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Disability Project
16-May-2001
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"Work-Out" Project interim report
ECEF Priority Areas project - Lighthouse project by Daniel Hayes |
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| This report details outcomes for the "Work-Out" Project from November 2000 to April 2001. | |
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The "Work-Out" Project is aligned with a number of Central Coast specialist and mainstream Youth Support Services under the umbrella name of "Youth Connections". The project has achieved a number of significant outcomes during the period November 2000 to the end of April 2001. These outcomes are described under the ECEF Outcome areas in the body of the following Report. |
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* Model Development & Mainstreaming· · "Work-Out" model has been further developed embedding its activities and processes into alignment with all Youth Connections (CCBEN) services. The model is designed to work collaboratively with mainstream swl placement staff. Examples of this collaborative approach include sharing employer contacts / leads and co-presenting structured workplace learning information at a number venues including Chamber of Commerce meeting and VET Teacher Networks. · Students with disabilities are identified by either consultation with Support Teachers (Transition) who have identified students prior to course commencement through the VET Support Funding application process or directly by VET Teacher referral on a modified referral form including information regarding disabilities. This referral confirms student course commencement and further course and structured workplace learning details. · Work placement guidelines and referral flowchart still in Draft development. * Partnerships, Alliances & Collaboration · Collaborative partnership with First Contact Human Resources (CETP) is well developed including planning meeting identifying Year 10 students in 2001 suitable for PT Traineeships in 2002. These meetings have included CETP, Transition and Work-Out staff. It is agreed that depending on the success of 2001 trial this will become a regular planning process. · First Contact Human Resources (CETP) & Work-Out staff have collaboratively planned, developed and implemented Workplace Trainer (Disabilities) and "WorkCover" OH&S formal training to 20 Teacher Aide (Special) staff involved in supporting students with disabilities in structured workplace learning. Training for another 15 staff is planned for June 2001. · Close collaboration continuing between Work-Out and school support staff across all sectors. Project Officer meetings with NSW DET, Catholic and Independent support staff. Involvement in NSW DET Support Funding District Committees, Broken Bay Diocese Support Staff In-servicing on VET issues for students with disabilities. · Ongoing development with Industry Education Advisory Committee (IEAC) to further establish VET participation targets for students with disabilities (documented in IEAC Business Plan for 2000-2001). Project Officer has been actively involved in Sub Committee meetings for Access & Equity, School to Work Planning and Work force opportunities representing Access & Equity considerations in VET planning for the Central Coast. · Partnerships with 10 key local employers established. * Resources · Development of following resources: - Student Information Sheet for Employers - Guidelines and procedures for structured workplace learning for students with disabilities - Powerpoint presentation explaining issues related to VET and disabilities to be used as in-service resource for VET and Support staff · Development of Web Page for Youth Connections allowing for access to information, guidelines and procedures related to structured workplace learning. * Awareness & Information · Project has been directly and successfully promoted in schools. All schools have appropriate contacts who are aware of the Work-Out Project and its role in structured workplace learning. These contacts include disability support and VET teaching staff. · Access to VET Expo in June 2001. Youth Connections will be represented with Work-Out information provided. · Project continues to be promoted locally to: - all VET Teachers via their individual VET Networks - Head Teacher and other support teacher meetings - Disability services via local services forum- Chambers of Commerce - Gosford, Erina, Penninsular & Wyong · Students involved in structured workplace learning (including a student with a physical disability) presented to local Gosford Chamber Luncheon promoting awareness of structured workplace learning. · Presentation by Work-Out project Officer to State Meeting of Support Teachers Transition in May 2001. A further presentation is planned for joint State Conference of Transition and TAFE Disability Consultants in August 2001. · Stage 1 of Youth Connections Web Page is completed. A launch of this page is planned for June. This is later than originally planned due to the need to imbed all Work-Out information with other Youth Connections Services / Information. Whilst this has taken longer it is considered a better strategy for long term promotion. Local student success stories of structured workplace learning in the 2001 cohort will be specifically promoted. Supporting employers will also be promoted via this medium. · Project promotion includes VECO online, Can DO VET, VETAB News, Chamber of Commerce Newsletters and NSWDET VET Newsletters. * Sustainability · Partnerships documentation as formal compacts for 2 - 3 years depending on individual business requirements is the next phase of this project. This is planned for concentration in Semester 2, 2001. · CEPT involvement / professional relationship is established with Youth Connections staff. · Post school destinations of students with disabilities are being tracked via "Central Coast Connect" - CCC a mainstream program that will track all 2000 and 2001 school leavers. The Life Coaching Program specifically tracking and supporting (career guidance) school leavers with disabilities is still in development / consultation with this year's cohort of school leavers targeted for this project. · Planning and identification of 2002 cohort requiring structured workplace learning has commenced. * Employer Outcomes · Year 12 students have placements either completed or arranged to be completed by the end of Term 2, 2001. Year 11 student placements are planned to commence in Term 3, 2001. Placements are in the following vocational areas (in order of number required): 1. Hospitality; 2. Retail; 3. Business Services / Information Technology &; 4. Construction · Arrangement of formal and long-term partnerships with interested key employers is still required. Ten employers have been contacted and forwarded Lighthouse Project information folders and we have met with Human Resources Managers. Formal agreements will be undertaken with employers willing to have their staff involved in Co-worker training (June 2001). Another factor will be consideration of employers after their involvement in structured workplace learning of students with disabilities in this year's cohort. * Teacher / School staff outcomes · 2001 cohort data reflects a 200% increase in student access to accredited VET courses. This can be attributed to a number of factors with Lighthouse Project promotion and 2000 cohort student success seen as the two most integral factors. Data collection will continue for 2002 expected access to accredited VET courses. · There has been some changes to planned numbers by the end of Term 1, 2001. These changes are due to: - students leaving school for further training at TAFE, New Apprenticeships and part time employment. There have also been circumstances where planned VET courses have not been established in schools due to factors such as limited student numbers and school resources (e.g. VET Hospitality Teacher on Maternity Leave and no qualified staff available to teach course) · VET Teachers have been able to access information and assistance via their established links with Youth Connections staff allowing for close collaboration between Youth Connections and Work-Out Project Officers to support school personnel * VET Provider Outcomes · Involvement by CETP & TAFE representatives on Steering Committee and in Work-Out Project activities. * Student Outcomes · Regular meetings established with key disability staff and CEPT staff to discuss school leaver outcomes · Discussions and planning related to the "Collaborative Approaches…” Cased Based Funding - School Based Traineeship model has commenced. Transition staff are collecting Year 10 data to be available by end Term 2 for CETP meetings planned for Term 3, 2001. * Schedule 4 Conditions Report · Accredited post school training is being promoted by the project as the most appropriate training option for students with disabilities. · Project is identifying and promoting the development of generic work competencies and clarification of career / specific industry goals via access to accredited VET Courses such as the Stage 5 Work Education Course. · Guidelines and processes for Stage 5 Work Experience Programs are in development with the co-operation of District Transition and the District Vocational Education Consultant · Report Summary will be published on the VECO website by end of May, 2001. Issues for discussion / further consideration These have arisen from our involvement in work placement for students with disabilities on the Central Coast of NSW. Work Placement: Issues for further Consideration - Access to Employers ? - Formal Partnerships ? - VET Teacher / Support Staff Relationship ? - Support Staff Roles ? - Minimum Qualifications of Support Staff ? - Quality Work Placements ? - Student Retention ? - Student Preparation in Stage 6 ? - Student Preparation in Stage 5 ? These issues will be reported on and hopefully further discussed in a number of reports to the VECO Disability Forum - Can Do VET. |
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Key contact: |
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Daniel Hayes "Work Out" Project Officer 02 4322 8600 workoutproject@yahoo.com |
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