What is the Skills shoutout board?

This National Skills Week, we invite every school across NSW to celebrate the skills that make students future ready.

Using the provided rocket template, students and staff can write or draw a skill they have learnt, are currently developing, are proud of, or hope to develop in the future.

Each rocket is added to a shared Skills shoutout board within your school, creating a visual celebration of the talents, aspirations and achievements within your school community.

Whether it's learning to weld, coding a game, learning to write a story, making a video, working as part of a team, caring for others, growing vegetables or flowers, or simply learning to be resilient, every skill deserves to be celebrated.

Why participate?

National Skills Week celebrates the life-changing impact of skills, vocational education and career pathways.

The Skills shoutout board encourages students to:

• recognise their own strengths
• celebrate the skills of others
• explore future careers
• connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities
• start conversations about the many pathways available in and after school.

Who can participate?

Everyone

• Early-learning centres and preschools
• Kindergarten to Year 6 students
• Years 7–12 students
• VET students and School Based Apprentices and Trainees
• Teachers
• Careers and Transition Advisers
• school support staff
• School leadership
• Principals

How it works

Step 1 – Print the supplied rocket template.

Step 2 – Ask students and staff to decorate their rocket or leave it plain.

Step 3 – Write a skills shoutout on the rocket.

This could be:

• a skill they have learnt
• something they are working hard to improve
• a skill someone has recognised in them
• a career they hope to have one day
• a practical skill they are developing through VET
• a critical skill that will help shape NSW's future.

Step 4 – Add every rocket to a wall, window, hallway, library or classroom display throughout August creating one big wall of skills.

Step 5 – During National Skills Week (24–30 August) share photos of your board on social media using:

#NationalSkillsWeek

#SkillsNSW

(If appropriate, also tag your school and follow your school's social media and photography permissions.)

Primary school ideas

The focus is on discovering skills, building confidence and exploring future careers.

Rockets could read:

• I'm learning to code robots. – Amelia, Year 4
• I can grow vegetables in our school garden. – Noah, Year 2
• I'm really good at working in a team. – Chloe, Year 5
• When I grow up I want to be a builder. – Mason, Kindergarten
• I never give up when something is hard. – Ava, Year 6

Teachers and staff can join in too:

• I'm learning Auslan
• I'm getting better at using new technology in the classroom.
• I help students discover their strengths every day.

The display grows throughout August as more rockets are added.

Secondary school ideas

Students can celebrate the practical, technical and employability skills they are developing through school, VET and work-based learning. Students should also include their first name and year where possible.

Skills shoutout examples

• Completed my first work placement in hospitality. – Lily, Year 11
• Learnt to safely use MIG welding equipment. – Cooper, Year 12
• Designed my first 3D model using CAD. – Zara, Year 10
• Developed confidence communicating with customers. – Ben, Year 11
• I'm working towards becoming an apprentice electrician. – Jayden, Year 12
• Learnt how to safely handle livestock. – Sophie, Year 10

Teachers, support staff and school leaders also participate:

• Helping students discover pathways is my superpower.
• Proud to support future apprentices, trainees and industry leaders.

Career aspirations

Students might also write:

• "I want to become an electrician."
• "I'm working towards becoming an early childhood educator."
• "My dream job is cybersecurity analyst."
• "I want to become a veterinarian."
• "I hope to become a chef."
• "I want to work in renewable energy."
• "I'm training to become an apprentice carpenter."
• "I want to work in advanced manufacturing."
• "I'm working towards becoming a nurse."

By the end of August, the board becomes a powerful visual celebration of the skills, aspirations and achievements that exist across the entire school community.