Launch Of New Project Will Assist Wellington’s Young PeoplePartnership Outreach Education Models (POEMS) project underway By Karen Gregory - 1st July 2002 - Back to News A program to help disadvantaged young people find their place in the community will be launched at ACES, Desailly Street, Sale, tomorrow.
POEMS – Partnership Outreach Education Models – will be administered by Wellington Council and will target more than 400 young people at serious risk and in need of alternative outreach education and training.
The program of activities intends to meet the needs of some of these young people, primarily through development of their practical, personal development, vocational and recreational skills.
The proposed program of activities will be planned and delivered by four individual agencies that have come together to work co-operatively under the umbrella of Wellington Council to deliver four individual projects in the Sale and East Gippsland areas.
The Shire will enter into a contract with (Department of Education, Science and Training) DEST for the delivery of the four projects.
Each project has specific objectives and target groups, as follows:
Project specific objectives |
Targets and target groups |
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1 Bairnsdale Adult Community Education
Hands on practical program to develop skills; enhance personal development; encourage participants to access further education, TAFE or employment |
Targets: 8 participants in 2002, 16 in 2003
15-17 years, mainly males, drop out or asked to leave, unemployed, literacy/numeracy needs, low attention span |
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2. Lakes Entrance Community Health Service
Improved outcomes in education and training for young people in the small communities of East Gippsland; reconnection to education and training; exposure to the education and support structures in their immediate community and elsewhere in the region; expanded horizons and increased career ambition |
Targets: 8 participants in 2002, 16 in 2003
15-18 years male and female; focus on small isolated communities; out of or not attending school; limited employment aspirations; limited role models; limited basic skills; barriers to participation; possible couple of Koorie kids |
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3. East Gippsland Aboriginal Community Development and Employment Program
Develop participant skills; recreational and personal development; develop effective provider liaison and referral processes and procedures; broaden options and opportunities for participants |
Targets: 12 participants in 2002, 12 in 2003
Koorie youth – 14 to 19 years
50% with high basic educational needs; 50% skilled but few pathways available – not challenged; some have literacy needs; others have good skills, computers etc; limited horizons and life restraints |
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4 Adult Community Education Sale Inc
Development of social and living skills outside the school environment with a view to developing self-confidence and ambition in the participants; development of skills in self-presentation, interview and work ethic with a view to enabling otherwise capable young people who have disengaged from school to successfully enter the workforce; exposure of young people to successful and attractive role models combined with and mentoring over a period of several months.
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Targets: 10-12 in 2002, 10 in 2003
14-18 years
mainly girls; disrupted schooling; low life and social skills; pregnancy issues; tenuous school links; re-engage in school; need life/social/employment skills. |
There will be 38-40 participants in the program in 2002 and 54 participants in 2003. All are significantly disadvantaged young people from Sale and East Gippsland.
Wellington Council will, as the lead agency, establish a Steering Committee to oversee the POEM projects.
Liberal Senator Tsebin Tchen will launch the program at ACES (Adult Community Education Sale Inc) Desailly Street, Sale at 10.30 am on Thursday 4 July, 2002. There will be a brief chat session with a number of young people previously involved in a pilot program.
Senator Tchen is former member of the Victorian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal and served on the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education (Legislation and References) Committee from 1999 to 2000.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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