Providing Education and Training for At Risk ... - Victoria University

The program provides participants with assistance to gain accreditation for their skilldevelopment in reading, writing, numeracy and oral communication. Generic skills are alsodeveloped around participation in the workplace, further education or training, and in thecommunity. Programs are offered in computers, gardening, photography, art, creative writing,learner’s permit, woodwork and music. BEAT staff work with young people on a one to oneand small group tuition basis.It is this style of teaching, the interesting range of subjects offered and the adult like learningenvironment that helps keep the young people attending the program. The young people spokento commented that they were treated differently at BEAT than at secondary school and TAFE.Reasons included: “there were no bells or uniforms”; “the program helped me develop myinterests”, and “the style of teaching was good because at TAFE the classes were too large andyou had to wait if you had a problem”.The program coordinator believes this program works because:• provides holistic support• does not just have an education focus, but assists with other issues the young person maybe facing• non threatening environment• individual pathways are tailored to facilitate a young person’s achievement of realisticgoals• curriculum is mixed and matched to the young person’s needs• self paced learning environment, however the young person is encouraged to make thenext stepsQuality of staff is seen to be essential to the success of the program. Current staff have a senseof commitment, understanding and tolerance, and ability to work in a team environment.A valued outcome of the program is a young person acknowledging learning and embracinglearning in their life. Other indicators of success can be as simple as engaging a young personafter they have moved from place to place, or having a young person consistently attend aprogram to returning to education or training or finding a job.As assistance with education and training is only one of the many issues facing the youngpeople involved in this program (housing, health, family etc) links with other service providersis crucial and cross referrals are a common practice at BEAT.In summary, the main impediment facing BEAT is the short term nature of the funding whichmakes it difficult for the program to plan strategically for the long term and attract and retaingood quality staff.Jobs Pathway Programme – Goulburn Valley RegionThe ECY (Employment in the Community for Young People) conduct the Jobs PathwayProgramme for the Goulburn Valley Region. The ECY is part of the Workplacement initiative,which is a National charitable, not-for-profit trust organisation with regional offices located inBrisbane, Melbourne, Shepparton (Goulburn Valley) and Sydney (now closed). Its mission isto directly engage Australian businesses in assisting unemployed and homeless young people49