Oct 2011

1. Oct 2011 PRESENTATION TO LEARN EARN LEGEND CONFERENCE

2. Who we are • BoysTown - national youth welfare organisation and registered charity. • Mission is “to enable young people, who are marginalised and without voice, to improve their quality of life”. • BT delivers programs & services designed to help marginalised young people and their families, including Kids Helpline, Parentline and family refuges. • BT also provides personal support, education, training and employment services for around 7,500 young people per year from some of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia.

3. Who we help • Young people aged 14-25 who are at high risk of social exclusion including: • early school leavers; • long term unemployed young people; • young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; • young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; • young offenders and ex-prisoners; and • young people in transition from the care of the state. • Around 20% of our current clients are young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

4. School retention programs • BoysTown works closely with the state and federal government in the delivery of programs which assist in meeting Closing the Gap Education Strategy objectives. • The Parental & Community Engagement (PACE) program • Youth Connections - in-school support, alternate education, homework clubs, mentoring • Work with the Former Origin Greats & the Broncos. • Delivery of Enterprise Learning programs in schools in Ipswich & Logan. • Intensive literacy/numeracy programs incorporating IT-based learning, combined with volunteer tutors.

5. School to work transition programs • Job Ready program • Get Set for Work • Indigenous Mentors through Indigenous Employment Program • Personal development & life skills training workshops • Accredited employability and vocational skills training • Transitional employment enterprises in SEQ, NSW and SA • Youth Specialist Job Services in SEQ, NSW, SA

6. Early school leaving • BoysTown’s experience indicates that reasons for early school leaving include factors such as: • personal circumstances, e.g. lack of family support, unstable accommodation, physical/mental health problems; • literacy, numeracy and comprehension problems or undiagnosed learning disorders; • a mismatch between mainstream school settings and individual learning style preferences; • resulting low self-esteem and lack of confidence, leading to behavioural problems, truancy, absenteeism, substance abuse and anti-social behaviour.

7. Learnings from BoysTown’s experience • BT’s approach to helping young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to re-engage in learning, involves a combination of: • individual assessment and case management; • personal support from an Indigenous mentor; • remedial language, literacy and numeracy tutoring; • personal development and cultural awareness programs, in partnership with the local Indigenous community; • social development through arts and sports programs; • project-based, experiential learning; and • on-the-job training in real work settings. • Essential to work in close partnership with the local Indigenous community.

8. What can be done – Indigenous success stories

9. What works - individual assessment and case management • Transition planning needs to start early to: • undertake individual assessment of needs; • identify & resolve barriers to engagement in learning; • put in place appropriate support systems, including tapping into range of available options; • design intervention strategies tailored to the needs of each individual; • help students prepare for senior schooling; and • ensure they are aware of all available options.

10. What works – practical, experiential learning options • Significant evidence about the value of providing experiential, project-based learning options, coupled with individual case management and mentoring support. • Example - school-based apprenticeships & traineeships (SATs), supported through targeted learning assistance and mentoring. • Example - Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) - a recognised senior secondary qualification, offered as an alternative to the VCE. • Combines accredited modules in literacy/numeracy skills, personal development, employability & vocational skills training, industry familiarisation & practical work experience during Years 11 & 12.

11. What works – enterprise learning • Example – BoysTown’s Enterprise Learning Program, which combines paid work experience, accredited training while at school. • Students undertake 2 days per week paid work with BoysTown Enterprises on minor maintenance and construction projects on school property. Currently funded through DEEDI and not Indigenous specific. • Work is combined with selected accredited modules from the Certificate I in Construction and Certificate II in Horticulture. The remaining 3 days, young people attend normal classes. 88% of participants achieved positive EET outcomes. • Proposal to expand this program in 2012 - focus on assisting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of early school leaving – funding through school R&M budgets.

12. School to work transition • BT provides various school-to-work transition programs for young people once they have left school, e.g. Get Set for Work, vocational training, BT enterprises. • Need another option for young people who complete Year 12 but are at risk of not making a successful transition from school to work. • Option - allowing at risk young people to be registered with Job Services while they are still completing Year 12. Aim – to encourage young people to secure employment as soon as possible after the conclusion of Term 4. • BT continuing to work with state and federal government to expand scope for offering early assistance with transition planning, more flexible alternative learning options and transition support.