NORTEC Youth Services ... Connections
connection and direction for young people
NORTEC Youth Services, in conjunction with ActivLiving in Lismore, have been contracted to deliver the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) program, Connections, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. The Connections program is run out of Murwillumbah and Ballina, with the option of additional satellite programs to the rural communities.
The Northern Rivers consortium of this program is called XCELR8 and the flexibility of the program offers young people aged 13-19 with the opportunity to gain accredited education whilst pursuing further study and work options. It offers young people the support to move towards their goals according to their individual learning requirements.
What is Connections?
The Connections initiative is designed to help young people who are not in mainstream schooling by giving them other ways to continue their learning. Connections provides a full-time education and personal development program to help participants work through personal problems and get back on track with their education.
To achieve this, Connections delivers accredited education, and life skills and employability training by helping young people to deal with personal issues and build up self-esteem. The flexible and personalised delivery in supported community settings gives participants every chance to reach their full potential.
Connections is underpinned by community partnerships which are a crucial factor in ensuring community organisations and agencies work together to provide an integrated and holistic approach to supporting disconnected young people.
The Connections Outcomes
The program outcomes are that eligible young people aged 13 to 19 who are disconnected from mainstream education:
- A) receive accredited education and training on a full-time basis in a supportive and flexible community environment; or
- B) undertake appropriate short courses, learning and education activities which will provide them with the ability to participate in further education, training or employment; and
- develop career/life management skills and employability skills; and
- have a regularly updated Transition Plan; and
- are provided with personal support during their time in the Programme, on exit and at least three months after they have left.
Recruitment Process
The recruitment process allows referral of eligible young people in the Northern Rivers region to the XCELR8 courses held in Ballina Term 1 & Term 3 and in Murwillumbah Term 2 & Term 4 of each respective year. Transport and lunch will be provided in both locations.
Referral forms can be downloaded from the website www.xcelr8.com.au
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to enrol in this course, a young person must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident between the ages of 15 to 19 years who:
- a) is enrolled in school but has not attended for more than 3 consecutive months in the past school year, or
b) has not been enrolled in school for at least three months; and - is not engaged in education, training or full-time employment; and
- has not completed year 12 or its vocational equivalent; and
- faces substantial barriers to re-engaging with education; and
- requires intensive educational assistance in a supportive and flexible environment in order to re-engage with mainstream education, training or employment.
Special Circumstances
Under some special circumstances a young person may wish to participate in this course but may not meet all the eligibility requirements. In these circumstances, eligibility will be considered based on the young person’s individual circumstances.
Contact
Activ Living Australia
PO Box 4207 Goonellabah
NSW 2480
Ph 1800 617 228 (02) 6679 1222
info@activliving.com
For further information on this exciting initiative and to download referral forms go to www.xcelr8.com.au
