Dubbo HSC students showcase metalwork skills

For anyone involved in a young person’s life, whether as a parent, coach or teacher, witnessing a young person’s ideas or talents develop is very satisfying.

For teachers, working with students on a year-long project results in a ripple effect. The student is progressing and, in some instances, finds their place. The class challenges one another, and debate becomes constructive. When the project, with all its ups and downs, is peer-recognised, there is a sense of pride among the whole student body, and the institution itself gains bragging rights over its competitors.

This was the case for the Industrial Technology – Metals and Engineering students at Dubbo College Senior Campus in regional New South Wales. In a recent interview with the head teacher (TAS), Mr Nigel White, his joy in the achievements of the 2025 HSC major projects was infectious.

Outstanding HSC results for Dubbo students

Creativity is a personal thing. Some people play music; others illustrate; some write stories or plays; some act, and others build things. Whatever it is, the goal is for the project to mean something and be helpful to those who experience it. This was the case with the 2025 HSC collective.

Of the 13 students who completed the course, six achieved Band 5 (above 80%), and one achieved Band 6 (above 90%).

Even more impressively, six major projects were nominated by HSC markers for consideration for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) SHAPE exhibition, which showcases outstanding HSC work from across New South Wales. It was the highest number of nominations the College had ever received.

These achievements reflect far more than practical workshop skills. Assessment incorporates the completed project (40%), the supporting design and development folio (20%), and the HSC theory examination (40%).

Students must demonstrate planning, technical understanding, documentation and practical execution.

“This particular class was the best I’ve seen in 30 years,” says Nigel

So, what did the students create?

The diversity and complexity of the students’ projects demonstrated just how much can be achieved when practical skills meet imagination.

One student constructed a working power hammer, using predominantly recycled scrap materials sourced from his family’s farm. Remarkably, the entire project cost approximately $200.

Another particularly ambitious student completed three substantial projects: a welding fabrication table, a belt sander and a 200 mm offset vice. The student completed the electrical wiring while undertaking work experience under the supervision of a qualified electrician.

Other projects included trailers, practical workshop equipment, and a motor-driven billy cart.

For young people growing up in regional communities, these skills are particularly relevant. Agricultural machinery, equipment maintenance, fabrication and repairs are part of everyday life, and understanding how to manufacture or modify components can be invaluable.

Supporting the next generation of metalworkers

Behind every successful school workshop is a combination of committed teachers, motivated students and access to appropriate materials. For Nigel, sourcing specialised steel products for educational projects has become increasingly challenging.

Traditional suppliers don’t always carry the smaller quantities, dimensions or particular grades required for school metalworking activities. After meeting representatives from Edcon Steel at an industrial arts conference in Sydney, Nigel discovered a supplier willing to help source the materials his students needed.

That relationship has developed into a practical collaboration. Nigel has also shared original metalworking castings with Edcon for evaluation and potential reproduction, helping explore opportunities to preserve traditional workshop projects for future students.

For Edcon Steel, supporting schools like Dubbo College reflects a broader commitment to keeping metalworking knowledge, skills and craftsmanship alive. Importantly, the relationship highlights how industry and education can work together to give students meaningful hands-on experiences.

Metalwork education does matter

Technology is transforming manufacturing, construction and engineering; however, the fundamental skills of working with metal remain essential. Students learning metalworking and fabrication develop capabilities that extend beyond welding, cutting, machining, and assembly.

They learn to interpret technical drawings, understand material properties, work accurately, manage safety requirements and solve practical problems. These are transferable skills relevant to careers in engineering, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, maintenance and the skilled trades.

Importantly, secondary school metalworking provides an opportunity to discover interests and abilities that may not emerge through traditional classroom subjects. For some students, it becomes the starting point for an apprenticeship. Others may pursue vocational qualifications, engineering studies or careers in advanced manufacturing.

Whatever pathway they choose, practical education provides a space where experimentation, mentoring, and inventive and critical thinking can develop with proper safeguards and experienced guidance, leading to real-world commercial outcomes.