If a child's working future has never been imagined, how could a student know what they want to do in their future life of work?
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This is the core message of a newly-launched "work inspiration" program at Bandiana Primary School.
Developed by principal Donna Wright and careers consultant Ayesha Umar, the program aims to "equip students with skills by introducing them to community mentors who can share their work pathway".
"In partnership with parents and the community we are equipping students with the tools to imagine any future, not one restricted to their limited life experiences," Mrs Wright, who was recently awarded the Victorian Principal Association Award for 2019 for promoting schools and community links, said.
"Research has shown that rural students often have lower goal orientation and in response, we are providing a program that enhances every child's self-concept, both academically and personally, and it exposes children to career possibilities to stimulate drive and self-belief."
The Border Mail editor Xavier Mardling made a presentation to the Bandiana students on Wednesday, fielding questions from "what's the best part of being a journalist" to "how long does it take to put the newspaper together" to "do you like pineapple on pizza".
Mrs Umar said the program wasn't about making career decisions at primary school level but instead to "create inspiration".
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"They might decide today that they want to be a doctor while the next session may inspire them to be a journalist. It's not about what they want to be, it's about wanting to be someone and understanding that learning is important for success," she said.
"A journalist reads and writes, and a businessman works with numbers, so learning English and maths is important."
The school will host a "work aspirations" forum on November 25, where students will have the opportunity to quiz more than 20 community leaders on their line of work.