Roma State College joins forces with Main Roads on road design

A new partnership between Main Roads and Roma State College will allow a student to kickstart their career, with a new cadetship in road design available from next year.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the innovative careers pathways pilot program 'Merging into Main Roads' would provide a real career path for the successful candidate.

"This unique program will provide a student with the opportunity to start their university course in road design in semester one of year 12," Mr Pitt said.

"The participant will be provided with two weeks work experience a year at a Main Roads office as well as full payment of their University Head Start Program tuition fees.

"They will also be provided with a university text book allowance, a laptop computer and graphics calculator, with the potential to save them thousands of dollars."

Mr Pitt said the program, which has the potential to expand to include more participants in the future, would be a boost for young people in the region.

"It's a great opportunity for young adults who want to stay and work in western centres," he said. "I am pleased Main Roads can provide that pathway."

Main Roads District Director for Roma Peter Evans said the program would help address a critical shortage of road designers, as well as enhance options for senior students at Roma State College as they transitioned into employment.

Education Queensland Executive Director of Schools for the Roma District Jeff Geise said the program would be a significant step in achieving better learning outcomes for students living in rural and remote areas.

"When the student successfully completes the University Head start program they can enter the Road Design Training Centre in Toowoomba to study an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering as a cadet," Mr Geise said.

"After the cadet finishes their studies at the Road Design Training Centre, they will then graduate as a fully qualified road designer and be placed into the Main Roads workforce."

Roma State College Head of Senior Campus Victor Burtenshaw said the program would be a great opportunity and an exciting first for the school.

"I've been working closely with the Technical Director of the Road Design Training Centre in Toowoomba, Tony Gallagher, for the past eight months now and am very happy this opportunity will be made available for students at the start of 2008," Mr Burthenshaw said.

A presentation on the program would be made by Tony Gallagher to interested students in Years 10 and 11 on Tuesday, 16 October 2007.

An information evening for interested parents and students will be held at 6pm that night in the Senior Campus Administration Building.

Formal interviews for the selection of a candidate for the program will be conducted by a panel of representatives from Main Roads and Roma State College on Wednesday, 17 October 2007.

For more information on the Merging into Main Roads program and the information sessions please contact Roma State College Head of Senior Campus Victor Burtenshaw on 4620 4212.

For more information on careers at Main Roads go to http://www.thinkdifferent.com.au/