LA Services' EduSocial Cause
- 1 Enriching the local community by creating meaningful job opportunities for them
- 2 Building a symbiotic relationship with students where we benefit from the value and skills they bring and they obtain a real world work experience in return.
What do we mean when we say that?
It means we want to change the common perception of the metal trade industry i.e physical labour, male-dominated, traditional.
Apart from undergoing structural changes in order to shift these outdated perceptions, our main initiatives to adopt a more modern, progressive outlook have been
Working with Schools
Overview
Working with students has been an important part of our vision, focused on bridging the gap between society and industry for students and their parents curious about the opportunities in manufacturing. We are also driven by educators and industry bodies working towards improved vocational pathways for students. We believe industry’s engagement in education as an essential component in curriculum development, career and transition programs schools are delivering. Our motivation behind our Edu Social cause comes from the belief manufacturing can be an attractive choice, if industry plays a role in building the manufacturing brand, enhancing its employability and showcasing local capabilities to raise awareness among our youth.
Our work with schools is multifaceted
School Based Internships and SBAT programs
Internships are presently facilitated through the Big Picture Learning Australia, a passion based learning program.
SBAT are a new engagement opportunity emerging through schools as a result of increased vocational training support.
Work Experience Opportunities
Work experience is a flexible platform from a day to a week or more depending on the needs of the student and their school.
Events and Expos
Events and expo are aimed at complementing school led programs such as career weeks, or simply supporting community engagement.
For more details about our work across these engagement methods please download our Edu Social Portfolio
DOWNLOAD PORTFOLIOSchools we have engaged with
LBHS is our principle school partner. The relationship is two-way enabling us both opportunity to develop robust industry/education engagement strategies. We work with their passion based learning program under the Big Picture Education frame work. The relationship has enabled a continual stream of school based interns since 2017.
LGHS’ early support enabled our connection with a wider set of educators that propelled us into the industry/education conversation. We have held a show day at the school alongside Women in Trades and also hosted a work experience student pursuing a career in engineering.
MSJ are geographically our closest school and provide an important link to a workforce talent pool that is yet to be tapped into by our trade led industry. We have supported some recent career day activities and are also in discussions across STEAM and blended learning scenarios. Their vision for the future of education is well aligned to our long term ambitions for manufacturing and community engaged business.
Student Success Stories
STEFAN RADMANOVIC
Big Picture - Learning Through Internship, 2017-2018
BATHSHEBA SURI
Work Experience, 2018
DAVID PHAN
Big Picture - Learning Through Internship, 2018-2020
JACKY
Big Picture - Learning Through Internship, 2019-2020
RYAN HERMANNS
Work Experience, 2018
This internship was LA Services’ first deliberate step towards its industry / education ambition. For the student, Stefan, it was an opportunity to look a little closer at ‘what is engineering’. The project was also an opportunity for LA Services to experiment with the idea it could contribute to secondary school STEAM education. The project explored different types of engineering, some basic but relevant theory relating to flight and combined this with practical activities. It concluded with a field trip to a university engineering lab, and supported the creative task of internship storytelling and presenting. The project developed confidence in Stefan, while confirming to LA Services its vision for industry education engagement had potential to make a difference at a community level.
Bathsheba was interested in studying engineering after completing year 12 and wanted a few days in an engineering environment to broaden her understanding of the field. During her brief visit she got to model a phone case with the support of a graduate engineer, see first hand how designs are converted into products in a factory and how project management is used to plan and monitor the progress. She was also introduced to a range of engineering projects women had led around the world drawing on information available in the Engineers Australia’s Create magazine. Although a short engagement, it provided Bathsheba with a much broader understanding of the scope in engineering and its impact on our society.
David was identified as a student that may be limited by the mainstream school system. LA Services was approached about an internship to support his advanced learning needs. It was agreed to collaborate with the school to see if industry could provide an alternative learning environment. This commitment turned into a 36 month relationship where David spent one day a week in the LA Services office exploring IoT, AR. When UTS became involved his learning extended to two days a week across data science, database design, advanced mathematics and machine learning. This industry led education pathway established David’s passion for AI, assisted in securing a place at UTS and led to a cadetship with LA Services post school, focused on database design and cloud computing in a manufacturing context.
Drawing on the opportunity to utilise the skills of Ming Zhao (a UTS placed data scientist at LA Services) Jacky was able to complete a 20 month internship on game design and development. Jacky passion was centred on the creative aspects of gaming, looking at user interaction and character design etc. With Ming’s support Jacky was able to learn about the coding aspects of game design. This provided Jacky with a well rounded understanding of game development that later, with the support of WSU consolidated his career pathway. On completion of his internship and schooling, he accepted an offer from WSU in gaming design.
Ryan contacted LA Services seeking a work placement in the factory to gain some exposure to the fabrication and welding trades. Factory work placements are carried out by assigning a student to an experienced tradesperson where they can observe a day in the life of this trade under full supervision. Depending on their ability and confidence they may be given the opportunity to do some manual tasks. Ryan proved to be a great learner, taking an interest in understanding engineering drawing and the different components that go into manufacturing a small heat exchanger, he also displayed the skills in using hand and power tools.
Working with UNIVERSITIES
Overview
We made a commitment to our selves at the beginning of our transition journey to deliberately engage with universities using research and development as an internship platform and opening up graduate positions as we evolve.
By drawing on the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) research efforts, LA Services recognised and set about establishing a common goal of enabling educational institutions and industry partners to benefit from one another by providing work integrated learning for students.
University internships at LA Services foster a symbiotic relationship between the intern and the business. We impart the practical experience and skills to supplement the students’ education; students add value back to the business through their skills and help us view things through a modern lens.
Our focus and partners help us to develop knowledge and skills to:
Integrate technology with a legacy industry
Re-imagining the business model frame
Access and utilise the talent needed to transition
Universities we have engaged with
UTS is our technology partner supporting the development of manufacturing integrity record data acquisition and architecture. We have also been experimenting with higher apprenticeship models aimed at I4.0 skill development in the field of applied data science.
Macquarie University has provided a number of intern and graduate engineer opportunities allowing us to experiment with new skills. Two of the mechanical engineers have been females, allowing us to introduce gender diversity.
Our relationship with WSU is centred around its Launchpad arm, and represents a genuine long term commitment to each other across the impact of I4.0 on traditional SMEs in region. We have a shared interest in shaping the business model aspect of technology adoption in the SME context.
Student Success Stories
KASFIA PARVEZ
Final year Internship, 2018/19
RAAID ALLAM
Internship to Employment, 2018
Kasfia was seeking an internship that related to her final year project which involved heat exchangers. She was placed within the R&D team to support the development of an IoT proof of concept on a prototype heat exchanger developed previously with WSU. She was mentored through the internship by a mechanical engineer and also had the opportunity to engage with a UTS placed data scientist. Over the 10 weeks the team developed the makeshift system to stream data from a pressure gauge on the heat exchanger utilising open source equipment. The opportunity provided a very hands-on technology application experience for Kasfia which was managed well by her mentor as he encouraged her to test ideas and experiment. Her placement also contributed to LA Services’ goal of achieving a more gender diverse workplace by providing helpful feedback.
Raaid was a final year mechanical engineering student with an interest in heat exchanges and equipment design. He approached LA Services about an internship as he lived locally and our core business was of interest. We were also in need of a resource to work on an IoT enabled heat exchanger R&D project we were running with Western Sydney University (WSU) at the time, so the arrangement suited both parties. Raaid completed the heat exchanger’s design, sourced materials, supported the manufacture and then co-located to WSU’s Kingswood campus to assemble the exchanger and work alongside the university’s IoT team. On completion of the internship Raaid was employed as a graduate engineer and gained further manufacturing experience before moving onto a design focused role.
Working with COMMUNITY
Overview
Our community focus began on an unintentional path – ‘embracing the opportunities of I4.0’.
Contextualising the fourth industrial revolution made us realise LA Services was much more than a manufacturer of hard products. The skills and team work we apply to design and build past and future industrial pressure equipment is unique to our area, and therefore provides an opportunity to bring the diversity of our day to day work to the community.
Re-setting how we viewed ourselves has enabled us to find a meaningful place for LA Services in the Canterbury-Bankstown culture, “Where interesting happens”. In establishing clarity about ourselves we realised our place belongs in bridging the gap between theory and practical skill, helping those interested in STEM related education and work to visualise career opportunities across the manufacturing spectrum and encourage the develop of our local industrial commons.
Our focus areas across the community centres are:
Being an active participate to help shape our city
Being a voice for our area’s industrial capability
Supporting career pathway awareness and developing local capability
Community Collaborations
Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce
CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN COUNCIL
Generation STEM
Core Community Services
The CBCC provides a critical access point to local businesses, educators, and government. Like all CBCC members we are committed to the vision for Canterbury Bankstown to work as one in re-defining the region. The area’s diverse business cohort all deliver on different aspects of the Chamber’s community focus and collaboration agenda. LA Services’ role in the Chamber’s vision is to champion manufacturing and its engagement with educators to encourage locals to consider career pathways that can help to grow the areas’ industrial capability.
CBC has an ambitious vision for re-defining the local area; within this manufacturing is one of the core industry pillar for employment, skill development and economic growth. LA Services’ own strategic plan integrates well within the wider council plans and has formed the basis for a new collaborative relationship across the promotion of advanced manufacturing and career pathway visibility through digital engagement.
LA Services has had a long association with the development of Generation STEM that came about through our early move into industry/education engagement back in 2017. With STEM CPP launching in the Canterbury Bankstown area in April 2021, LA Services was able to formalise our participation. We have been partnered with Belmore Boys High School for the program and view the presence of STEM CPP in the local area as an important contribution to the council’s advanced manufacturing vision. For LA Services, it is an opportunity to connect with more local educators and to continue developing our industry/ education capability.
The Career Pathways for Refugees in Manufacturing program led by CORE Community Services and TAFE NSW is an initiative and a collaboration between industry and organisations supporting people from a refugee background. LA Services supports the program by providing insight into the industry and to develop a good understanding of the skills and diversity across the industry.
Community Activities
CANTERBURY COUNCIL SKILLS EXPO
August 2018
The Canterbury-Bankstown skills expo is an event focused on connection local industry with local residents. It has a deeper purpose for the council than simply placing people in jobs, it is a vehicle for the council to engage with local business and to showcase the amazing array of career opportunities with the local community.
STEAM POP - QUT HUNGRY BIRDS
August 2017
STEAM Pop is an educational driven start-up focused on bringing the Arts to STEM by providing a unique hands-on transdisciplinary experience combining paper folding, mathematical principles with aspects of technology. LA Services recognises the value in bringing practical learning to the STEM space. LA Services connected with STEAMPop in 2017 when it sponsored a Brisbane workshop, and remains closely connected to the STEAMPop founders today.
THE SMITH FAMILY - WORK INSPIRATION
May 2019
Engagement with The Smith Family’s Work Inspiration Program came about through LA Services’ relationship with Canterbury-Bankstown Council. The Work Inspiration program is aimed at connecting disadvantaged young Australians with inspiring work experience opportunities. Our participation centred on career pathways into manufacturing, the broad nature of work from traditional trade activities to I4.0 skills and opportunities emerging in the industry as technology alters the scope of legacy jobs.
KNOX STEM EXPO
July 2017 | June 2018 | June 2020
The inaugural 2017 Knox Grammar Expo was LA Services first STEM focused event inside a school, the experience confirmed to us that this social clause was the right fit for our strategy. The Knox STEM expo is an annual technology themed event, bringing a large cross section of industry into the school for a day providing students with an opportunity to explore the application of technologies in industry, and enquire about career pathways into areas of interest. August 2018
The Canterbury-Bankstown skills expo is an event focused on connection local industry with local residents. It has a deeper purpose for the council than simply placing people in jobs, it is a vehicle for the council to engage with local business and to showcase the amazing array of career opportunities with the local community.
August 2017
STEAM Pop is an educational driven start-up focused on bringing the Arts to STEM by providing a unique hand-on transdisciplinary experience combining paper folding, mathematical principles with aspects of technology.
LA Services recognises the value in bringing practical learning to the STEM space. LA Services connected with STEAMPop in 2017 when it sponsored a Brisbane workshop, and remains closely connected to the STEAMPop founders today.
May 2019
Engagement with The Smith Family’s Work Inspiration Program came about through LA Services’ relationship with Canterbury-Bankstown Council. The Work Inspiration program is aimed at connecting disadvantaged young Australians with inspiring work experience opportunities. Our participation centred on career pathways into manufacturing, the broad nature of work from traditional trade activities to I4.0 skills and opportunities emerging in the industry as technology alters the scope of legacy jobs.
July 2017 | June 2018 | June 2020
The inaugural 2017 Knox Grammar Expo was LA Services first STEM focused event inside a school, the experience confirmed to us that this social clause was the right fit for our strategy.
The Knox STEM expo is an annual technology themed event, bringing a large cross section of industry into the school for a day providing students with an opportunity to explore the application of technologies in industry, and enquire about career pathways into areas of interest.
Through our initial pledge to become a more progressive company, we were pleasantly surprised to have unlocked some of UN’s sustainable development goals without strategically planning for it. In creating our initiatives, the intention was not just to align with the UN, but rather to truly aim for sustainable social innovation. And sustainable development just came as a byproduct, which is the case for every company who strives to do right by the people and community.
As we become more invested into providing a sustainable future and seeing the result of our work, we are starting to understand the consequential need to implement socially conscious measures through the very nature of the manufacturing industry. Hence, we pledge to continue our work in social innovation and unlock more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as we progress.
Download the LA Services Social Portfolio
Get Involved
Reach out to us if you’re interested in working together towards a common mission