Giving Kids a
Second Chance
Berry Street's growing involvement
in educational programs reflects
the fact that too many children
and young people cannot achieve
in the mainstream education
system. It also recognises our
expertise in designing programs
which re-engage young people.
Following the establishment of our independent school, the
BEST Centre in Noble Park, in 2003, our second campus was
registered in Morwell. On average, 65 young people attend
BEST@TheShed each week to participate in the BEST School,
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), School/Adult
Community Education (ScACE), and pre-employment programs.
In the Northern suburbs, we are part of an innovative program
for 20 young people, with La Trobe Secondary College, Local
Government and other community service organisations. We
also provide an education program for the young people at the
Department of Human Services (DHS) run Hurstbridge Farm.
Our first Artist in Residence program resulted in an exhibition at
the Shepparton Art Gallery, where disaffected young people from
different cultural groups created powerful images of their lives.
In Alexandra and Yea, ninety Year 10 students participated in the
SET the Direction Pledge Event (Study Employment and Training),
as part of an agreement between the students, their parents, the
school and local businesses that no young person would leave
school without a pathway to employment or further education.
Over 700 children participated in our Early Learning is Fun (ELF)
Reading Days in Alexandra, Buxton, Eildon, Marysville and Yea,
with reading/activity tents at the Alexandra Show, the Alexandra
Truck, Rod and Ute Show and at the Thornton Primary School
market/firework night.
Image top: ELF Reading Day in Rutherglen
Image above: Steve Bracks and John Thwaites at our BEST@TheShed
in Gippsland with Jenny Cummings - Regional Director, Marg Hamley Deputy CEO and students.
We never give up