Tenterfield High students Zoe Jenkins and Ella Wishart got a unique insight into the executive management of the NSW Department of Education when they took part in the 2018 Secretary for a Day program last week.
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The year 9 and year 10 students respectively grabbed the opportunity to join the annual program which coincides with Education Week, to give selected students the opportunity to experience first-hand how senior managers and executives in the department meet their daily challenges.
Zoe teamed up with Executive Director (Delivery) Liana Downey to gain an understanding of how department processes directly influence the support students receive at school. She was also measuring up the Education Department as a employment prospect, even just as a example of working in the corporate world.
What most impressed her was the speed with which the day unfolded.
“There were lots of meetings, talking to team members and to people in other departments,” Zoe said.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be so rushed. You have to know what you’re talking about, and speak fast.”
The experience hasn’t scared her off a corporate career entirely.
Ella shadowed Executive Director (School Services) Jane Simmons, looking after student welfare and how students connect with learning.
In addition to lots of meetings she got to do a site visit to the new high-rise school under construction at Parramatta. She said the project illustrates how the department is adapting to demand, with the existing primary and secondary schools unable to expand.
She understands that one level of the building is devoted to field sports, but it’s not a scenario that appeals to her.
Ella was amazed by the number of people it took to get things down, with her executive overseeing four more directors who each in turn had their own staff.
“The sheer scale was a bit overwhelming,” she said.
“I think they could make do with half that number of people, but that’s just my opinion after one morning.”
The students also attend the state launch of Education Week at Parramatta Public School and at Kiama school via video link, with presentations on how the development plans to achieve its goals along with student performances.
They also took part in workshops and attended a working lunch with the Secretary Mark Scott, to explore how schools are preparing today’s students for a changing future. Ella got to voice her concerns about a lack of practical application of learned skills, suggesting that assessment methods could be revised.
Zoe was content to watch older students battle it out over how schools of the future should incorporate AI (artificial intelligence), and even whether maths should be a compulsory subject.
Ella said the experience impressed on her why things are done the way they are. Both urged their fellow students to participate in the program if they get the chance.
“It was a brilliant opportunity,” Zoe said.
A total of 35 students accompanied officers from areas as diverse as school operations, Aboriginal Education, student wellbeing, finance, communications and infrastructure at the Department’s George Street, Oxford Street and Parramatta (Phillip Street) offices.