Good Shepherd Catholic College students have moved into a new Design and Technology Centre, following a $2 million upgrade.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Located across from the school on May Street, the Design and Technology Centre has opened with students commencing their subjects in the new facility in term three.
Good Shepherd Catholic College principal Kathleen McCarthy said the space was currently being used to offer metal work, wood work and construction courses to students.
"This new space has given us a greater capacity to allow more students to study these courses and diversify our curriculum so that we can start to offer some more certificate courses," Ms McCarthy said.
"We are very keen to expand into a Certificate II of Construction next year, so a quality facility like this really enables us to do that and give our students more options in the industrial technology area."
Ms McCarthy said the building included five learning spaces.
"We have two metal work or engineering spaces, two woodwork and furnishing spaces and also a design space," she said.
"It is a huge improvement to what we had and a first class facility for Mount Isa.
"The whole design and technology area is really important for Good Shepherd and it's really important for our context here in Mount Isa. It is very popular among boys and girls and we are finding more and more students wanting to move into these areas since it opened."
Ms McCarthy said with the increased interest in the studies, there was a waiting list for design and technology subjects.
"There is always going to be a limit in these spaces for safety reasons, so it's not uncommon to have a waiting list," she said.
"But this is certainly very exciting for us and it's going to be a great area for us. The more variety of subjects we are able to offer, the better."
At an informal opening of the building, Ms McCarthy said faculty members were amazed by the facility.
"We had an informal opening at the end of last term, and the teachers had an opportunity to have a look through the facility and they really were quite amazed at how well equipped the facility is," she said.
"This is something that we will continue to resource over the next few years, depending on what we are able to offer. In a couple of weeks we will have our official blessing and opening, which will be an opportunity for family and community members to come and have a look."
Ms McCarthy said the new centre worked in well with courses students were already studying through TAFE.
"This space really compliments what is already offered through TAFE. Majority of our students are involved in TAFE courses or vocational education, with our own applied subjects and soon certificate qualifications here, it's opening so many pathways for our students.
"It also compliments students who are on an ATAR pathway for those looking to go to university and study engineering or other tertiary courses."
While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.