27/08/2026
Building Skills, Building Confidence, Building Futures — CBMR & Our Students
At Corio Bay Miniature Railway (CBMR), we believe a miniature railway is about much more than trains.
It is about people, learning, opportunity and building a stronger future for our community.
Our current partnership with Newcomb Secondary College is giving students the opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom and experience practical, hands-on learning in areas that can help prepare them for further education, apprenticeships, employment and life beyond school.
Through our CBMR–Newcomb Secondary College Youth Skills & Training Partnership, students are being introduced to real-world projects involving railway engineering, construction, fabrication, problem-solving and teamwork.
🔧 Learning by Doing
There is enormous value in allowing young people to learn by actually doing something.
Whether it is understanding how a railway operates, working with tools and materials, developing a model, learning about engineering principles or contributing ideas to a project, students can see how the skills they are learning at school can be applied in the real world.
CBMR volunteers can also share practical knowledge and experiences from their own backgrounds, helping students understand the importance of:
🔹 Workplace safety
🔹 Communication and teamwork
🔹 Reliability and responsibility
🔹 Problem-solving
🔹 Engineering and mechanical principles
🔹 Welding and fabrication
🔹 Construction and maintenance
🔹 Electronics and electrical systems
🔹 Planning and project development
🔹 Working as part of a community organisation
These are skills that can remain with a student long after they leave school.
🎓 Looking Towards 2027
While our current program is an important first step, CBMR is already looking towards what we can achieve in 2027.
Our vision is to expand the partnership and provide students with even more opportunities to work on practical projects associated with the development of the Corio Bay Miniature Railway and Community Park.
This could include projects undertaken through the school's engineering facilities as well as other school departments, allowing students with different interests and abilities to become involved.
Potential projects could include:
🚂 Restoration and construction of 7¼-inch passenger carriages
🔩 Railway fabrication and components
🛠️ Workshop and maintenance projects
⚡ Electronics and railway signalling
🎨 Painting and finishing
🏗️ Construction projects
📐 Design, drafting and project planning
🌳 Landscaping and community park development
📣 Marketing, media and communications
💻 Digital and technology projects
Importantly, not every student needs to be interested in becoming an engineer or tradesperson.
There are many different roles involved in creating and operating a community railway, and we want to help students discover where their own interests, abilities and strengths could take them.
🤝 Building Something Together
CBMR sees this partnership as a long-term investment in young people.
Our future railway will eventually require people with many different skills — from engineering and mechanical work through to administration, hospitality, landscaping, education, marketing and community engagement.
By working with students now, we hope to create pathways where young people can become involved in the project, develop their skills and potentially continue their connection with CBMR well into the future.
We also believe that community organisations have an important role to play in supporting schools.
Schools provide students with knowledge and education, while organisations such as CBMR can provide opportunities to put that knowledge into practice.
🌟 Our Goal
Our goal is simple:
To help young people learn, develop confidence, discover their potential and see that practical skills can open doors to their future.
The railway we are working towards building will be something the community can enjoy for generations.
But for CBMR, the greatest achievement will not simply be the railway itself.
It will be seeing young people who have been part of the journey develop the skills, confidence and experience to build their own futures.
We are extremely proud of what our students have already achieved, and we are excited about what 2027 and beyond could bring.
🚂 Corio Bay Miniature Railway — Building a Railway, Building Skills, Building Futures.
