[Sub ID 4866] Virtual Reality Education (Carers of Africa Inc.)

Submission ID: 4866
Organisation name: Carers of Africa Inc.
Contact name: Mr Bright Chinganya
State: VIC
Contact email: treasurer@carersofafrica.org.au
Contact number: 0397069887

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

What need or issue are you trying to address?
There is high unemployment among people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background especially those of refugee background. Carers of Africa Inc. support young people with mental health, and drug use in The Greater City of Dandenong. Most of clients are school drop outs and have difficulties to start a TAFE course or finding employment. Per the city of Dandenong statistics 12.6% 20-24 years old are unemployed. There has been reports in the media about Dandenong APEX boys, some of those boys are our clients. The boys tend to engage into illicit activity because of lack of things to do and failing to engage with their own community.

Carers of Africa works in partnership with two Sudanese Communities, hence we have firsthand information with what is happening in the community. Besides, we are in partnership with the department of Justice to support young people on community corrections orders. These are young people that have lost interest in further education and are out of employment, as a result are also in trouble with the judicial system.

What is your idea?
We want to develop virtual reality technology to help young people develop an appetite for further education in three trades course: electrical, carpentry and mechanical. Virtual reality typically refers to computer technologies that use software to generate the realistic images, sounds and other sensations that replicate a real environment, and simulate a user’s physical presence in this environment. The technology uses smart phones which most young people are used to, hence the same technology could be used to develop their skills.

Here is an example of a similar experience: (video not available)

Once the young person develop interest watching virtual reality assimilation, may want to enrol into a course to put their experience into practice. Therefore, at this point Carers of Africa will be engaging with TAFE Colleges to ensure that needs of the students are met. Once, a student has successfully enrolled into a TAFE course, Carers of Africa will look for a tutor in that field to ensure that the student completes the course. Besides, some young people may want to be an apprentice to put into practice what they have been doing in the assimilation room. Again, Carers of Africa will support a student getting a company for apprentice .