Gateway LLEN Newsletter
TERM 1, 2014
TERM 1, 2014
Vol. 1 Issue 1
Vol. 1 Issue 1
From the Executive Officer
“In a relatively affluent Gateway LLEN region, in
which many young people are successful and achieve
their educational goals and career aspirations, there
are a group of highly disadvantaged young people.
The concern is that a significant number of young
people are finding it increasingly difficult to access
alternative pathways in which to learn.”
In 2009 Gateway LLEN, working with key
stakeholders, identified the growing need to address
significant gaps in opportunities for non-academic
learners and those who had already disengaged, or
where at risk of disengagement, to access relevant,
non-mainstream educational programs.
Over the past five years, Gateway LLEN have actively
focused on addressing this situation by brokering a
range of partnerships that have led to an increase in
improved opportunities for more than 200 young
people who are disengaged, or at risk of disengaging,
to annually access relevant, meaningful and
supported training and transition programs.
The overall impact of these partnerships has not just
been an increase in learning opportunities for our
more marginalised young learners, but also the
development of a strong network of programs
supporting strong pathways and transition to both
learning and realistic employment opportunities for
otherwise disengaged or non-academic learners.
In 2014 I look forward to leading the Gateway LLEN
team in consolidating these innovative partnerships
and remaining responsive to the needs of our local
area.
Cate Thompson
Officer, Cate Thompson
TERM 1, 2014
Gateway LLEN Newsletter
Vol. 1 Issue 1
ReNew Program 2014
Developed as an innovative partnership
between Gateway LLEN, Jesuit Community
College and Salvation Army, Mitcham and
with strong links to DHS and Victoria Police,
ReNew is an accredited program for young
people aged 13 – 15 who are looking for an
alternative approach to education.
Providing an entry-level pathway to young people,
many of whom are involved with Youth Justice and
have significant gaps in their education, ReNew is
designed to provide a supported return to education
and enhance pathway transition into education,
vocational learning and/ or employment.
ReNew focuses on life skills, personal development
and team work combining hands on learning and
project work and activities include vocational literacy
and numeracy, cooking, art, outdoor experience,
computers and technology and individualised pathway
planning.
Trainer Tash has many years’ experience coordinating
and teaching at-risk youth and ensures that learning is
relevant and fun. A qualified youth worker is also
present to offer holistic support to students and
coordinate with schools and case workers.
2014 Victorian Term Dates
Term 1: 28 January to 4 April
Term 2: 22 April to 27 June
Term 3: 14 July to 19 September
Term 4: 6 October – 19 December
Upcoming Events
In Semester 1, ReNew operates as follows:
12 March: VCAL Network Community of Practice
Course dates: 11th February – 27th June 2014
19 March: LD Network Dyslexia/SLD Support Group
Course days: 9.30am – 12.30pm Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
28 March:
Venue: Salvation Army, 325 Mitcham Road, Mitcham
1 April:
For further information or to apply please contact
Josephine Boffa on 9415 8700 or Leanne King on
9285 4844.
(Social Enterprise)
“Watching the students flourish in this
environment is absolutely fantastic. These kids
are ready to make positive changes and to see
them grabbing this opportunity with both hands is
really rewarding.”
10 March: Labour Day
Leanne King, Youth Coordinator, ReNew Program.
Gateway LLEN Annual General Meeting
Community Strategic Conversations Forum
Public Holidays
TERM 1, 2014
Gateway LLEN Newsletter
Vol. 1 Issue 1
Supporting VCAL in Our Schools
In partnership with VALA (Victorian Applied
Learning Association), Gateway LLEN is
excited to welcome applied learning coach,
Karen Dymke to the team!
Karen’s role is to support VCAL schools and
community providers in the Gateway region with
embedded professional development through oneto-one coaching and classroom observations; as
well as developing networking and professional
development opportunities.
Having already made contact with many schools,
Karen still has some space left to work with
others. If you, or your school, is interested in
utilising this fantastic complimentary opportunity,
or for further information, please contact Gateway
LLEN on 9285 4844 or email Karen at:
dymke.karen.k@edumail.vic.gov.au
“Coaching validated me in the sense of good things I do,
(and) also helped point out improvements and suggestions.”
VCAL Teacher
TERM 1, 2014
Gateway LLEN Newsletter
Vol. 1 Issue 1
Whitehorse Vocational Tasters Expand into Manningham and Monash!
Following the success of the Whitehorse Vocational Tasters Program piloted in 2012, schools in both
Manningham and Monash have been quick to access further vocational taster program opportunities for their
students.
Designed to provide students the opportunity to “sample” vocational pathways as part of VETis and career
planning, partner schools and other training providers include Avenue Neighbourhood House @ Eley, Pines
Learning, Box Hill Institute, Doncaster Secondary College, east Doncaster Secondary College, Forest Hill
College, South Oakleigh Secondary College and Vermont Secondary College, with more schools set to
participate later in 2014.
This has been a labour of love for the team at Gateway LLEN, who has worked extensively with training
providing to tailor community-based, relevant learning content at a low cost and is hoping that this regional
model of partnership can be replicated across other local government areas in Victoria.
For further enquiries regarding vocational tasters in your school please contact Alexandra Parratt at Gateway
LLEN on T: 9285 4844.
The Gateway Team:
Cate Thompson, Executive Officer
Bronwen Henry, Senior Partnership Broker
Alexandra Parratt, Partnership Broker
Karen Dymke, Applied Learning Coach
Melissa Brown, Administrative Manager
Gateway LLEN | Partnership Brokers
Suite 13, Town Hall Hub |27 Bank Street |Box Hill |VIC |3128
P: 9285 4844 |F: 9285 4845 |W: www.gatewayllen.com.au