Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Western Sydney Region Links to Learning Workshop

16th November 2011

Video Conference

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Overview

DEC funds organisations to operate creative and innovative projects that assist:

• Early Leavers: young people who have left school before completing Year 12 or its equivalent

• Students at Risk: students in Years 7 to 12, identified as at risk of disengaging from their education.

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Objectives

Links to Learning is designed to assist young people to remain engaged in their education or transition into further education, training or employment. Young people are supported through stages in a project with the following five objectives:

• Connect – funded organisations identify appropriate young people and connect them with Links to Learning

• Participate – young people at risk attend and participate in Links to Learning• Learn – young people at risk learn and improve education, employment and life skills • Plan – young people at risk plan for successful transition from Links to Learning into

education, training or employment • Transition – young people at risk successfully transition from Links to Learning into

their planned education, training or employment destination

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Target Group

Links to Learning targets two groups of young people

• Early Leavers are young people, 17 - 24 years of age, who have left school before completing Year 12 or its vocational education and training equivalent. Early school leavers are generally not engaged in education, training or employment and may not have developed the skills to participate in a formal education or training environment.

• 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.

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: New School Leaving Age

From 1 January 2010, new legislation relating to school leaving age takes effect in NSW under the Education Amendment Act 2009 No 25. The legislation states that students will not be able to leave school or stop home schooling until:

• he or she has completed Year 10 of secondary education, or • turned 17 (whichever occurs first.)

A student who has completed Year 10 and is below the age of 17 years must continue his or her schooling unless he or she participates on a full-time basis in:

• approved education or training, or • paid work or a combination of approved education or training and paid work (the child

must be of or above the age of 15 years to be in employment )

Participation in approved education or training would mean the child would be undertaking :

• a higher education course, • a vocational course, • an apprenticeship or traineeship, or • any other education or training approved by the Minister

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Work Experience• A young person’s goals, skills and interests may be

enhanced by participating in work experience relevant to their planned transition destination. Links to Learning participants may take part in supervised work experience with employers who are aware of Links to Learning objectives and outcomes and hold appropriate work experience insurance and indemnity coverage.

• Supervised work experience should not exceed 65 hours or comprise more than a third of total participant hours and should be supported by the home school.

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Western Sydney Region Projects 2011

Blacktown Youth Services Association Inc - BYSA L2L

Students at Risk Year 7 - 8

Senior First Aid Certificate, Intro to Short Film Making, Intro to Music Production Hip Hop, Cooking Skills

Mamre Plains Ltd - Mamrehelp4kids Students at Risk Year 7- 8

Maths, Healthy lifestyle, goal setting, research skills, computers, sport

Mission Australia - Mount Druitt SAR Students at Risk Year 8 -10

Creative Writing, Health and Nutrition, Creative Arts, Language, Literacy, Numeracy, Sport, Communication, Multi Media Production

Penrith Skills for Jobs Ltd - Hawkesbury Students at Risk Year 8 -10

Anger Management, Communication, Job seeking skills, stress management

Penrith Skills for Jobs Ltd - Penrith and Blue Mountains

Students at Risk Year 8 -10

Anger Management, Communication, Job seeking skills, stress management

The Salvation Army (New South Wales) Property Trust - Take Five - Blacktown

Students at Risk Year 7 - 9

Certificate l in RetailCertificate in Type Quick

CombYear 9-11

CombinationYear 9-11

CERT II in General Education for AdultsCERT II in Retail (some units)

Western Sydney Training & Education Centre Inc - Wsetern SydneyTEC Richmond

CombinationYear 9-11

CERT II in General Education for Adults CERT III in Children's Services (4 Units)

Western Sydney Training & Education Centre Inc - Links West

CombinationYear 9-11

CERT II in General Education for Adults CERT II in Retail (8 Units)

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Western Sydney Region Projects 2011

YWCA NSW - Parramatta CombinationYear 9-11

CERT II in Retail (14 Units)

Miimali Aboriginal Community Association Inc - Miimali L2L

Combination Year 7-8

Targets Y7 & 8 Aboriginal studentsAboriginal and Life Skills

www.det.nsw.edu.au/eas/youth/

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Schools currently accessing Links to Learning Programs:

Blacktown Boys HS Mitchell HS

Blacktown Girls HS Nepean HS

Cambridge Park HS Plumpton HS

Chifley College Bidwill Richmond HS

Chifley College Dunheved Seven Hills HS

Chifely College Mt Druitt St Clair HS

Chifley College Shalvey Windsor HS

Colo HS

Colyton HS

Cranebrook HS

Doonside THS

Erskine Park HS

Evans HS

Glenmore Park HS

Hawkesbury HS

Jamison HS

Kingswood HS

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Structure of DEC Schools in Western Sydney Region

First point of contact in schools is the Principal (unless they have delegated another officer).

Concerns regarding program, students, policies etc in the first instance go to the Principal.

Should the issue be unresolved, please contact Links to Learning Coordinator, Joan MacLean.

David PhippsRegional Director

Western Sydney

Sharon Ford – School Education Director Regional Contact – Joan

MacLean

Principal

Schools

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: DEC Policies• Aboriginal Education and Training Policy• Anti –Racism Policy• Bullying: Prevention and Responding to Student Bullying in School Policy• Complaints Handling Policy• Excursions Policy• Risk Management Process and Proforma• Films, Videos, DVDs and Computer Games in Schools • Management of Conduct and Performance• Multicultural Education• Occupational Health and Safety Policy• School Attendance Policy• Sports and Physical Activities Safety Policy for Schools• Guidelines for Specific Sports and Physical Activities• Student Discipline in Government Schools Policy• Road Safety Education, Driver Education and Training Policy• Working with Children Check Policy• Workplace Learning Policy for Secondary Students in Government Schools and

TAFE Institutes

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Western Sydney Region Process

1. Applications from the organisation delivering the program are received by the Student Services Officer with responsibility for Regional Links to Learning Project Officer, Joan MacLean.

2. Joan reviews the application (may ask further questions of the organisation if required)

3. Applications signed off by Joan.

4. Signed copy will be issued to the organisation

5. Any questions the organisation has regarding the application should be referred to the Joan MacLean first.

Links to Learning Western Sydney Region

Links to Learning: Western Sydney Region View of Best Practice

1) Program that support students in gaining accreditation

2) Programs that have a risk assessment attached

3) Programs that support existing school programs

4) Programs that discuss school needs pre implementation

5) Programs that support New School Leaving Age