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Links to Learning

Links to Learning Programs

Links to Learning Programs supports young people aged 12 to 24. There are two components to our education programs, the Waratah Education Program for Indigenous youth and the Step – Up Education and Training for Early School Leavers. Students at Risk are students enrolled in government high schools, between years 7 and 12, who are identified by school learning support teams, student welfare committees or regional teams as being disengaged or at risk of disengaging from their school.

 

Waratah Education Program

The Waratah Education Program is a Students at Risk Links to Learning Program. The program assists school age Indigenous young people who have difficulty in participating in the school environment to stay at school longer and get better educational outcomes. We deliver targeted programs that build skills and self esteem, deal with life issues and problems and tackle education from a ‘Koori’ perspective.

Waratah works with three nominated schools each year. Our qualified staff follow school curriculum including literacy and numeracy, career and vocational education, life skills, health and recreation and computer studies. We develop a clear plan with the young person that includes setting goals, personal needs, family life, homework and tutoring needs.

Some of the Programs we run in the schools are:

  • The Personal Grooming course is a popular course that we run in partnership with TAFE NSW. Over 9 weeks, students complete a range of topics covering personal grooming, personal hygiene, communication and interpersonal relationships training. The group gained valuable insights into personal issues around self esteem and respect for others

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  • Mosaic garden artwork. We created opportunities for years 9 and 10 students to design and construct a mosaic garden in the school lunch area. The students also produced permanent mini mosaic chess boards on seat benches in the lunch area.

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  • Short Black Film came on board and worked with intensively with the students for 8 weeks. The students developed a short film of their choice and learnt how to use digital cameras and editing equipment, and creative and technical aspects of filmmaking, shooting and lightning.

 

The Step up Education Program

The Step up Education Program assists young people aged 16 to 24 years old who have left school early and are not currently studying. The courses we run provides young people with a range of opportunities to re-enter mainstream education, training or employment. Utilising innovative, skills based and creative activities in informal learning environments, we engage participants in programs with post-activity support included.

Our goal is to assist young people in returning to study after poor experiences of school which can be difficult. Our program works hard to engage the target group at this first point of contact to change their impression of the process of learning.

Moving on to other courses is another key objective. We endeavour to make sure that the young people have the basic skills necessary to continue study and are clear about the prerequisites for the job they want to get.

Transitioning from education to employment is a monumental step and we spend a lot of time preparing participants for the expectations of the workforce. Supporting students in the first month of their employment is vital, following up with employment service providers and other industry groups is essential

Target area

CBD and surrounding areas some of these suburbs include: Redfern, Waterloo, Surry Hills, Alexandria, Erskineville, Newtown, Zetland, Glebe, Ultimo and Woolloomooloo

Target group

Around 30% of participants are Indigenous. Early Leavers experience barriers which can hinder their chances in obtaining full time employment or staying in full time education. Young people we work with have or are at risk of the following

  • Offending or are at risk of offending
  • Recently released from Gaol or Juvenile Detention
  • No support networks in the home environment
  • Misuse of Alcohol or Other Drug
  • Unemployment
  • Low numeracy and literacy skills
  • Low socio-economic background

Our courses assiststudents to identify realistic educational/vocational training/employment options and appropriate pathways. Students are able to develop a core of basic skills and gain relevant experience in their chosen work and education options

Some of the courses we run are:

Landscape Course

The Landscape course was very popular. We had 22 young people redevelop a Housing NSW Garden in Waterloo. This course provided the participants with a Certificate I in Access to Work and Educational Opportunities

The Certificate I in Access to Work and Educational Opportunities is designed to increase access to education and/or employment for people experiencing barriers to participation in education and groups under-represented in vocational education and training.

The course is built around an ongoing process of community consultation. It aims to empower targeted groups by providing equitable access to VET.

OHS induction provided participants with the basic principles of health, safety and 
welfare in the construction industry. It also provided learners with information 
about preventing workplace injury and illness, injury management and workers 
compensation in NSW.

Other qualification included in this course are:- Support gardening work, assist with landscape construction work, plant trees and shrubs:- manual planting of trees, shrubs and other containerised and bare-rooted plants, Support landscape work, Horticulture workplace health & safety, Gardening fundamentals, Occupational health & safety, horticulture. Participants also had the opportunity to complete their Whit Card.

Transport and Distribution (Warehousing)

Participants can undertake 8 weeks of training and on completion receive a Certificate II in Warehousing. They will also obtain their Blue Card and forklift driving license.

Driving for Employment

Driving for Employment is an Oasis run program, we assist young people to get their learner driver permits and Oasis provides them 120 hours of driver training and on-on-one mentoring.