There is certainly much to get excited about at Eudunda Area School as the first term of 2025 draws to a close, and adding to the list is the introduction of a new ICT program, funded entirely by the Defence Force.
Coordinated by VET & Pathways Leader, Max Neville, he said the current cohort of students is all engaged in the IT space and already dabbling in things like game design.
"As a school, we identified a need to kind of upskill the kids and keep them engaged with that IT world," Max said.
"So, we spoke with our pathways advisor at the Department for Education and he told us about this defence funding that was looking at…I guess getting into schools and encouraging kids to go down that cyber security pathway."
With the help of Pathways Advisor, Michael Scarman, who assisted with administrative work, the school was able to secure a significant grant from the defence force to establish a Certificate III in Information Technology (IT).
Through this course, participants will learn how to be competent in a range of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roles, developing skills like basic cyber awareness, securing personal and workplace information, digital media skills, generalist IT support services, networking, programming, systems and web development.
Max said that while the course is funded by the Defence Force, students are able to engage with many facets of the IT industry which may also work alongside defence.
"It's not just a standalone VET course, it's what's called a flexible industry pathway, so we go and connect with all these different businesses," Max said.
"So, we're doing a trip down to Lot Fourteen and a few other places…we did we did an excursion last year as a bit of a taster for the kids who are going into the course this year…
"…It's the idea is that we're building those industry connections and getting kids to network with businesses as well as developing their skills through the ICT course."
Essentially, the students finish the course ready to walk into a number of jobs, with SACE credits, and prepared to go on to a more advanced level of study if they choose.
Complete with a suite of new computer equipment, Principal, Anna Roebuck said the space is less like a traditional classroom, and set up to have a more tertiary feel, meeting industry specifications as well.
"Aesthetically, we wanted the space to be a feel where the kids thought that they were stepping into a TAFE area so it didn't feel like they were stepping into a normal school classroom," Anna said.
"…It's been designed specifically for that as well. So, Max's been a part of that design process as well."
The equipment also serves other purposes outside the Cert III, like open access classes.
Max said that so far, the students who have been taking part in the IT course are "loving it" saying, "they're the kids who are very IT savvy already, so they're loving that they can flex their skills and get to work in that room.
"It gives them a little bit of independence too."
The course even allows for connection with other students from schools across the region, who are all tuning in to learn about IT and forge a path in this ever-growing industry.