Twenty-two people have joined the expanding team at Atwea College in the past 12 months.

Atwea College Executive Director, Rowan Cox, said that the new faces were permanent and additional resources to meet the expanding needs of the organisation and the community it serves.

The Atwea College now includes more than 100 full time permanent staff who support the educational provider’s three core offerings in employment and skills training, its well-known lifestyle courses and the Alesco Senior College.

The organisation includes seven campuses in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Port Stephens and Great Lakes areas.

Atwea College also employs an average of 50 casual employees every term who deliver lifestyle programs and short skills courses.

“Niche education and skills for employment courses together with additional demand in youth education have driven growth for Atwea College over the past 12 months,” Rowan said.

“Our role in developing courses to meet our community’s ever-changing needs remains at the heart of our growth strategy. Under the guidance of our volunteer board of directors, Atwea College moved to reposition the old WEA Hunter brand in April last year to reflect the diversification in our geographic footprint as well as the expansion of educational courses and disciplines.”

With the expansion of employment and business in the areas of the music industry, beauty therapy and community services, Atwea have had to meet new levels of education and skills training.

“Our Alesco Senior College continues to attract young people who are seeking an alternative and effective way to complete high school. Interestingly, our community continues to want ways to learn things for fun,” Rowan said.

“This requires additional resources. Atwea is attracting some of the education and business sectors finest talent having employed 22 new staff members in areas such as teaching and training, marketing, customer support services and administration, finance, compliance and human resources,” she said.

Atwea College seeks to provide a connected and supported learning experience.

Recent VET statistics show course completion rates with national providers are about 43 per cent, community education providers about 47 per cent and at Atwea College are around 70 per cent with 81 per cent of Atwea students surveyed saying they felt safe and supported.

IMAGE | Atwea College team in 2020