Building Futures, Shaping Character

By Dean of Learning and Teaching, Grace Loyden

For tens of thousands of years, First Nations peoples have crafted canoes, shelters and tools with skill and ingenuity; embedding cultural meaning in every cut of wood and shaping of bark. This tradition shows us that practical knowledge is never just about making things, but about sustaining culture, community and future generations.

That belief in the dignity of skilled work has continued through Australia’s story. Henry Lawson once described the bush selector as carpenter, blacksmith and jack-of-all-trades all in one: a reminder that resilience and resourcefulness have long been part of our national character.

At Lauries, we see echoes of these truths. In our VET workshops, students discover that their skills with hammer, torch and saw are more than technical know-how. They are pathways that shape futures and strengthen the communities our young men will one day serve. In this way, Lauries boys join a long line of Australians for whom work done with the hands has always carried meaning, purpose and pride.

Step into a Lauries workshop and the continuity of that story comes to life. The metallic rhythm of a hammer striking steel, the hiss of welding torches sparking into bright arcs, and the steady rumble of engines being tuned to perfection all testify to learning in action. In another corner, the buzz of saws cutting clean timber blends with the whirr of drills and the measured clatter of tools on benches. Beyond the sound and movement lies something deeper: the Lauries spirit of craftsmanship, resilience and service manifested through hands at work and minds at purpose.

At the heart of this learning are our Technology teachers. Their expertise is grounded in real industry experience, meaning that every lesson carries the authenticity of the workshop floor. Just as importantly, their relational manner and genuine passion for our students ensures that skills are taught with encouragement, patience and purpose. In this way, Lauries Technology teachers provide what can only be called a Liberating Education. It is one that empowers young men to succeed in their chosen fields while preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the communities they will one day serve.

This work is not just meaningful. It is urgently needed. According to the 2024 Occupation Shortage List (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024), roles such as carpenters, electricians, motor mechanics and metal fabricators are among the top 20 largest employing occupations currently in shortage – industries where Lauries graduates are entering with purpose and preparation.

The urgency becomes even more local and immediate when we look at Brisbane: as construction begins on Olympic venues, Queensland is forecast to face a shortfall of more than 54,000 construction workers, with supply dwindling from around 42,200 to meet a demand of nearly 98,500 by March next year (ABC News, 2025). These shortages span sectors including general construction, civil engineering and project management – precisely the areas where Lauries-trained tradespeople and technicians can make a tangible difference.

Even our Christian story affirms the dignity of skilled work. Jesus himself was known as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3), and his early life in the trade is remembered as a symbol of humility, service and the inherent worth of labour. It is a reminder that working with one’s hands is not simply about making, but about meaning. At Lauries, that meaning is alive in the VET department, where skill, culture and character come together to prepare our young men for the world beyond the gates.

Lauries Impact: VET Achievement 2024

In 2024, Lauries students achieved outstanding results in VET qualifications, equipping themselves with skills directly aligned to national and local workforce needs:

• Certificate I – 35 students
• Certificate II – 229 students
• Certificate III – 62 students
• Certificate IV – 2 students
• Diploma – 30 students

These numbers, when viewed against broader state-level data published by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), highlight Lauries’ commitment to providing meaningful, choice-filled pathways for every student.

QCAA Data Source: QCAA Year 12 Certification Data 2024

What I see in the Lauries VET students, the dignity, tradition,and love for craft, is also deeply personal for me. I am the daughter of a carpenter and I grew up quite literally on the tools. The vague household rule was that if the tool in the shed didn’t require power, my sisters and I were allowed to use it, though looking back now, I laugh and suspect that probably wasn’t true.

I can still tell, without seeing, which tool or machine is being operated by the sound of its start-up: the sharp whine of the drop saw, the low growl of the planer, the satisfying click of a hand drill. And there is nothing quite like the scent of freshly cut timber: a fragrance that carries with it a nostalgia for long afternoons spent in the shed, watching skill transform raw wood into something useful, lasting and good.

It is this same spirit of skilled work, rooted in memory, sustained in culture and alive in our workshops, that I see shaping the futures of Lauries young men today. Archbishop James Duhig, who laid the foundation stone at St Laurence’s College in 1914, was once described as “not merely a builder of buildings, but a builder of the Catholic faith.” His legacy reminds us that construction is never just about structures; it is about forming culture, identity and community. At Lauries, that vision continues, not only in classrooms but in workshops, where young men learn trades that shape who they are, who they will become and the world they will help to build.