A SKATE and scooter competition with a difference is helping teens stay on track with their education.
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Twelve South West TAFE students are organising today’s Freestyle Scoot and Skate Competition at the Warrnambool Skate Park.
The students have re-engaged with their schooling and are completing a Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
VCAL teacher Niall Shiells said the group had identified skating as a passion and then set about the process of planning and staging an event.
“The outcomes for us are in getting students to work together on something real and tangible,” Mr Shiells said.
“These outcomes have been achieved by networking, connecting with the community, marketing and writing sponsorship applications, making minutes of meetings … real-life stuff.”
As part of their course, the teens have been working with Brophy Family and Youth Services and the Warrnambool City Council to stage the competition.
Mr Shiells praised the students for connecting well with key players and said they had been active in promoting the event, with input into the poster and marketing.
Student Geoffrey Watts, 15, said: “We wanted to organise this to bring kids together for a fun day and a chance to show their skills and win cool prizes.”
Categories at the competition include 13 and under scooter, over 14 scooter, 15 and under skate and over 15 skate.
Prizes from sponsor Jean Jail will be awarded.
Warrnambool City Council youth development planner Katie McKean said the FReeZA program was about providing Warrnambool’s youth with valuable experience in running events, as well as providing their peers with a relevant activity.
“The VCAL students have done a terrific job to prepare for Saturday’s competition and I’m sure it will be a great success,” she said.
The event is funded through council’s FReeZA program and will be facilitated by the YMCA.
Registration is from 11am and entry is by gold coin donation.