For Emmanuel College year 12 student Ayesha Plant, the Passport 2 Employment program at South West TAFE will help her in her efforts to find a job next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Plant, 18, said the program not only helped her learn about making a “good first impression’ with potential employers, it also helped with life skills such as keeping healthy and saving money.
For Warrnambool College Year 9 student Fred Knowles, 15, the program helped him learn what South West TAFE has to offer because he hopes to start a mechanics course there next year.
The two were among 19 south-west students with supported needs who are ready to join the workforce or further education after graduating on Monday night from the “Passport 2 Employment” program.
Coordinator Michael Tate said the eight-week program supported students to develop confidence in their abilities, find new networking opportunities, and opened ideas about future work and education opportunities.
“The feedback from students and their parents has been very positive,” Mr Tate said.
Students from Emmanuel College, Hampden Specialist School, Warrnambool College and Warrnambool Special Development School took part in the program, the second to be offered in Warrnambool.
The program was organised and delivered by the South West Transition Action Network. The network was formed to help young people with special needs transition from secondary school to employment, supported employment or further education.
South West TAFE said the network has enjoyed widespread support from business, industry, community and support agencies, councils and schools.
The students develop skills in finding employment and further education, such as communication, presentation, participating in practice interviews, accessing support services and building social skills.
The pre-employment program for students with special needs was developed by the Glenelg Transition Action Network and the Glenelg Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network. It was expanded to Warrnambool in 2015 with support from South West TAFE, Western District Employment Agency, Warrnambool City Council Rural Access and the South West Local Learning and Employment Network.
South West TAFE hosted a Where to From Here forum at Monday’s graduation ceremony where local service providers discussed possible options for the school leavers.