Ella Stensness, a Year 13 student at Avondale College, had a dream job on her Gateway programme a week in term one at a popular Auckland radio station. She plans to attend university next year and continue volunteering at the station, as well as work on student radio. "I liked it so much I'm going to go back," she says.
As part of her path to a career in communications, Ella has taken media options at school. She is learning video-editing and Photoshop, but her favourite subject is psychology.
She wasn't concerned she had to spend all of her time working on relatively menial tasks, rather than be an instant star. "Whatever I need to get there," she says.
Ella found her Gateway experience was a balancing act. On the one hand it showed her what the workplace is like on the other, the programme takes you away from classes for a day a week. She had to go the extra mile to get everything done. "Term one was crazy. You do need to catch up with your school work."
Kalem Tini's Gateway work has already led to part-time work at Eden Park, after a programme working a day a week at Bricklane restaurant in New Lynn. After starting part work and being paid for the first time, "It felt like being an adult being grown up," he says. Kalem, 17, has already taken his first steps on a career, while still attending school.
No longer, it seems, is school assembly about standing in lines while teachers check your shoes are shiny and socks pulled up. Most Avondale College students found out about the Gateway option after watching a video at school assembly made by Gateway co-ordinator Karen Osborn.
Jeanette Chung, age 17, wants to be an early childhood teacher and plans to enrol in a degree course at the end of the year.
"They had their own personalities. They were little people - quite mature talking about jobs," she says.
"It was refreshing to see them becoming their own persons."
Pulling out an inch-thick company manual, produced by the Warehouse, Karen says the shopping chain is one of the best-organised employers she works with. Grace (Pofanau) Rowell, 17, has just finished there. "At first I was stuck, but I went to see my supervisors who were very helpful. They made things as simple as possible," she says.
Some students on Gateway have had a fair amount of responsibility. Frank Tuiloma, 17, for example, tried out being a bank teller. How do you cover the risk of giving someone too little or too much money? He made sure to always use the counting machine as well as counting by hand. The money skills will come in handy, while studying to be an accountant.
Gateway courses are fully funded and there is no cost to the student. They have to be in Years 12 or 13 to be eligible, have a good attendance record and be able to keep up with their studies. They need to get parental approval and are carefully screened.
Avondale College students also need 14 credits in English and Maths to at least level. One of Auckland's larger schools, with more than 2600 students, Avondale offers 47 Gateway places. Different schools offer different programmes and entry criteria may differ.
A benefit for employers, says head chef Stephen Weston, is that "we get an extra pair of hands in the kitchen". Having said that, he finds most Gateway students pretty keen, some end up at chefs' schools, others get jobs in the industry. Kids come with their own apron and their own set of knives (provided by the programme's funding). "Usually they send people who are pretty keen," he says. Only a few are just looking for a break from school, he reckons.
Westpac Bank works with a number of local schools. Several branches have employed Gateway students, thanks to recommendations made by the New Lynn Branch, says New Lynn branch manager Ray Mulligan.
It is also a long-term investment. Most recent Gateway students at Westpac New Lynn have told him they intend to go to university. "It gives them a feel for banking," he says. But there are many points at which they could end up working in the bank, upon graduation or later in their careers for example they could end up in treasury or as managers. It is also good general customer relations for the bank, in terms of young people and their friends opening accounts, he says.
Rainbow Cottage is a kindergarten in New Lynn run by mother-and-daughter team Joan Cluge and Nadine Johnson. Yes, Joan likes the extra pair of hands, but also likes to see young people who are keen on the sector.
