Julie Elkin
Ourschool Alumni Program Coordinator
Alumni News
Out of the classroom and into the boardroom!
Students from Ourschool’s partner schools in Geelong visited KPMG Geelong’s office for an Industry Insights session. As a partner school, students from the Year 12 Accounting class attended.
They heard from public school alumni working in a variety of roles, including senior staff members Corinna Bertram (an alum of South Gippsland Secondary College), Paul Robson (an alum of Mooroopna Secondary College), Dana Bentley (an alum of Ballarat Secondary College) and Claire Richards (an alum of Belmont High School). Students then broke into smaller groups to chat with additional KPMG staff members.
The theme - Capital City Careers Locally. Students learnt about the focus of the Geelong office being for the benefit of small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in the region that ultimately help the growth of Geelong and its surrounds. They also gained an insight into how large multinational firms can set up offices in regional areas to provide prospective employees the opportunities afforded to larger capital city residents, without having to leave their regional city/town.
Thanks to KPMG Geelong for providing this opportunity to our students.
If you would like to join our alumni program, please get in touch
KPMG Geelong
Research in Action!
Alumni Yolanda Esteban (Class of 1996) has recently spoken with the STRIVE classes at Year 7, 8 and 9 levels. Yolanda is Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment/ School of Architecture and Built Environment at Deakin University in Geelong. Her degrees include a Doctor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Architecture (Honours), Bachelor of Building (Honours) and a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education.
With her industry experience in the areas of urban design and strategic planning and formal training in Architecture and Construction Management, Yolanda has worked on several key projects across Victoria in both regional and metropolitan contexts.Yolanda’s research has focused on the changing profile of urban spaces, using population data and trends to design future physical spaces (like buildings and neighbourhoods) and how to turn big urban design ideas into real, enforceable planning policies.
The STRIVE classes are all completing research and developing presentations with increasing complexity as the students progress through the year levels. With her experience, Yolanda has been a perfect alum to speak with these classes. She detailed her pathway since leaving NGSC and presented the research she is currently undertaking - to see whether Fisherman's Gully was connected to Cowies Creek in the past. Yolanda outlined various sources for research (she loves maps and photographs) and gave tips on how to verify research. Yolanda returned to the Year 8 and 9 classes to hear from the students about their projects and to guide their synthesis and written report processes. She is looking forward to the Expo in term 4, which showcases the students' work to parents, friends and staff.
Thanks, Yolanda, for giving up your time to speak with all three classes!
If you would like to join our alumni program please get in touch!
STRIVE classes learn about researching
