Inside Tonsley Technical College: building career pathways into South Australia’s critical industries

High school is often where lifelong friendships are forged and lasting memories are made.

But for students at one of South Australia’s newest technical colleges, it is also their launchpad to fulfilling careers in industries critical to the state’s economic future.

The Tonsley Technical College is leveraging its unique location within the Tonsley Innovation District to deliver real-world vocational learning for students with a curriculum designed around three industry pathways: advanced manufacturing and engineering, building and construction, and automotive and energy.

The intention is to prepare Year 10-12 students for careers in defence, trades, electric vehicles and renewable energy with training co-designed with industry partners SARAH Constructions, Australian Submarine Corporation, the Master Builders Association, Motor Trade Association and Climate Impact Corporation.

For Tonsley Technical College Lead Shannon Lim, the alignment with Tonsley tertiary providers such as TAFE SA and Flinders University, along with potential employers and industry partners, enables the college to fit seamlessly within the precinct.

“Being located in the Tonsley precinct provides that adult learning environment that aligns so closely with what we are aiming to create at Tonsley Technical College,” he said.

“We are fortunate to have state-of-the-art facilities within the precinct, including the TAFE Tonsley campus where VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses are delivered.

“If students move into an apprenticeship, TAFE is typically the training provider that supports them, so having it located in the same precinct creates a strong and natural alignment between study, training and future employment.

“Additionally with industry employees right in front of us, students can explore firsthand what working in these businesses looks like, while also allowing our team to build future partnerships and collaborate with organisations across the precinct.”

The college launched in January this year with 130 students in Year 10 and 11 and will expand to include Year 12 in 2027.

All students follow an individual learning program aligned with their chosen career.

Year 10 students spend one day a week in the workplace and four days on campus completing their curriculum.

In Year 11, students follow a more flexible schedule. A typical week consists of one day in the workplace, two days at the college and two days in VET, but this can vary depending on individual programs.

Work placements allow students to develop skills and gain real-world experience in their preferred field, preparing them for future employment opportunities.

“The one day a week model is more effective than a full-week placement, Mr Lim said.

“It benefits students by giving them real workplace experience, and it benefits industry by helping address workforce shortages and allowing employers to see students in action over time.

“This also creates direct feedback between employers and the college, where the organisation can raise to us areas of growth and then we have four days with that student back on site to coach and mentor them before they return.

“On the flipside another key benefit is the development of student agency. Students will come back with technical skills and experiences from the workplace and apply them to their learning, improving their work-aligned skills for that industry.

“We have seen examples where an employer has seen a student one day a week for 10 consecutive weeks and observed the growth of the individual over time which has led to conversations about apprenticeship opportunities.”

Students have completed all their compulsory South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) requirements once they enter Year 12. This means in Year 12 they transition into either a school-based apprenticeship or university study at Flinders, with a clear pathway into employment or further study.

The Technical College pathway also provides students an advantage at university, allowing those who choose to pursue an undergraduate degree to do so with valuable real-world industry experience already behind them.

“During the development and early stages of the Technical College, we discussed first-year university undergraduate retention and success rates, particularly in engineering,” Mr Lim said.

“One issue identified was that many students entering engineering straight after Year 12 had never stepped foot in an engineering workplace.

“Our students are different as they start in Year 10 knowing they want to be an engineer and then spend 20 per cent of their time here studying in engineering companies, confirming this is what I want to do and giving them that real-world experience.

“How many times do students ask, ‘when am I going to use this in the real world?’ Our students understand straight away how what they are learning will be applied, as they have used these skills daily.”