Settlement Youth Programs
WCC’s Settlement Youth Work supports newly-arrived
young people to re-develop connections to education,
training, family and community. Young people engage with
our services to access support with a range of complex
issues including: disrupted education; driver skills;
migration issues; homelessness; and family relationship
breakdown. In addition to complex casework support, a
range of different activities are offered for young people
including soccer programs, after school activities, bike
education and learning support.
This year, the Youth Connections program provided 41
young people with intensive support to assist in developing
personal skills and attributes that promote wellbeing and
support positive life choices. Under the auspices of NMIT
TAFE and funded by the Department of Education and
Workplace Relations, the Youth Connections program helps
young people who have not completed, or are at risk of not
completing Year 12 or equivalent qualifications and have
barriers to participating in education, training or
employment. The Youth Connections program also offered
group activities including kick boxing and self-defence
classes, and the Parachute Project; a theatre program for
young women aimed at increasing self-esteem, confidence
and encouraging young women to express themselves
creatively.
Financial support from CMY's Learning Beyond the Bell
program enabled WCC to operate a number of learning
support programs (LSP’s) throughout Whittlesea. These are
in high demand and there is a great deal of enthusiasm
from both participants and volunteers. We currently
coordinate LSP's across 4 schools: Lalor North SC, William
Ruthven SC, Lalor SC and Thomastown Primary School. In
addition, a Wednesday afternoon homework club session
operates from WCC offices to support newly arrived
migrant and refugee students with specialised tutors. This
year, English Conversation classes have also been included
in the LSP programs to support young people gain
confidence and increase their English language skills.
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20 volunteers from Latrobe University and the
Australian Catholic University and internally
through the Whittlesea Volunteer Resource
Service participated in the program
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More than 600 hours of tutoring was provided
Thomas [not his real name] was referred to youth connections through his language school, as he was starting
to show signs of depression, started skipping school and was disengaging from school at a very rapid rate. He
was an unaccompanied refugee minor who was fending for himself with very little support who was also
suicidal at times. Through continuous support from our Youth Connections worker he has now completed Cert3 in ESL and has secured a full-time job. He has plans to attend university part-time and get his Youth Work
qualifications so he can continue supporting other young people who are in similar situations as him.
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