Mackay Christian College is providing a unique hands-on learning experience for its students through a program where they build formula cars as part of their engineering traineeship.
This initiative is run in collaboration with Career Employment Australia (CEA), and students not only get the chance to work on an exciting project but also earn a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, which contributes valuable points towards their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
The program began under the guidance of Greg Franken and was initially called “Formula Student”, but over time, it evolved into what it is today, with a strong focus on building cars and automotive skills.
Students at Mackay Christian College are supplied with all the materials needed to construct their cars. Through the program, they learn essential skills, such as reading engineering drawings, fabricating components and assembling the car itself.
Once the cars are built, the ultimate test begins when they take their cars to Lakeside Park, where the students get to race them in a challenge that’s more about endurance and less about speed.
The event consists of a test day where teachers drive the cars to ensure they are safe, followed by a race day where students get to take the wheel. This year, one of Mackay Christian College’s cars completed 101 laps in six hours, and was believed to have travelled almost 80km which was a remarkable achievement for the students and trainers involved.
Around 27 cars from various schools participated this year, though all the other schools were from South East Queensland. Mackay Christian College stands out as one of the few schools in regional Queensland running this program, thanks to its experienced trainers on board, trade training centre and support from local businesses.
Director of Mackay Christian College Trade Training Centre, Mr Warren Tysoe said the idea of this program is, “To help the students make an informed decision about where they might want to work in the future.”
For the students, the program provides a pathway to future careers, allowing them to explore different industries, from automotive engineering to trades like carpentry and electrical work.
“We have a number of students that have managed to get themselves an apprenticeship at the end of year 12, purely through their work experience programs which is really great,” Mr Tysoe added.
Mackay Christian College students raced their formula cars at Lakeside Park, completing an impressive 101 laps over six hours and covering nearly 80 kilometres in a challenging endurance event. Photos supplied