Academic Life & Learning
H2 Grand Prix
STEM Activation Fair
In the lead up to the H2GP Regional Final, a STEM Activation Fair was hosted at Murdoch University. Our student teams (ranging across Years 7-10) involved in the H2GP program were invited to spend the day participating in a rotation of workshops, as well as cheering on our teams in the race.
Activities included practicing flying a drone through obstacles, controlling a robotic dog, using ozobots, and learning how hydrogen power can be used to fuel cars and many other things.
Students then completed a quiz about energy, used VR headsets to tour a power plant - gaining an understanding of how they operate, toured part of the campus and heard from a Professor about the robotic programming he was working on. Students also had an opportunity to talk with Chevron employees about career options in STEM.
In between all this, we kept a watchful eye on our teams’ progress in the H2GP race and stepped up and supported our teams in the final hour. Our cheers were heard loudly as we celebrated the successes of both our teams, Thunderstruck and Speedy Gonzales!
These students have been watching, learning and assisting the teams in the lead up to this year’s event, and are ready to start preparing for next year’s race already!
H2GP - Race Day!
Friday, 7 June 2025
The track was set, the racers ready!
After hours of planning and preparation, race day was upon us. With an early start meeting at school, we were on the bus heading to Murdoch University at 7am, Friday 6 June. Upon arrival, our teams set up their pit areas, got their cars ready and passed all pre-inspection checks.
The College’s teams Thunderstruck and Speedy Gonzales were ready for the 4-hour endurance race about to begin. They had their game plans ready, the ideal time to change fuel, how to fix and mend the car when needed, engineers, mechanics and drivers all knowing what to do.
Mixing fun with sustainable technology, this challenge gets the students to use hydrogen fuel cells to extend the battery life of the RC cars. They have built their knowledge about the technology, factored in adjustments to the car that could assist, learnt to build, unbuild, fix and get the cars to work as efficiently as possible. Sessions working after school once a week, as well as sessions over the school holidays, the teams created their cars, practiced driving, taking pit stops and were as ready as they could be for whatever the day had in store for them.
After all checks, official opening and cars lined up ready to start, the flag was waved, and the race began! Off they went, with a solid start. There were plenty of bumps and crashes between all 20 cars on track, but Dexter (Thunderstruck) and Emily (Speedy Gonzales) were focused and got into the zone, focusing on driving their cars and settling in for the long race. After a few laps, Thunderstruck was steady in the Top 3, with Speedy Gonzales not far behind.
Even with wheels falling off, patching things up and fixing the cars when needed, the teams worked incredibly well throughout, handling the stress like champions. Pit stops, servicing and fixing were done as fast as possible to get the cars back on track. Both teams kept check on their energy usage, trying to find the optimum level of speed, power and not running out of energy before the race was up.
In the last few minutes of the race, both Belridge Secondary College teams were still powering on - being 2 of the last 7 cars to make it to the 4-hour mark. A massive feat!
The end results… Team Thunderstruck in 2nd Place, Team Speedy Gonzales in 9th Place!!
#72 Thunderstruck; David Barr (Captain), Cooper Bray, Dexter Cooper,
Ben Facchini, Zane Yuanjit and Matt Kay (Reserve)
#73 Speedy Gonzales; Tarryn Lohf (Captain), Emily Aspinall,
Harper Charteris, Ashleigh Leomaro and Keira Lohf
As the final celebrations and award ceremony continued, there was an extra incentive. To promote Girls in STEM, the top Girl’s team on the day won an award…AND an invitation to the World Championship in Germany, taking place in August. Team Speedy Gonzales did just that! They placed 1st out of 4 all-girls teams, winning their place by a cool 194 laps! What an achievement! We had some very excited conversations on the long bus ride home, and the planning has commenced to make this opportunity a reality.
Students in Team #73 Speedy Gonzales will be participating in two races at the H2GP World Finals, the World Finals race and a second race that will see out students pit their skills against the Top 15 Girls Teams in the world. This is a huge opportunity for our students to represent our school and fly a massive flag for Public Education…exciting times indeed.
All students involved in the 2025 H2GP program have already began to analyse data from the competition and are developing ideas on how we can improve our cars and our practices to maintain our position as a strong contender in this event.
This is a massive achievement for all students involved, it is their hard work and dedication that got them to this point, and with such amazing results. They should be so proud of themselves. A giant thank-you to Mr Chen for all his hard work and organisation in getting this opportunity at Belridge, and for the second year running, incredible results. Thanks go out to all staff involved in helping along the way; Ms Edmonds, Mr Winch, Mr Orr, Mr McInnes and Ms Lang. A special mention to Ms Edmonds, who although has moved to a different school this year, has continued to be a part of this, attending many sessions and mentoring the students throughout.
Year 11 General Geography
Year 11 students of General Geography recently visited some iconic natural and cultural features located in, and on, our Swan River. The class undertook their fieldwork on Monday, 26 of May, 2025.
First stop was Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge. It was here that students observed and recorded the amenities that entice families from all over Perth to use this space, and not just for the stadium. After a short history lesson on the now defunct Burswood Golf Course the students moved to the Matagarup Bridge for a field sketch. The students soaked up the superb autumn sun while completing their sketch.
Students then moved to the hospitality hub "On the Point" where they noted the positives, but also the many negatives, that human activity has had, and is having, on the natural ecosystems associated with the river. A local dolphin on the hunt for breakfast was a brief thrill for the students as they completed their field work on the riverbank.
Our next stop was a more relaxed, albeit sobering experience on Heirisson Island. A place of natural beauty but also high significance for Whadjuk Noongar people. It was here students learnt of Yagan, the legendary Noongar warrior and visited and paid respect to the statue erected in his honour. Being directly across the river from our previous study area, it provided a great contrast for the students in terms of the significance of the river to different cultures. The newly completed Boorloo Bridge was used for the crossing onto the island, which helped highlight the fragility of the environment, and our continued impact on it.
The final stop for the day was Elizabeth Quay. It was here students explored the quay area, identifying the various amenities present, or in some cases, still under construction. Students also recorded the various ways in which the quay and surrounding waterfront area is used by the people of Perth, and the unfortunate evidence of physical pollutants and poor water quality.
The behaviour of the students on the day was commendable, they were fantastic ambassadors for Belridge SC.
Ryan Stevens
Teacher - HASS
Bridging Now to the Next
Belridge Secondary College recently recognised National Reconciliation Week. After viewing the film Rabbit Proof Fence and reading First Nation stories, students participated in a meaningful activity to reflect on what they would do next as part of the reconciliation journey. Mrs Zarrop’s Year 8 English class collaborated on a ‘Reconciliation Tree’ project. The class decided on a tree design as a symbolic gesture of the growth that comes from each individual when they think about reconciliation.
Parliament House - Year 7 AEP
On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 7HASS AEP visited Parliament House with Mrs Green and Mrs Manning. We were introduced to the history, functions and features of the State Parliament, the role of John Forrest and the three levels of government. In the Edith Cowan Foyer students discussed the relationship between the two houses and learnt about significant women of Parliament and Premiers of the state.
Caitlin Collins, local Member of Parliament for Hillary's stopped by to say "Hello" and discussed her role in the local community. Finally, students sat in the Lower House, role playing the passing of a Bill and identifying the historic symbolism of items and practices, before drawing comparisons to the role of the Upper House. Thank you to the students for their excellent behaviour, representing the school on their first AEP excursion.
Mrs Claire Green
AEP Coordinator
Year 9 Cybersecurity Career Taster - Stanley College
On Friday, 6 June 2025, a group of Year 9 Belridge students, along with the College’s Career Practitioner, Ashley Mouritz, participated in a Cyber Security career taster held at Stanley College’s West Perth campus.
The excursion was part of the Year 9 Career Taster Program, designed to provide students with opportunities to explore careers and pathways of interest. All attendees were excited to attend an adult training facility for the day and experience what life as a Cyber student, studying an Information Technologies course would be like.
All attendees are currently studying either Computer Science or Multimedia and had an interest in finding out more about study and career options in the Cyber Security field. During the day students had the opportunity to be instructed by lecturer Kumar Patel, who currently delivers Certificate and Diploma qualifications in Information Technology and Cyber Security.
Students spent most of the day in a computer laboratory learning about the importance of protecting themselves online, common cyber threats, the importance of ethical hacking and the need for Cybersecurity employees across all industries. Students were also instructed to understand the threat posed by the increased use of AI in cyber-attacks and how the industry is working to combat these threats.
Students enjoyed using the ‘Hack the Box’ software to put their learning to test. At the end of the day, students received information about post-school study options available to them if they are considering employment in the field.
Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner
'Pretty Little Cakes' Year 9 Career Taster
On Monday, 16 June 2025, a group of enthusiastic Year 9 students visited North Metropolitan TAFE’s Joondalup campus to participate in the "Pretty Little Cakes" cupcake decoration event. Students chose to participate in the excursion to gain insight into working in a commercial kitchen at TAFE and to understand the processes involved in decorating cupcakes and desserts.
The excursion was part of the Year 9 Career Taster Program, which has been designed to provide students with exposure to industry and workplaces of interest. Attendance was based on an expression of interest basis, with numerous students unfortunately missing out on the event.
After the day's itinerary was explained, students were escorted to one of the site's commercial kitchens and introduced to their lecturer, Martina who teaches the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, the qualification apprentices complete to become professional chefs.
Students were dressed appropriately for the kitchen environment, wearing long pants, enclosed shoes, and having their long hair tied back. Additionally, they were provided with hair covers and plastic aprons.
Students were informed that they would be baking, glazing, and decorating cupcakes throughout the day. While they were excited about the baking and decorating activities, their main motivation was the anticipation of enjoying the delicious desserts at the end of the day.
Throughout the day, students learned about the importance of kitchen hygiene and received instruction on the proper use of various kitchen utensils and machinery, which included detailed guidance on operating the commercial ovens.
They also had the opportunity to purchase food from the nearby café, which is supplied with meals prepared in the commercial kitchens at TAFE.
Students worked in pairs to prepare their cupcakes, showcasing excellent communication and collaboration skills. At the end of the event, they did a fantastic job cleaning their workspaces and were rewarded with tasting their beautifully decorated cupcakes, topped with colorful glazes and chocolate decorations. They also had plenty of leftovers to share with their friends and family at home.
Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner
Year 10 AHEAD Excursion to Curtin University
On Tuesday, 17 June 2025, Ms Green’s Year 10 Humanities class had the opportunity to attend Curtin University for a campus exercise, run by the AHEAD team, who are based at Curtin University. The purpose of the day was to provide university aspirant students with the opportunity to visit a university campus and familiarise themselves with their unique learning environments. Importantly, although the AHEAD team are based at Curtin they are not Curtin bias towards Curtin University, and they encouraged students to explore tertiary studies options at the university that is right for them and their study and career goals. During the day students had the opportunity to the participate in the following:
- A tour of the enormous campus and its many facilities.
- Interacted with AHEAD staff - many who are current university students - and got to ask questions about the differences between school and university.
- Ask questions and receive information about future study options.
- Visited one of the campus cafes for a free lunch.
- An interactive workshop from Bloom centre of Innovation, where students were encouraged to consider incorporating entrepreneurship into their future universities studies.
AHEAD staff commented on the exemplary behaviour and engagement of all attendees. Participation in the event should now assist Year 10 university aspirant students with their upcoming Year 11 Senior School subject selections.
Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner
Careers: Inspiring Future Female Builders
On Thursday, 29 May 2025, a group of Year 9 and 10 female students embarked on an insightful excursion to the Construction Training Fund (CTF). The day offered a unique opportunity to explore the diverse career paths within the construction industry. The students gained valuable insights directly from CTF staff, who shared their experiences and highlighted successful careers in the field.
Thank you to Ms Francis and Ms Miller for support this event.
Fashion and Make-Up Career Taster
On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, our Year 9 Visual Arts students visited North Metropolitan TAFE for a hands-on workshop exploring early graphic design and printing techniques.
During the day, students engaged in traditional screen printing and letterpress activities at Western Australia's oldest working print museum - home to a printing press dating back to 1820. They also experienced the creative world of horror makeup and movie prosthetics, gaining insight into the diverse and exciting courses offered at the institution. The excursion was an inspiring opportunity for students to connect with industry practices and explore potential future pathways in the Creative Arts.
Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner
Digital Thumbprint Program
On Thursday, 5 June 2025 Year 8 students took part in the Digital Thumbprint Program, a fantastic initiative sponsored by Optus and proudly supported by Supercars driver Chaz Mostert!
The session was not only incredibly informative - highlighting important messages around online safety and digital wellbeing - but also a huge hit with students (and staff!) who were thrilled to meet Chaz and check out the supercar!
The program covered key topics like:
Cybersecurity – keeping personal info safe
Cyberbullying – recognising and responding to online bullying
Digital Balance – healthy habits with screen time
Digital Identity – understanding your digital footprint
We were proud to be one of the schools selected for this initiative, and grateful for the opportunity to provide students practical, real-world tools to navigate the digital world safely.
A big thank you to Optus and Chaz for bringing such energy and insight to our school community.
Miss Heather Currie
Head of Student Services - Manta Rays
Year 10 Students Get Behind-the-Scenes Access at Supercars Pit Tour
An unforgettable excursion to CARCO.com.au Raceway gave Year 10 students an insider’s look into the high-octane world of Supercars racing on Friday, 6 June 2025.
On a thrilling day out, our Year 10 students had the exclusive opportunity to participate in the Chaz Mostert Supercar Pit Tour, gaining behind-the-scenes access to the Optus Racing Team’s pit garage as they prepared for a crucial test race ahead of the weekend’s main event.
Led by industry professionals and team members, students explored the high-pressure environment of professional motorsport, discovering the immense coordination and expertise required behind the scenes. They were introduced to the team supporting Chaz Mostert, a two-time Bathurst 1000 champion, including race engineers, mechanics, and strategy personnel who play essential roles in getting the car and driver track ready.
Students were captivated by the level of detail and precision involved in every aspect of pit preparation – from telemetry and data analysis to mechanical adjustments and safety checks. The experience offered a rare educational glimpse into STEM careers in motorsport, showcasing how science, technology, and teamwork drive success on the track.
The highlight for many came as they took in a 360-degree view of the track action from the deck above the pits, watching the test race unfold with a unique perspective reserved for teams and media.
The excursion was an eye-opening blend of engineering, sport, and adrenaline, leaving students inspired and with a new appreciation for the elite world of motorsport.
Alexander Winch
Teacher – Digital Technologies
Year 10 Future Foodies - Food Truck Incursion
This term, Year 10 Future Foods students are exploring the dynamic world of food trucks, learning about diverse cuisines and the unique challenges faced by Food Truck operators. On Monday, 9 June 2025 our Future Foods classes were fortunate to be involved in an exciting food truck incursion when they experienced a visit from Elsabor Latino Food Truck. Owner Marcia generously opened her mobile kitchen to allow students to look inside the trailer.
Marcia also shared invaluable insights into food truck setup, daily operations, and business management, providing students with authentic industry knowledge.
We are incredibly grateful to Marcia for her generous donation of time and expertise, providing our students with practical, real-world understanding of this vibrant industry. This hands-on experience complemented their classroom learning and offered genuine insights into food truck entrepreneurship.
Helen Brunner, Micael Corless and Jayne Hill
Teachers - Home Economics
Sustainability Conference
Training provider Skills Strategies International recently held their annual conference at the Perth Convention Centre. One regular feature of the conference are the displays provided for attendees and this year’s display included work from Belridge Secondary College students. Students from the Certificate III in IT class prepared displays in line with the conference’s theme of Sustainability. Displays created by the students informed conference attendees about sustainable practices that are in use at Belridge Secondary College.
https://www.skillstrategies.edu.au/annual-conference/
Mr Steve O'Neil
Teacher - Information Technology
BiG Day In 2025
The annual BiG Day In Careers in IT conference was recently held at ECU Joondalup campus. In past years, Belridge students who have attended this conference gained a lot of useful information about career pathways in technology and this year was no exception. Students in attendance listened to presentations from key industry groups including Microsoft, Google and the Australian Defence Force. During breaks, students had the opportunity to visit displays and speak to representatives from the various exhibitors.
Mr Steve O'Neil
Teacher - Information Technology
International Netball Game
Despite the wet weather, spirits were high as we welcomed Dulwich College Singapore for an exciting afternoon of international netball.
Our Year 8 Team 2 took to the court against Dulwich’s U13 side. The game was a great display of skill and determination from both teams, with plenty of learning opportunities and moments of brilliance throughout the match. Although Belridge played well and showed how great their on-court connections and skills have become, Dulwich defeated Belridge 15-10.
In the second match, a mixed squad made up of our Year 10 Team 1 and Team 2 players faced off against Dulwich’s U15s. The slippery conditions didn’t stop the action, with both sides adapting well and producing an entertaining and competitive game with Belridge winning 14-9.
It was a fantastic experience for all involved – a chance to build connections, challenge ourselves against an international opponent, and showcase the spirit of netball, even in the rain. A big thank you to Dulwich College Singapore for making the trip and sharing the court with us!
Janneke Markovic
Netball Coordinator
Health and Physical Education
VET and Workplace Learning
White Card Training
We are pleased to announce another 24 students successfully completed their White Card Training Course at the college. Delivered by Paragon Training, this brings the total number of students who have completed this program, which verifies they have completed basic occupational health and safety (OHS) training, to over 100 in the last 18 months. This qualifies students to work on construction sites, which is one of the first steps in pursuing a career in this industry. Congratulations to all students who have been proactive and committed to creating real pathway opportunities for themselves. Other students who are interested in this industry, and are yet to complete their White Card Training, are encouraged to look out for future Connect notices which will advertise further opportunities to complete the course.
Workplace Learning
The school had almost 70 senior school students undertake their work placements during Weeks 6 and 7 of Term 2. The feedback from employers about students was excellent, with many of our learners being offered part-time work and apprenticeship positions. Initiative, punctuality and a strong work ethic were just a selection of the comments which came from employers spanning across many industries including education support, retail, business and administration, hospitality, sport and recreation, tourism, automotive, construction, health care and media. One of our Year 11 students, Nelly Wallrodt, who is completing a Certificate III in Tourism, completed her placement at The Ozone at the Optus Stadium. The highlight for Nelly was working on the World Cup Qualifier between the Socceroos and Japan. What an amazing experience for her!
We congratulate all these students who fully embraced the opportunities that the Workplace Learning Program presents them. Students represented Belridge Secondary College impeccably and did themselves and the school proud. We look forward to them pursuing their second work placement in Semester 2.
Try-A-Trade
The school is pleased to report that 12 students have completed a Try-A-Trade Program during Term 2. Funded by the Construction Training Fund (CTF), our students ‘tried’ plumbing and painting over a 3-day period at Next Gen – Skill Hire, Joondalup. Students were taught how to make a sprinkler system, sound speakers and construct a painting of their favourite pair of trainers. We congratulate them for completing this program, which is certificated, and thank the CTF and Next Gen – Skill Hire for continuing to provide such wonderful initiatives for our learners.
Try-A-Trade - Plumbing - Term 2, 2025
Try-A-Trade - Painting - Term 2, 2025
Vocational Education and Training delivered in Secondary Students (VETDSS) – 2025 Course List released for 2025.
Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) is a program delivered to Year 10, 11 and 12 school students as part of the Western Australian Certificate of Education. Students enrolled in a VETDSS course attend either a North or South Metropolitan TAFE campus (subject to course offerings) one or two days per week to complete a Certificate II, III or IV in a field that they see as a potential pathway.
Both North and South Metropolitan TAFE offer a range of courses and pre-apprenticeships as part of the VETDSS programs in the following industries:
- Sport
- Creative Industries
- Healthcare, Beauty and Nursing
- Construction
- Automotive
- Education
- Engineering and Mining
- Horticulture
- Hospitality
The full list of courses has been published on the respective year group Connect pages. These VETDSS courses allow students to:
- Develop industry-specific skills
- Gain nationally recognised VET qualifications and units of competency while completing your Western Australian Certificate of Education
- Develop employability skills
- Gain an understanding of the world of work, providing you with valuable experience to assist with planning and pursuing your career pathways
Any student from Year 11 that is interested in applying for one of these great opportunities are encouraged to come and speak with Mr Smith, Program Coordinator – Senior School Pathways, beforehand.
Attention Year 10 students!
School Based Traineeship Program: Certificate II in Government
Applications for the WA public sector School Based Traineeship Program open on Monday, 23 June 2025 for traineeships starting in February 2026.
The program gives students entering Year 11 in 2026 valuable workplace skills and experience in their final 2 years of high school. Public sector agencies across Perth and regional WA are offering traineeships. These include:
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
- Department of Training and Workforce Development
- East Metropolitan Health Service
- Metropolitan Cemeteries Board
- MyLeave
- WA Police Force – Aboriginal Affairs Division
If you have questions please speak with Mr Smith, Program Coordinator – Senior School Pathways.