Earning and learning: Warrawong High School student Dejan Manev is set to graduate with a Higher School Certificate and a head start in a promising career. Photo: Region.
It’s safe to say Dejan Manev isn’t your average teenager.
During school holidays, you’re more likely to find the Warrawong High School student diving into the belly of massive machines than playing Xbox.
For the past two years, Dejan has balanced full-time study with a school-based apprenticeship (SBAT) in Mobile Plant Technology at South Coast Equipment, where he services mobile CAT machinery and enormous plant equipment.
When he graduates Year 12 this year, he will walk away with a Higher School Certificate and a solid head start in his career, having completed the first of what’s usually a four-year apprenticeship.
Although “completed” is a bit of an understatement, according to Caitlin Sullivan from registered training organisation Zeal Futures, his employer and SBAT facilitator.
“Dejan was recently named the Apprentice of the Year at the Zeal Futures Excellence Awards for his strong commitment, enthusiasm for learning and going above and beyond in his apprenticeship,” she says. “He has completed hundreds of hours more than what’s required of his SBAT.”
During school terms, Dejan spends four days at school and one day at his apprenticeship, working alongside qualified staff and learning on the job. When TAFE is on, he studies outside these hours.
He’ll often work a half day on Saturdays starting at 5 am and a whole lot more during school holidays.
He’s the embodiment of Mark Twain’s adage: Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.
“I had always wanted to do mechanical work. I grew up around it. My dad was qualified in mechanics in Macedonia and my uncle is a diesel mechanic who works on forklifts,” he says.
“I still go out, have fun, enjoy life but I prefer to spend more time at work. Obviously, it helps me earn money but it’s more than that – it doesn’t feel like work to me and I never have to drag myself in.”
It’s music to Jordan Daly’s ears, who’s the South Coast Equipment group maintenance manager in charge of the maintenance activities, workshops and fleets that Jordan works with.
“The SBAT is a new activity for SCE and a great way forward for young people who are unsure if they want to get into a trade or finish their HSC – it’s a chance to do both,” he says.
“We can’t fault Dejan’s work ethic. His keenness, attention to detail and the way he grasps everything, all while keeping up with his school work, it’s pretty unrivalled.
“It’s pretty rare to see a young person come through with that mindset. It’s a success story for us and Dejan.”
National Skills Week has just wrapped up – a time to celebrate vocational education and training (VET), the power of practical learning and its role in creating fulfilling career pathways.
VET is said not only to meet current and emerging industry needs across the state, but is a pathway for everyone including those exploring options, changing careers or building the next generation of skilled workers.
Warrawong High School careers advisor Peter Cattle says for high school students, it’s a chance for students to gain invaluable exposure to a variety of opportunities and a chance to test the waters of certain industries without sacrificing their high school education.
“One of the biggest problems we have is kids not engaging and not knowing what’s out there,” he says.
“Plant mechanic is just one example – kids don’t know about it … This program creates opportunities for them to discover and experience places first-hand. Hopefully they take it up and create more success stories like Dejan’s.”
As for Dejan Manev, once he graduates, he’s planning on finishing the remaining three years of his apprenticeship full-time. After that, he might get to work, parlay into a university degree in mechanical engineering or go a different route entirely.
That opening up of options is kind of the point, he says.
“If you’re trying to figure out what you want to do, an SBAT allows you to finish Year 12, get your experience up and if you figure out it’s not for you, you have plenty of time to find a new route,” he says. “It’s all pretty exciting.”
