Prendiville Catholic College students graduated as the first cohort to pass through the Bankwest Coding Program.
Camera IconPrendiville Catholic College students graduated as the first cohort to pass through the Bankwest Coding Program. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Ocean Reef students the first cohort for coding program

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

PRENDIVILLE Catholic College students have graduated as the first cohort to pass through the Bankwest Coding Program.

Thirty-two Ocean Reef students in 7 to 12 completed the 18-month course, which involved regular workshop-style lessons introducing the students to the concept of agile working and coding.

The course was set up with the aim of creating a possible alternative pathway for students into a tech career, based around the known skills shortages that exist in coding.

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“Technology is changing and there are jobs today that didn’t exist 10 years ago and this trend is only set to continue and accelerate,” Bankwest technology and transformation general manager Andy Weir said.

Bankwest technology graduate Liam Goerke with Prendiville Catholic College students Zac Westling, Thomas Mulligan and Joshua Finlayson.
Camera IconBankwest technology graduate Liam Goerke with Prendiville Catholic College students Zac Westling, Thomas Mulligan and Joshua Finlayson. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Program manager Lea Cairns said they started the program with the goal of building an internal website.

“But true to the agile spirit, we pivoted in order to allow students of differing abilities to learn and thrive at their own pace,” she said.

“It’s been great to be able to provide meaningful lessons that complement the school’s curriculum, while giving our grads a chance to increase interest in STEM subjects.”

School principal Mark Antulov praised the program for increasing the students’ awareness of what lies ahead of them in the workplace of the future.

“They’ve all got so much out of it,” he said.

“We can’t wait to start the new year with a new, even bigger group.”

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