When Sam Symes talks about education, there is one word he likes to highlight regularly: purpose.
Just three months into his role as principal of the Australian Trade College North Brisbane at Scarborough, Sam is focused on helping young people find meaningful career pathways while achieving their educational goals.
With a career spanning business analysis, sports management, school leadership, organisational transformation and educational consulting, Sam has spent years helping schools and organisations navigate change. He said he believes trade-based learning offers students something many traditional schools may struggle to provide: a clear sense of direction.
“The students that attend the trade college have a very clearly defined purpose,” he said. “The difference I see in the purpose of a trade college is that the students are deeply engaged in achieving a tangible outcome for their future.”
Elevating Trade Education for a Future-Ready Generation
Rather than steering the college in a completely new direction, Sam said he was focused on building on what already makes it successful.
“It’s more about elevating what it currently does and letting more of the world know that you can find purpose and you can do what you want within the constraints of education,” he said.
For Sam, one of the most rewarding aspects of the college is seeing students who may have struggled in traditional schooling environments discover confidence, belonging and motivation.
“They very much come because they’re looking for their people, they’re looking for belonging, they’re looking for purpose and reason,” he said.
The college offers courses in construction, electrotechnology, engineering, plumbing, automotive and hairdressing, industries experiencing strong demand for skilled workers.
“The industry need for these skills is just off the scale at the moment,” Sam said.
With Queensland preparing for significant infrastructure projects and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sam said today’s students would play an important role in shaping the state’s future.
“Most of our students will play a role in being a part of that legacy,” he said. “That’s a pretty proud moment for anyone.”
As both a leader and a parent, Sam said he was passionate about creating environments where young people feel supported to explore their strengths and ambitions. He said many young people are increasingly looking for education that feels relevant to their future careers and personal interests.
“I think that there is a shift away from traditional schooling to purpose-driven schooling,” he said. “Education shouldn’t be a constraint; it should be an enabler.”
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