Having been heavily involved in the Vocational Education & Training sector for the past 12 years, being able to contribute to a successful school as a board member drew me to Belridge Secondary College. An electrical contractor by trade, I spent 20 years across both large and small business. Having employed apprentices and tradespersons, I’ve been able to see how the journey into trades starts with a great school and committed teachers. We’ve been preaching STEM for years now, but still, we hear the old line, ‘I’ve never used algebra or trigonometry’. Yet, I’m sure you could ask our maths and science teachers and they’ll be all too happy to tell you that STEM is impossible without them. Trades, such as electrical and plumbing are at the forefront of New Energy measures. Renewable Energy and Hydrogen will require skills that BSC is committed to providing. Automation, mechatronics, robotics, cyber-security along traditional career paths all require new skills, and possibly ones we don’t even know about. Having seen technology changes aplenty in my career, from fuses to RCDs (Safety Switches), from Flouros to LED Strip lighting, every industry is embracing technology. BSC being uniquely located adjacent the ever growing Innovation, Education and Health precincts in the City of Joondalup, our students can find work here, or launch an international career right from Belridge’s halls.

BSC has long had great representation from the parents, teachers and wider community, and it’s great to see that continue. Secondary schools are the launchpad for careers, whether direct from school, or via the VET or Tertiary pathways. As the PCE – Post Covid Era – beckons, it was great to hear at our open board meeting, the voices of our new generation of school leaders. Their excitement at the commitment to fund future projects, such as the STEM classrooms and Indoor Cricket Centre. To hear them already work out how these facilities, benefit not only our budding STEM and Sports stars, but across the cohort, who will have access to the technology in application. 

Our Principal and her dedicated team of teachers, administration and support staff are always looking for ways to give the students of BSC the very best of opportunities. 

2023 will undoubtedly bring challenges, but as we have proved through the past three years of pandemic pandemonium, resilience and adaptation are built into our students. I can’t wait to report back in 2023 all the success stories to come.

Steve Hall
Chairperson
Belridge SC Board