Gateway
Gateway provides learning during school hours - learning which complements and enhances students' future job prospects.
ETITO's Gateway programme sets young people up with the foundation skills necessary to continue on to an electrotechnology or telecommunications apprenticeship. Once they've got these skills under their belt it opens the door to an array of exciting careers - electrical, telecommunications, electronic engineering, electronic security, industrial measurement and control, appliance servicing, electrical switchgear fitting and electronic manufacturing... the career opportunities are almost endless!
What does ETITO's Gateway programme consist of?
Gateway is aimed at students in Years 11 to 13 who show a particular aptitude for electrotechnology or telecommunications. It offers practical, on-the-job training at a local workplace while the student is still at school. They'll usually spend up to one day a week during the school year at a local workplace, or sometimes this workplace learning may take place in week-long blocks.
Students are expected to achieve on-job or practical unit standards during their enrolment with Gateway. This is recorded in their very own Gateway Workplace Logbook, which is just like the logbook used during an apprenticeship. Gateway students can also undertake a few off-job or theory units. However as much of the theory is based on some practical knowledge, these units are more often started once the student leaves school and begins an apprenticeship.
Who makes a good Gateway student?
There are no hard and fast entry requirements for electrotechnology and telecommunications apprenticeships, however most students who want to choose this path will require a reasonable knowledge of mathematics, science and English as well as some practical ability. Most importantly, the right student will have a good work/study ethic and be reliable with good attendance records.
How do students link up with companies?
It's up to the Gateway coordinator to find a suitable host company for the student. If you're unsure how to do this, contact your ETITO training manager, who has relationships with companies that regularly train apprentices, and may be able to point you in the right direction.
We recommend that the Gateway coordinator contacts Ross Petersen, Training Manager - ETITO in Schools to check the suitability of any host company.
What support can teachers expect from ETITO?
Simply contact an ETITO training manager and they will help to set the whole process in motion and provide guidance and assessment throughout.
ETITO is also happy to send one of our representatives to the school to meet with teachers, a specific student, or a group of students, to provide more information and details about Gateway.
A comprehensive teachers manual [below] is provided to Gateway coordinators which should answer any additional questions.
Also below is a flyer explaining the Gateway programme to employers.