A new state-of-the-art innovation centre has opened at Bray Park State High School, which will help students prepare for the challenges of tomorrow’s jobs, today.
The $12 million facility, which was funded by the Queensland Government, officially opened on Thursday, March 10.
The innovation centre took approximately three-and-a-half years to come to fruition, with the idea first being penned in 2018.
Principal Peter Turner says it will change the way students learn and collaborate with one another.
“This new innovation centre is a wonderful addition to our school and will greatly benefit our students in how they learn and prepare them for their futures,” Peter says.
“It consists of 20 new learning spaces, including science labs, STEM labs, a robotics lab and even a virtual reality lab.
“The virtual reality lab is to help our neurodiverse students and is run in conjunction with the Endeavour Foundation, who we partner with.
“There are also collaborative learning spaces where students can hold meetings, such as student council meetings and industry partnership meetings.
“Then there are some general classrooms, which I think are really special because they have whiteboards on the walls. I love going in and seeing the students work in teams and writing down all their ideas on the whiteboard.
“We also have an international facility because the future needs global thinking and bilingual skills.”
In addition to the new learning spaces, Bray Park State High School has also launched five Gateway to Industry Schools programs.
The program builds partnerships between schools and various industries to provide hands-on learning, skills, and knowledge to assist students in their career choices and pathways to employment after school.
Peter says the five industries that were chosen were based on the future needs of the community.
“Through the Gateway to Industry Schools program we partner with real companies who will come to our school, as well as taking on our students for placements, work experience and excursions,” he says.
“The five industries include IT, advanced manufacturing, community services - such as aged care, disability support care and childcare – hospitality and tourism, as well as construction.
“These are areas that we feel will see real growth and demand for workers in our community in the future.
“Here in Bray Park, we were really fortunate to have a big industrial area down the road from us, and the nearby university, where they are also looking at their future plans around industry and innovation.”
The school also has a formal partnership with Ausbuild.
The official opening of the innovation centre attracted a big crowd, from students and teachers to government officials and industry representatives.
Peter was joined by Member for Pine Rivers, Nikki Boyd, to unveil the plaque.
The day also featured traditional dancing, choir performances and launching four water rockets over the roof of the innovation centre, which were supplied by It’s Rocket Science.
A new state-of-the-art innovation centre has opened at Bray Park State High School, which will help students prepare for the challenges of tomorrow’s jobs, today.
The $12 million facility, which was funded by the Queensland Government, officially opened on Thursday, March 10.
The innovation centre took approximately three-and-a-half years to come to fruition, with the idea first being penned in 2018.
Read MoreA new state-of-the-art innovation centre has opened at Bray Park State High School, which will help students prepare for the challenges of tomorrow’s jobs, today.
The $12 million facility, which was funded by the Queensland Government, officially opened on Thursday, March 10.
The innovation centre took approximately three-and-a-half years to come to fruition, with the idea first being penned in 2018.
Read MoreA new state-of-the-art innovation centre has opened at Bray Park State High School, which will help students prepare for the challenges of tomorrow’s jobs, today.
The $12 million facility, which was funded by the Queensland Government, officially opened on Thursday, March 10.
The innovation centre took approximately three-and-a-half years to come to fruition, with the idea first being penned in 2018.
Read More