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Your views: On university graduates, pokie changes and North Tce trees

Today, readers comment on business claims that universities aren’t producing graduates with the skills they need, on pokie players now able to feed machines with notes instead of coins, and chainsawing century-old trees that don’t fit a landscaping plan.

Oct 02, 2019, updated Oct 02, 2019

Commenting on the article: Universities ‘fail to deliver employable graduates’

As a graduate who has consistently struggled to gain meaningful employment, I am disgusted by the attitudes of South Australia’s business leaders.

As the state’s unemployment rate continues to rise, their attempt to blame universities (as the primary reason) is not only foolish but downright arrogant.

I studied at the University of South Australia and received tuition from experienced leaders from a variety of degree relevant fields.

So how could I have graduated with no “useful skills” when my teachers were (at the time of study) successfully employed in the industry themselves?

Since graduating I have explored various avenues for employment; each ended in disappointment when I failed to meet the high and increasingly unrealistic standards set by employers.

Regardless of the company’s size, every position I investigated required applicants to have a minimum of five year’s industry experience – even for entry level low paid positions.

Employers need to wake up and realise they cannot expect to hire 20 year old graduates with 30 years of industry experience! It simply is not possible; and graduates cannot get experience without businesses taking a chance on them.

Joyce Ceravolo’s comments show that businesses are unrealistically expecting graduates to know everything about a role (which is simply not possible given how fast industries and technologies change) and are reacting negatively to the idea of further training.

As for the jibe about hiring “Joe Blow” off the street – well I have been in “Joe Blow’s” position, applying for jobs where I only had half the desired skill set and despite demonstrating a willingness to learn, not a single company bothered to get in contact.

As a result I have spent the last eight years unhappily employed in the retail sector in roles I am grossly overqualified for.

I agree that universities should always strive to deliver industry relevant curriculums and foster relationships between themselves and the business community; but in order for graduates to succeed businesses need to adapt too.

If business leaders are not willing to change their attitudes and expectations, then South Australia’s graduates will never find employment. – Trista Coulter

Commenting on the story: Anger as gamblers get green light to use notes in pokies

I understand that the government is not concerned about its own need to raise revenue.

Very obviously they would see this new law as a law that will encourage families to spend more time together; people will be able to lose their money much quicker and then go home to their loved ones.

I once saw someone lose $1000 in about half an hour. I physically felt sick watching him blow his pay.

I also have family who were trapped by these awful things. The point at which they lost any control was when they sped the games up and introduced notes.

Suddenly they could bet $10 a go instead of 20 cents.

For me though, having to feed them coins one at a time is a godsend because I just couldn’t be bothered.

Just an additional point. I refuse to shop at Woolworths or their subsidiaries unless there is no alternative. They are the biggest owners of poker machines. – Dave Scheerhoorn

Commenting on the story: Renewal SA tight-lipped over date for North Tce tree destruction

As already stated, there are times when those who can need to step up and I’ve implored Steve Marshall to do that.

Renewal SA is a state government department, so the Premier needs to show that he has listened and heard, and that we don’t want or need to chop down historic trees that have helped to form a unique corner environment on one of Adelaide’s premier boulevards.

It’s that simple.

Say enough, redesign the walk area or whatever it is that seems to be too hard for what presumably is a very experienced landscaping company/architects. – Mariann McNamara

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