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Students off to a flying start at Auckland Airport

Thursday 3 May 2012, 4:44PM

By Auckland Airport

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ColleenTeaukura from Mangere College (left) and Tracy Nguyen from Papatoetoe High School (right).
ColleenTeaukura from Mangere College (left) and Tracy Nguyen from Papatoetoe High School (right). Credit: Auckland Airport
Tracy Nguyen from Papatoetoe High School (left) and ColleenTeaukura from Mangere College (right).
Tracy Nguyen from Papatoetoe High School (left) and ColleenTeaukura from Mangere College (right). Credit: Auckland Airport

AUCKLAND

As part of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Gateway programme, students from schools in South Auckland have been spending their Fridays gaining workplace experience at Auckland Airport.

The Gateway programme allows senior students to gain work experience at businesses through-out New Zealand, helping them to make an informed choice about where to pursue their career.

Auckland Airport has been offering work experience to students from Otahuhu College for over four years now and this year the programme has been expanded to include students from Mangere College and Papatoetoe High School.

For the last month, students from the three schools have been heading to the Airport each Friday to spend the afternoon with Auckland Airport employees who help them learn about their role at the Airport.

Jacquie Brayshaw, Gateway Coordinator at Otahuhu College, says the Airport’s contribution to the Gateway programme provides very real benefits. “The opportunities offered to the students by Auckland Airport are invaluable. So many of our students want careers in travel and tourism and having the chance to spend time at the airport means they can make better choices about their future career path.”

Colleen Teaukura from Mangere College was placed with the Auckland Airport Airfield Operations Team and spent her first day ‘on the job’ getting a tour of the airport airside environment.

“The whole experience was awesome.  On my first day I was out on the runway doing inspections with the operations officers.  It was unreal because I never thought I would ever be out on the runway,” says Colleen.  “We were also taken for an on-board tour of an Emirates A380 which was unbelievable because it was just so big.”

Colleen adds, “I have always thought I would like a career at the Airport so having the chance to see what actually happens behind-the-scenes there has been really helpful.”