Narico and Liam
Ask 10-year-old Narico why she wants to be a police officer and her answer is instant: “To protect my mob.”
The Year 5 student at St Joseph’s School in Port Lincoln even has her own SAPOL costume and dreams of wearing the real thing one day. So, when she was invited to spend time with SAPOL constable Liam Bennett, Narico jumped at the chance.
Constable Bennett graduated from Xavier College in 2014 and from SAPOL Police Academy in 2018. He describes police work as “the best job you can ever have”.
“Each day I come to work I am able to make a difference,” he says.
Making a difference also matters to Narico.
“I want to be a good example for people, to keep my community safe and protect my mob,” she says. There’s also another part that appeals. “Eating doughnuts.”
Mia and Maddy
“I don’t know much about doctors yet,” six-year-old Mia admits – but she does know she wants to be one. Why? “Because I like to help people.”
Paramedic Madeline Bollmeyer knows all about that. After graduating from Nazareth Catholic College, she studied a Bachelor of Paramedic Science and now spends her working hours helping others.
“It’s a good job. It’s challenging at times, but I love being able to offer support to people when they’re in a tricky situation,” she says.
Rosary School student Mia hopes to one day be able to fill her oversized lab coat.
“I want to help people get better and healthy again,” she says.
“I would like to be an eye surgeon because one of my uncles had some eye issues but I couldn’t help him. Hopefully when I’m older, I can.”
Isaac and Tayesha
Isaac wants to be an engineer because “I like solving puzzles”.
Meeting mechatronics engineer Tayesha Papa helped put those puzzle pieces in place as the seven-year-old was able to share his passion with a real-life engineer.
“We have been building a class town. Planning and making buildings, bridges, trees and roads. You could make lots of things that can help people,” the Christian Brothers College pupil says.
For Ms Papa, a St Aloysius College graduate, helping people is a driving factor in her love of the job, too.
“Being able to identify a problem, to break it down and fix it and make other people’s lives easier is my favourite thing.”
The Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Science graduate was quick to recognise her young protege’s potential. “He’s very inquisitive and I love that,” she says.
Two Catholic schools have participated in an educational program in partnership with SA Water and Makers Empire, with one school named as winners at the project showcase.
