The CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and Makers Empire celebrated a continuing partnership designed to help school students in South Australia start learning about careers in construction and imagine an exciting future for the industry with an expo-style showcase of schools in June, 2023.
The 2023 Careers Under Construction program saw students from 12 high schools across the state working with construction industry partners to solve real-world construction problems using design thinking and 3D technologies. Participating teachers undertook Makers Empire’s research-backed Learning by Design program and learned how to use Makers Empire’s 3D design tools and 3D printers. The 2023 Careers Under Construction program for 20 schools follows on from a 2022 program for 15 SA schools.
The 2023 Careers Under Construction schools were: Edmund Rice Flexi School, Karoonda Area School; Murray Bridge High School; Para Hills High School; Pedare Christian College; Roma Mitchell Secondary College; Salisbury High School; Samaritan College; St Paul’s College; Seaton High School; Springbank Secondary College and Victor Harbor High School.
During the professional development days in term one, participating teachers learned about career pathways into the construction industry and heard from people working in the construction industry including builders, project managers and architects. Representatives from industry partners also helped teachers to understand the skills required to work in the construction industry and what a typical working day was like.
Careers Under Construction Showcase
The Careers in Construction showcase day began with welcome speeches followed by an expo-style showcase of the construction-themed projects students had worked on with input from industry partners. Students took turns both presenting their projects to invited judges from the construction industry, teachers, students and invited guests and then visiting other booths and asking questions and providing feedback on other students’ projects. Students also voted on the best project via a ballot-style competition.
Many thanks to our judges who visited each stall and assessed the students’ work against a long list of assessment criteria: Litsa Adamou, House Inspect Australia; Ryan Palmer & Amanda Hewer, Master Builders SA/Born to Build; Anna Longford, UniSA; and CITB & Makers Empire representatives.
Deciding on the winners certainly wasn’t easy, as there were so many inspired, innovative solutions to choose from.
After the expo, the guests heard from guest speakers, including the Hon Justin Hanson MLC, and Toni Hartley from CITB. They also watched videos sent in by schools who took part in the project but couldn’t attend on the day.
After the judges had conferred, the winners were announced:
- Winner: Samaritan College, who joined us on Zoom, with their clever 3D printed hand-grip to help constructions move large and unwieldy sheets of plasterboard and cladding with one hand.
- Runner Up: Karoonda Area School with their design of an outdoor learning space for their school.
Congratulations to all!
Winning Design: Little Sheet Lifter
Students at Samaritan College in South Australia created a little sheet lifter to help construction workers easily lift and move drywall sheets and other panels.
Check out their winning project in this awesome video provided by the school.
