WorkReady NT Program - VETnetwork Australia

WorkReady in DARWIN

The Northern Territory:the last . . .. . . Frontier

WildVast &

SpotsTourist

Indigenous Art

Darwin – Cyclone Tracy 1974

TodayDarwin

Building Boom

LPG GasBorder Security

Tourist Boom“The Ghan”

Mindil Beach – a “must see”

Content• Our Place– The Territory– The Town• WorkReady– Objectives– Background & Context– Stakeholders– Goals & Strategies– Program Outlines– Management– The Future• Sanderson High– The Students– The Opportunities– The Process– The Story– The Results

WorkReady Program• Winner 2006 NT VET in SchoolsExcellence Award• Highly Commended Group TrainingAustralia Partnership Award 2006

WorkReady ProgramOBJECTIVES• To increase the number of WorkReady programs in NTHigh Schools whilst offering flexible curriculum forstudents who want to pursue a vocational trainingpathway to employment.• To increase the number of School Based Apprenticeshipsin the NT, particularly in identified skill shortage areas.

WorkReady ProgramBACKGROUND• In 2002 Group Training NT and DEET established theSchool Based Apprenticeship Program in the Darwinregion.• The program was introduced into Darwin High Schoolsas part of the VET Wednesday program which allowedthe students to work only one day a week.

VET Welding

WorkReady ProgramBACKGROUND (continued)• In 2004 Group Training NT conducted a feasibility studyin Darwin to determine if schools would consider pilotingthe WorkReady Program.• Sanderson and Palmerston High Schools agreed to pilotthe program in 2005. Both programs commenced with25 students who were keen to enter a School BasedApprenticeship (SBA).

Rob: School Based Apprenticeship,Manager NT

WorkReady ProgramCONTEXT• A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) hasbeen established between the schools, DEET and GroupTraining NT (GTNT).• The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of thepartners. It also includes very specific student targets,outcomes and stakeholder deliverables.

WorkReady ProgramCONTEXT (continued)• A Professional Learning Community (PLC) has beenestablished for schools across the Northern Territory tosupport the WorkReady Program.• The PLC is for teachers of the WorkReady Program todevelop and share approaches using flexible delivery tosenior school students. It will develop a commonapproach to school to work transition for identifiedvocational student groups.

Field Officers: Tammy & Angela

WorkReady ProgramSTAKEHOLDERS• Students• Parents• Employers (host) / Peak Industry Organisations• Group Training NT• DEET Senior Secondary Schools• DEET Employment and Training Division• DEET Curriculum Services• Training Advisory Councils• Local Community Partnership

WorkReady ProgramGOALS• Students are willing and committed program participants.• Participants are work ready when they commence a SBA,with appropriate standards in numeracy and literacy.• Participants have a work ready aptitude when theycommence a SBA, with an appreciation of timeliness,presentation and willingness.

Suzi: former Apprentice, nowAdministration Officer

WorkReady ProgramSTRATEGIES• GTNT provides assistance in the transition from school towork to 100 students, from four High Schools, who wantto pursue a vocational training pathway to employment.• GTNT delivers a two day work preparation workshop forYear 10 students to prepare resumes, improve jobinterview skills and research apprenticeships.• YouthworX NT (LCP) provides work placements for Year10 and 11 students who have indicated they would liketo pursue a School Based Apprenticeship opportunity.

Nadia: Apprentice at GTNT

WorkReady ProgramPROGRAM OUTLINE YEAR 10• Information sessions for students and parents• Prepare expressions of interest and resumes• Interview with students and parents• Work preparation program for 2 days• Work placement for 1 week• Student applies for VET in Schools Program

Michael at School Based ApprenticeshipTransport & Distribution

WorkReady ProgramPROGRAM OUTLINE YEAR 11• NTCE school subjects (two days)• VET in Schools Program with work placement• Senior First Aid• Certificate II or III in SBA• DTAL (Driver Training Program)• Case management of students

Joseph atSchool Based Apprenticeship

WorkReady ProgramPROGRAM OUTLINE YEAR 12• Students in SBA• Certificate II or III• NTCE school subjects (two days)• Case management of students• DTAL• Senior First Aid

Toni-Lee atSchool Based Apprentice

WorkReady ProgramMANAGEMENT• A management committee consisting of schoolprincipals, DEET representatives and Group Training NTmeet quarterly to assess the progress of the programand review the targeted student outcomes.• Successful outcomes include students moving into fulltime employment, further education and training orcontinuation of an apprenticeship.

Wayne at School Based ApprenticeshipRefrigeration

WorkReady ProgramPRESENT & FUTURE• The future of the WorkReady Programs in the Darwinregion is very positive. There are currently four DarwinHigh Schools that have implemented the WorkReadyProgram.• A further two schools will establish programs in 2007,which will make six schools in total for Darwin.• DEET Initiative: Middle Schools / Senior Schools

WorkReady ProgramPRESENT & FUTURE (continued)• Darwin will have an Australian Technical College in 2007.The ATC will be a virtual college, and schools withWorkReady Programs will be identified as dualenrolments to feed the ATC.• The WorkReady program is a win, win, win situation forall stakeholders, including students, parents, schools andlocal business and industry.

Jared at School Based ApprenticeshipConstruction

Bevan at VET Automotive Training

WorkReady Program“School Based Apprenticeshipsare great because they areflexible and offer manyopportunities and choices tostudents.”

National Excellence inTeaching Award 1994,QueenslandWORKREADYatSanderson High School (SHS(SHS)

SHS – The Students• Student composition– Approximately 550 students– Over 30 different cultures– English is often 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th language• Socio-economics– typically low income & single-parent family– high unemployment– dole is an expectation of entitlement rather than a safety net• Attitudes– expectations are low, regular attendance is a challenge– boredom, disinterest and low self-esteem esteem are prevalent issues– many express the belief that anything is better than schoolSummary: the school probably represents the only stabilitymany of these students have in their lives

SHS – Innovative Options• Pastoral Care (the school promotes Restorative Justice principles)• Vertical time-tablingtabling (allows students to progress according to individual readinessrather than chronological age)• Groups (Nomads, Girls Group, Boys Group) for students at risk• Targeted intervention programs (e.g. Accelerated Literacy)• VET ProgramsPrograms (e.g. Cert I in Hospitality; other VET programs are offered as part pofcluster arrangement with other schools & Registered Training Organizations such as CharlesDarwin University)• Work Experience (offered to all students from Year 9 onwards)• Exposure to industry (e.g. Futures Expo, Try-a-Trade, Trade, Adopt-a-School)• Compacted Curriculum with WorkReady Program (common sense,practical and contextualised approach to learning, vectored towards gaining anapprenticeship and future employment)

SHS – Compacted CurriculumThis approach has been piloted in 2004.Advantages:• Working with one teacher results in students– taking ownership of a room that is “theirs”.– building a closer relationship with their main class teacher.– experiencing less disruption to their learning as they arenot taken out of other classes.• Flexibility allows students to– engage simultaneously in academicand workplace learning.– complete their Year 11 and 12 studies (NTCE) whilstenrolled in a School Based Apprenticeship.

SHS – Compacted Curriculum (cont.)Results at the end of the year were very impressive:• retention levels increased,• attendance improved dramatically, and• many students attained the required 12 units at Stage 1.@Direct consequence:• Meeting with Bob Chapman from Group Training NT• Discussing traineeship/apprenticeship options for students• Decision to pilot Pathways (now WorkReady) ) in 2005

SHS – WorkReady: Organisation• Students attend school two dayseach week for regular lessons viathe Compacted Curriculum model• Students go to VET classeseach Wednesday• Students spend two days each weekin a workplace environment

SHS – WorkReady: ManagementThe School Management Group consists of• a Teacher who provides academic input & supportaccording to the Compacted Curriculum model• a Careers Counsellor who develops the LearningWorkReady Plans in consultation with the students• a VET Co-ordinatorordinator who, in collaboration with theCareers Counsellor, maps and monitors theeducation and training outcomes, ensuring thecorrect patterns are maintained to satisfy NTCErequirements

SHS – WorkReady: Management (cont.)• AIEW and ISA provide additional supportfor indigenous students• Group Training NT offer professionaladvice and help to find suitable workplacements for studentsStudents are individually case-managed. . The team meets regularlyto assess, monitor and makerecommendations to ensure requiredNTCE patterns are met.

SHS – WorkReady: ExpectationsWe believe that as a direct outcome of this type ofcontextualised learning our students will• increase their work skills and improve their self-esteem.esteem.• attain the NTCE and acquire income.• gain employment in industries with skills shortages.This will improve opportunities for• Indigenous students,• girls, and• students at risk.

SHS – WorkReady: Evidence - PilotNUMBERS Year End 2005543210Full Time ApprenticeshipsSchool Based ApprenticeshipsWork PlacementsStudent Services ClientsNot w ork ready yetThis graph represents students in the first year of their WorkReady Program.

SHS – WorkReady: Evidence - Current• Our students attend VET classes and Apprenticeshipsor Traineeships in the following areas:– Tourism, Parks & Wildlife,– Hospitality & Catering,– Metals & Engineering,– Sports & Recreation,– Design & Fashion,– Horticulture,– Automotive,– Clerical,– Retail,– Aeronautics, and– Electro-Technology

SHS – WorkReady: Evidence - 2006NUMBERS Term 3 20061086420Full Time ApprenticeshipsSchool Based ApprenticeshipsWork PlacementsStudent Services ClientsNot w ork ready yetThis graph represents students in the first & second year of their WorkReady Program.

SHS – WorkReady: Evidence - Results• Every student enrolled in their second year in theprogram is in a School Based Apprenticeship• Some students have already left as they haveaccepted full-timeapprenticeships• One student has been the winner of the DEETNorthern Territory Training Award• One student has been nominated for the DESTSchool Based Apprenticeships Award

DEET Northern Territory TrainingAward Winner 2006Amina SherifCertificate II Clothing Production

DEST School Based ApprenticeshipAward Finalist 2006Kane MolaCertificate II Hospitality