The Peregian Digital Hub is calling for the coast’s top talented Year 10 and 11 maths, technology and arts students to apply for its Term 3 digital design and web development cadetships.
Equivalent to first year university level, the programs aim to inspire cadets to learn hands-on skills taught by experts through weekly classes, as well as offering exciting vocational pathways to earn through paid internship opportunities.
“At the Hub we’ve learnt that talented young people are capable of extraordinary things with the right support,” Peregian Digital Hub director Chris Boden said.
“The cadetships offer non-linear learning for smart, self-motivated young people with unique opportunities to stretch themselves doing professional-level work.
“For talented students, it’s an opportunity to develop skills in some of the most sought-after areas of technology – web development and digital design.”
With a limited number of placements available, cadets will need either a strong interest in advanced maths and technology or have a creative passion and talent for expressing their ideas visually through drawing, illustration, or graphic design.
Over the past two years, more than 60 Noosa and Sunshine Coast teens have completed Hub cadetships and have successfully taken up various opportunities including commercial mini-projects for local companies, part-time coding and AI work, or work experience, while others have started their own businesses.
Sunshine Beach State High School student, Evyn Jenkins completed the 2020 AI cadetship and has since worked with several local companies.
“The cadetship has directly led to work experience and employment with local companies like Provectus Algae, Gfactor Technologies and Our Element. It has built my confidence in pursuing my passion for teaching programming,” Evyn said.
“My experience with the Peregian Digital Hub’s cadetship program has inspired me to pursue a career in computer science. I hope that I’ll be able to make a difference in the world whether it is through something I create or through teaching and inspiring the next generation of coders.”
A number of past cadets like Ben Szabo-Virag from Matthew Flinders College have shared their skills and earned money by teaching holiday workshops at the Hub.
“I was invited to be part of the first AI Cadetship program in 2020 as a teacher, while I was in Grade 9. I’ve continued to work on interesting part-time jobs at Provectus Algae and have taught many coding courses at the Hub during the school holidays,” Ben said.
“Being connected with the Digital Hub community including their network of coders and tech companies is the biggest benefit to me personally.”
Cadet places fill quickly and talented Year 10 and 11 students from schools across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa region are encouraged to apply. Applications close 3 July.
And if you have a tech-loving or creative youngster or teen, the Peregian Hub’s holiday program has a variety of workshops, taught by some of the Hub’s Cadets. The action-packed program includes anything from robotics to 3D design and printing, to making digital art and music and learning how to code in Python.
Mr Boden said it was @all about kids creating, inventing and having fun with the latest technology”.
To apply for a cadetship or to enrol in one of the June/July school holiday programs, visit peregianhub.com.au then click on learn.
