of $52,000
- Full-time employment
- Paid study leave
- Mentor professional development and support through your university studies
- Additional training sessions to support continual professional development through our CPA and other external programs
If you would like to be considered for a traineeship opportunity, please email your resume together with your latest school results to colby@brownbird.com.au.
Alternatively, please call in to our office on the First Floor, 73 Victoria Street, Mackay or call us on 4968 3166.
Check us out at www.brownbird.com.au
Hauhinco Mining Technology
Boilermaker Apprenticeship
Electrician Apprenticeship
What you will bring to us:
- Commitment to a 4-year apprenticeship with classroom-based and on-the-job training
- Shown interest in your respective field
- Awareness and commitment to safety
HBT GmbH, based in Lünen, Germany, is a leading manufacturer of longwall mining equipment, supplying high-performance systems to major mining markets across 15 countries, including Australia.
HBT Services QLD manages longwall machinery overhauls across Queensland, operating through three key facilities: Overhauls, Gearbox Repairs, and the Warehouse.
Applications close 17 October 2025.
Submit your application with a resume and cover letter to annette.reeves@hbt-group.com
Shortlisted candidates will progress to the interview stage in November 2025.
Alpha Cuts Mackay
Barber Apprentice Wanted
Please forward all resumes to alphacutsmackay@outlook.com.au
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Apollo Hair Andergrove
Junior Hairdressing Apprenticeship
Please send your application to apollohair@gmail.com
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TLB Hair Mackay Mount Pleasant
1st Year Apprentice
Email Trinity at trinitybatesprivate@gmail.com
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Ailene O'Brien - VET Coordinator
Studentship
Register for Elevate Education's Parent Webinar Series This Term
Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over this term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school.
Upcoming Webinars:
How to Help Your Child Improve Their Note Taking - 6:30 pm, 3 September
How You Can Support Your Child During Exams - 6:30 pm, 17 September
Register for the series here, and learn some great practical strategies to help support your child this year.
Carmen Bennett - Head of Academic Performance