San Damiano College students restore car for community cause

EIGHT Year 11 students from San Damiano College, Yarrabilba are getting their hands dirty and making a real difference thanks to a unique automotive project that combines practical vocational learning with community impact.

As part of the Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation, delivered at the College, the students spend one afternoon each week restoring a donated Subaru Outback.

The students have set themselves the goal of getting the vehicle roadworthy and ready to donate to local community organisation Five-Fold by the end of the year. The organisation provides free driving lessons to young people in the Yarrabilba community.

For Year 11 student Nathan Buckley said, the opportunity to work on a genuine vehicle and know it will ultimately benefit other young people makes the project particularly meaningful.

“The ability to restore the vehicle and then gift it to a local organisation makes this project even more special.” he said.

San Damiano College Deputy Principal Roshea Buksh said the project provides students with the opportunity to develop valuable automotive skills while contributing something meaningful to their local community.

“Our students are not only developing practical skills that can help prepare them for future careers in the automotive industry, but they are also contributing something meaningful to their community,” she said.

“They can take pride in knowing their work will help other young people, like themselves.”

Roshea adds the College’s automotive program was created from a desire to provide students with meaningful tactile learning opportunities that complement traditional classroom education.

Unlike many automotive programs that require students to travel off campus, San Damiano College provides the opportunity for students to undertake their training onsite, with practical learning embedded into the school environment.

“Not every student thrives in a traditional classroom environment, and automotive studies provides a practical learning experience for students who prefer to learn by doing,” Roshea said.

“It’s a unique opportunity for our students to learn how to diagnose problems, replace components and see the direct results of their efforts.

“It gives them a real sense of purpose because they can see what they’re achieving.”

The program is delivered in partnership with Tactile Learning, a Queensland registered training organisation specialising in practical vocational education and training for secondary school students.

Tactile Learning CEO David Kelly said projects such as the Subaru restoration demonstrate the value of giving students genuine projects with a purpose beyond simply completing a qualification.

“Projects like this demonstrate what can happen when vocational education moves beyond the classroom and gives students a genuine project, a real purpose and the opportunity to see the results of their work,” he said.

“At Tactile Learning we believe students learn differently, and practical vocational education can provide an important pathway for young people who thrive by doing."

Roshea said the practical nature of the program also helps students explore future apprenticeship and employment pathways.

“The program gives our students practical experience and skills that can help prepare them for future apprenticeship and employment opportunities,” she said.

“We’ve noticed an upward trend in families choosing our College because of this program. Parents are seeing the value in providing different pathways that meet the needs of a diverse range of learners.”

The College has also seen strong interest from female students, demonstrating the appeal of vocational pathways to a diverse range of learners.

“We’ve also seen a really positive uptake from girls interested in the program. Last year, three female students graduated through the course, demonstrating that vocational pathways like this are appealing to a diverse range of students,” Roshea adds.

As the only Catholic school in the Yarrabilba community, San Damiano College is proud to create opportunities for students to develop practical skills while contributing positively to their local community.

The students aim to have the Subaru roadworthy and ready for donation before the end of the year, marking the culmination of a project that is transforming both a car and the lives of the young people restoring it.

San Damiano College would like to acknowledge Tactile Learning CEO David Kelly and his father, Gordon Kelly, for donating the vehicle for the project and supporting the students in turning their practical learning into a meaningful community contribution.

For more information about San Damiano College, Yarrabilba or to enrol click here.

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Image caption: Year 11 students from San Damiano College, Yarrabilba work together to repair a vehicle for community cause. ©Brisbane Catholic Education, San Damiano College, Yarrabilba (2026).