[Sub ID 4253] Realising your potential, workshops for young people (South Regional TAFE)

Submission ID: 4253
Organisation name: South Regional TAFE
Contact name: Ms Sue Dawes
State: WA
Contact email: sue.dawes@srtafe.wa.edu.au
Contact number: 0898928828

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young carers, Young parents, Young students at risk of long-term unemployment

What need or issue are you trying to address?
As a regional college that has been operating for in excess of 40 years and has campuses in many small townships in outlying Western Australia, we come into contact with young people every single day and work with a variety of community organisations and individuals who assist young people in their travels to adulthood. During this time we have developed and successfully implemented programs designed specifically for young cohorts.

The transition from school to the workplace is a challenging time in young people’s lives. To be prepared for work they need to develop a range of personal assets and skills, and gain experience. They may also need to address issues relating to their personal and family circumstances. For some young people, lack of support in the home, a bad experience of school, or a traumatic event can be disruptive and throw them off course. However most importantly, consistently they all need to learn life skills before they can undertake work experience or employment. Life skills include understanding their own emotional capabilities; developing a positive attitude and self-confidence; involvement with others – team work; employability skills such as time management; personal appearance and communication; responsibility; understanding the importance of qualifications and career guidance.

What is your idea?
Our proposal is to design, develop, promote and deliver “Realising Your Potential” Workshops for young people. The workshops would teach life skills to young people; hold their interest through practical, hands-on project work; be held in non-threatening safe environments; utilise the services of motivational speakers or young entrepreneurs; offer career guidance and one-to-one coaching (where required); demonstrate what the adult working world requires of them in a safe environment; provide tuition in mathematics, English reading and writing as applicable to their project work and guide them to understand what they can achieve. Workshops would be 2 or 3 days per week with crèche services as/if required and may introduce students to volunteer work or work experience. The program could possibly run for one or two school semester(s) (e.g. 20 weeks each) and could be delivered under a certificate qualification.