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Explore alternative pathways for vocational success through TAFE West's Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways program. Discover how programs like Mudgee Link provide unique opportunities for student engagement and employability skills development.
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Melissa Baxter and Patsy Saul TVET Coordinators Dubbo/Orana/Northwest Workshop 9Alternative TVET Programs at TAFE Western Institute – Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways Achieving Vocational Outcomes Conference 24-25th November 2014
How do students arrive at their destination? Some may use a map ……………
Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways • Board Endorsed Course originally designed to engage stage 5 students to aid in retaining them at school until the age of 17 • Was designed for individuals who require foundation skills development to prepare for workforce entry or vocational training pathways
Reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication and learning skills at Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) level 3 • Entry level digital literacy and employability skills • Foundation Skills are embedded in the delivery • Nationally recognised qualification
Course Structure Total number of units = 14 • 8 core unitsplus • 6 elective units
Core units • FSKDIG03 Use digital technology for routine workplace tasks • FSKLRG09 Use strategies to respond to routine workplace problems • FSKLRG11 Use routine strategies for work-related learning • FSKNUM14 Calculate with whole numbers and familiar fractions, decimals and percentages for work • FSKNUM15 Estimate, measure and calculate routine metric measurements for work • FSKOCM07 Interact effectively with others at work • FSKRDG10 Read and respond to routine workplace information • FSKWTG09 Write routine workplace texts
Elective Units • Two elective units must be vocational units from other training packages. • The remaining electives units may be selected as follows: • up to 4 vocational units from other training packages, and their prerequisite units where applicable • up to 4 units from the Foundation Skills Training Package • up to 3 units from accredited courses. • Elective units must be relevant to vocational pathways.
Mudgee Link Program • Commenced 2012 • Program partners Glencore, Mudgee High School, Department of Education and Communities Vocational Education and Training, TAFE Western, youth Connections, Youth Express and Midwestern Regional Council. Each partner’s role varies: funding, student support, curriculum delivery, inter-agency collaboration. • Provides work placement as an alternative for students who may not finish their high school education through the traditional method.
Mudgee Link Program cont. • Link from school to TAFE employment, relevant curriculum and development of employability skills • 240 hours in 1 year = 4 units Prelim/HSC • 1 day TAFE per week PLUS 1 day work placement per week • Program timetabled by school (school required to create modified and individualised programs for Link students) • Link program community mentor and Link program coordinator play a pivotal role • Students go through a selection process and staff recognised the need to select a wide range of students, not just those ‘obviously’ disengaged
Mudgee Link Program cont. • More than just a TAFE course “an outstanding and innovative model of community partnerships that addresses a crucial need related to student disengagement from school” • “For some students the program served as a major ‘circuit breaker’ in relation to negative attitudes toward schooling, truancy, poor behavior, and conflict with teachers” • School RISC (Register of Individual Student Contact) entries for unsatisfactory or non-completion of classwork, homework and assignments and inappropriate behaviour decreased • Increased communication skills developed in work placement because students needed to interact with co-workers • Work placement also helped determine employment goals
Mudgee Link Program cont. • Student: “I loved it. I enjoyed it. The best thing I ever did. It made me stay at school. If I could do it again I would” • Parent: “She's got more confidence. Working with people outside of school – you have to learn to get along with people. It was much better for her – and realise that you actually have to do things (in the workforce). Doing work experience through Link gave her confidence to go out there and try different things” • Staff: “It can open up pathways they didn’t know existed” • Employer: “A third party is important – someone who doesn’t have preconceived ideas of the kids and someone that the kids don’t have preconceived ideas about either”
Skilled – Dubbo Senior Campus “SKILLED is a course developed by Dubbo Senior Camps that offers an alternative pathway for students who do not wish to obtain a Higher School Certificate, but successfully complete Year 11 and 12. Here’s your chance to use these two years to obtain the skills needed to succeed in the workplace, to create better opportunities, a better future, and a better life. Be SKILLED”.
Skilled – Dubbo Senior Campus • English Skills* • Work Studies* • Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways* • Tech & Trade Math Skills ** • Healthy Living Skills** RSA, RCG, Driver Ed, Outdoor Rec, Bronze Medallion • TAFE * or ** • * Board endorsed • ** School developed • ** Board developed
Walgett Auto Dual Enrolment 2013 • Students held a dual enrolment in both Cert II Auto and Skills for Work and Training • These students were stage 6 students and the dual enrolment allowed for the Foundations Skills teacher to sit in the trade class all day to assist students and assess the Foundation Skills units. • Both teachers met both before and after class and had a collaborative approach to teaching • The dual enrolment contributed 4 units per year to Prelim/HSC units
Walgett Auto Dual Enrolment 2013 cont. • Both new and continuing students sat in the same class as Auto teach a rotating timetable • This delivery technique allows for smaller schools to maintain minimum cohort numbers each year • All students course completed • 2 students obtained apprenticeships at the completion of this course – 1 in the Automotive industry
Walgett Gateway Project • TAFE was approached by the then Principal • He was looking for a tailor made course: • to re-engage students • Use the school’s under utilised Trade Training Centres and Ag Plot Viola – Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
Walgett Gateway Project cont. • Running 2nd Semester 2014 • School guaranteed us a minimum of 27 students • School payed for their stage 5 students (approx. $2200 per student) • Offering different electives each term • Term 3 = Construction, Metals and Aboriginal Arts and Culture • Term 4 = Horticulture and Auto • Teachers ‘hand picked’ due to demographics of the Walgett community
Walgett Gateway Project cont. • L & N originally was being delivered to separately to each trade class and Aboriginal Arts and Culture • Now students are being assessed for their L & N units during practical sessions
Walgett Gateway Project cont. Issues include: • Attendance of students • Was not timetabled into the school timetable • Enrolment of many students turning 14 this year
Walgett Gateway Project cont. • Original negotiations were between then Principal and then DP – information was not filtered to school staff or students • There was not originally a single point of contact in the school • Principal’s reason for wanting the course varied from student interest
How to run a course in your school …… • Minimum 10 participants per elective • Students must be turning 15 years old in year enrolling in TAFE • Strong link between TAFE/school necessary • Preferably timetabled into school timetable • Can be delivered on school grounds with appropriate facilities or TAFE Campuses
How is this course funded? • Stage 6 students are funded by salary transfer between DEC and TAFE Western – through the Senior Pathways Unit • Stage 5 students may be funded through the stage 5 funding process – or alternatively stage 5 students can be funded by the school – POA depending on electives delivered
