Partners

Situated in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Austeng is an industry leader in engineered solutions, particularly relating to import replacement and is currently further developing its export potential.

Austeng are represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and are industry partners in:

• Future Bricks

Ross George from Austeng co-developed this program with Geelong Tech School staff and partner school teachers. His involvement included collaborating in the content, informing facilitators and providing resources.

Barwon Water is Victoria’s largest urban water corporation. It has supplied water, sewerage, and recycled water services to Geelong and the region for more than 110 years.

Their representation includes being on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and also as industry partners in the following programs:

• Backed up to the Future
• Water Reality Check

Michael Thomas and Fernando Garcia from Barwon Water co-developed these programs with Geelong Tech School staff and partner school teachers. Their involvement included collaborating in the content, informing facilitators and providing resources.

Ford Motor Company was founded in Geelong, Victoria, in 1925. The company designs, engineers, and imports award-winning and best-selling cars, SUVs and trucks. Australia is a key product development hub for Ford, more than $500 million is expected to be invested in our Australian operations in 2021.

Ford are represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and are industry partners in:

• The Last Mile

David Erjavic from Ford co-developed this program with Geelong Tech School staff and partner school teachers. His involvement included collaborating in the content, informing facilitators and providing resources.

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Fed Square, ACMI (formerly Australian Centre for the Moving Image) celebrates the wonder and power of the world’s most democratic artform – fostering the next generation of makers, players, and watchers. ACMI is a museum of screen culture. Navigating the universe of film, TV, videogames, and art.

ACMI are industry partners in:

• Virtual X

Christine Evely from ACMI co-developed this program with Geelong Tech School staff and partner school teachers. Her involvement included collaborating in the content, informing facilitators, and providing resources.

Geelong council is elected to provide leadership and good governance for the municipality and the local community. The City of Greater Geelong (COGG) provides services to the community and implements the strategic plan.

COGG are represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and are industry partners in:

• Bees with Backpacks
• Social Innovators (VCAL)

The City of Greater Geelong partners in the ‘Bees with Backpacks’ by allowing the Geelong Tech School to utilise the smart cities data platform, inform facilitators, and provide resources. They also partner in the ‘Social Innovators’ program aligning the content with the 9 ‘Community Aspirations’ identified for a ‘Clever and Creative Future’ in the region.

VICSES provides emergency assistance to thousands of Victorians every year. In 2019-2020 VICSES responded to 33,742 emergency incidents across the state, contributing a total of 382,141 hours helping Victorians in need. Our people – volunteer and staff– are highly skilled, well equipped, and trained comprehensively in a wide range of emergency environments.

SES are industry partners in:

• Bot Rescue

Jake Johnson and Melanie Ingram from the SES co-developed this program with Geelong Tech School staff. Their involvement included collaborating in the content, informing facilitators and providing resources.

Field Ready meets humanitarian and reconstruction aid needs by transforming logistics through technology, design and engaging people in new ways. Our mission is to save lives, reduce suffering and increase resilience by transforming the way that needs are met in disaster relief and recovery by providing assistance through technology, innovative design and engaging people in new ways.

Field Ready are industry partners in:

• Design for Humanity

Field Ready partnered in the ‘Design for Humanity’ program by collaborating in the content, informing facilitators and providing resources.

AWI is a not-for-profit enterprise that conducts research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian wool on behalf of woolgrowers. Their mission is to make strategically targeted investments to enhance the profitability, international competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian wool industry.

AWI are industry partners in:

•  Future Fashion

AWI partnered to develop the ‘Future Fashion’ program by collaborating in the content, informing facilitators, and providing resources. Ashley Hollis and Kieran Robison from AWI are co-developing this program with Geelong Tech School staff.

Life Saving Victoria (est. 2002) is an initiative of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia Victoria Branch and Surf Life Saving Victoria. We employ more than 500 staff and our lifesaving clubs have more than 37,000 members. Together, we work with communities, educational institutions, government agencies, businesses and the broader aquatic industry.

LSV are industry partners in:

• Coasting Drones

Jess Acocks and Melissa Laird from Life Saving Victoria co-developed this program with Geelong Tech School staff by collaborating in the content, informing facilitators, and providing resources.

Skilling the Bay was established by the Victorian State Government in 2011 to investigate and deliver educational initiatives to address the economic and industry changes occurring in Geelong. It is led by The Gordon and delivered in partnership with Deakin University and the Victorian State Government to develop and deliver local solutions to regional challenges.

Skilling the Bay support building STEM capacity in our partner schools through providing Casual Replacement Teacher (CRT) funding for teachers to participate in Teacher Professional Development in the Tech School and partner school teachers.

Upstart is an independent Not For Profit and charity, the Upstart Entrepreneurial Challenge began in 2012 as a concept created by Geelong’s St Joseph’s College Foundation in response to the region’s transforming industrial economic heritage and the need to better prepare young people for the changing employment landscape.

Upstart partnered to collaborate on an afterschool entrepreneurial program available to students in the Geelong region.

Crazy Ideas College believes in young people as designers, inventors, and social innovators. As we unleash those skills, we connect young people to resources, networks, and opportunities so that they can develop initiatives that remake the world.

CIC are industry partners in:

• Social Innovators Program

CIC partnered by providing content and facilitation of a ‘Social Innovators’ program with Geelong Tech School Ambassadors and VCAL students in partner schools.

A worldwide movement of nearly 50 million young people and adult volunteers and is welcoming of all genders.  Scouting provides young people, guided by adult volunteers, the opportunities to participate in programs, events, activities, and projects that contribute to their growth as active citizens.

Scouts Australia are community partners in:

• Code Breaker ‘A’

The Geelong Tech School has partnered with the 1st Belmont & Torquay Scouts Groups to deliver a tailored version of our ‘Code Breaker – A’ series in the form of an ‘Electronics Night’. These sessions aim to introduce their participants to technology, develop an understanding of microprocessors, and encourage broader engagement amongst their groups.

Deakin is a leading university enabling globally connected education for the jobs of the future and research that makes a difference to our communities. We have a student-focused culture with a reputation for being accessible and friendly.

Deakin is represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and are industry partners for:

• The Deakin STEM Education Conference 2021

Karen Hapgood – Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, represents Deakin University on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee.

The Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (GRLLEN) was established in 2001 and is an incorporated not for profit entity operating across the Local Government Areas of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliff and Golden Plains (Southern) Shires.

GRELLN is represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and are collaborating on several pathway opportunities for students.

Wayne Elliot – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) represents GRLLEN on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee.

Regional Development Victoria (RDV) is the Victorian Government’s lead agency responsible for rural and regional economic development. RDV operates in partnership with regional businesses and communities, and all tiers of government to deliver the Government’s regional development agenda and instigate positive change for regional and rural Victorians.

Regional Development Victoria were industry partners for:

• Digital Innovation Festival

The Geelong Chamber of Commerce is the ‘voice’ for Geelong’s business community – driving business growth, reducing business barriers, advancing Geelong’s future by supporting and nurturing businesses in the Geelong region.

Geelong Chamber of Commerce are industry partners in:

• Geelong Future Leaders of Industry’ (GFLOI)
• Girls Leading Advanced Manufacturing (GLAM)

The Geelong Chamber of Commerce also provides ongoing communication to help inform the Geelong Tech School direction.

The Geelong Manufacturing Council is a non-political not-for-profit organisation funded by industry partners who wish to promote the region as a dynamic and innovative manufacturing centre of the future.

GMC is represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and provides ongoing communication to help inform Geelong Tech School direction.

WorkSafe Victoria is a global leader in OHS and workers’ compensation and plays a critical role in the lives of Victorian employers and workers – as the state’s health and safety regulator and as the manager of Victoria’s workers compensation scheme. In both capacities, employers and workers are at the heart of our service. Our aim is to keep all workplaces healthy and safe, and to deliver high quality care and treatment when workers are injured.

WorkSafe is represented on the Geelong Tech School Advisory Committee and provides ongoing communication to help inform Geelong Tech School direction.

As Australia’s first (and only) City of Design, Geelong is a member of the UNESCO Creative City Network. The aim of the network is to make creativity an essential driver for sustainable urban renewal and development. The City of Design designation is about using creativity and innovation to build more sustainable, resilient and inclusive communities.

The Geelong Tech School is actively involved in the Geelong ‘UNESCO City of Design’ designation through membership on the working party.

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company, offering a full range of communications services and competing in all telecommunications markets.

Telstra are industry partners in:

• Bees with Backpacks

Telstra partnership with the Geelong Tech School to keep our custom built STEM trailer connected to the rest of the world whilst on-the-go, all via 5G enabled Telstra Nighthawk M2 modems and by also organising Telstra CEO Andy Penn and his Executive Team to connect industry with local secondary school students by visiting the Geelong Tech School.

Loretta Willaton and Garry Austin from Telstra co-developed the STEM trailer connectivity approach with Geelong Tech School staff. Their involvement with bringing Andy & his team to the Geelong Tech School gave students a chance to not only meet a high profile industry leader, but to also share their new found skills.