win madigan - wels - 2008 transition resources for older cald students contents of cd

Win Madigan - WELS - 2008

Transition Resources

for older CALD students

Contents of CD


1. The Victorian Education System

The Straight Path and the Winding Path

This powerpoint gives a simple and graphic outline of the Victorian Education System. The aim of the powerpoint is to help new arrivals and their families to understand that there is more than one way to succeed in the Australian education system and to encourage those who are viewing the powerpoint to have realistic expectations.


2. Victorian Education System –

The Bridge

This power point goes hand in hand with Number 1 above and shows in visual form how a ‘bridge’ is needed to take students from one step to the next on the educational pathway. The power point provides a lot of factual information about different ways of gaining qualifications and succeeding.


3. The Word of Work and Study and the need for a PLAN

In this power point students are asked to consider 26 different jobs and decide whether they are good jobs or bad jobs. The aim of the power point is to show new arrivals and others the types of jobs and skills which Australia values and needs and to point out that it isnot always necessary to go to University in order to gain qualifications for these jobs.


4. So You Want to be a Doctor

A power point which shows the reality of studying to be a doctor if you have disrupted schooling and a realistic guide to several alternative pathways which can lead to qualifications in different jobs in the field of HEALTH.


5. So You Want to be a Lawyer

A powerpoint which shows the reality of studying to be a lawyer if you have disrupted schooling and a realistic guide to several alternative pathwayswhich can lead to qualifications in different jobs in the field of LAW.


6. Your Child’s Education

Things you can do at home

A guide for parents about a number of things they can do at home to assist with their child/children’s education. (NB: This is done at a simple level and is suitable for both primary and secondary students).


7. Your Child’s Education –

Things you can do at home.

A guide for students about a number of things they can do at home to assist with their education. (NB: This is done at a simple level and is suitable for both primary and secondary students).


The Victorian School System

The Straight Path

and

The Winding Path


Straight

Winding

Which of these lines is better – the straight

one or the winding one?


Which road do you like better?

The Straight Road OR The Winding Road?


Education in Victoria has two main roads (Pathways)

and

The Winding Pathway

The Straight Pathway


Education in Victoria – The Straight Pathway

Life Begins


Age 4

Kindergarten


Ages 5 to 12

Primary School


Ages 12 to 17

Secondary College/ High School


Ages 17 to 21

University OR TAFE


Good Job


Good Life


We all want this pathway for ourselves and for our children

butsometimes the winding pathway is better,

sometimes, the winding pathway is

and

necessary.


Education in Victoria – The Winding Pathway

Life Begins


Age 4

Kindergarten

Or maybe

or

Running to another countryor

War


Refugee Camp

Or maybe

Staying at home


Ages 5 - 12

Primary School

Or maybe stillWar

orRunning

or

Refugee Camp

or

Still at homeor

Having to work


Ages 12 to 17

Maybe

Come to Australia And then?

Language School

Special Bridging Programs – e.g. Sunshine College Step-up Program

High School / Secondary College

TAFE Youth Programs

Foundation VCAL (ESL) at Debney Park SC


Ages 17 to 20, 21, 22, 23 …

TAFE

University Degree

Adult Education Courses

Apprenticeships and Workplace Education

or

AMES YOUTH Program

Technical and Further Education


???????????

So many questions.

So many choices.

What is the best thing to do?


Discuss the best pathways for

yourself or your children with

teachers and others who understand the Victorian education

system.

My child is 17 but has missed a lot of school.

What do you suggest?

TAFE is probably better for your child. There are many very good courses

at TAFE for students who are 16, 17or 18 and have missed out on a lot

of schooling.


Be Realistic• Choose courses and pathways which will bring

success.• Don’t waste time with unrealistic pathways. If

you do this, you or your child will only jump from one course of study to another and waste a lot of time..

• Listen to teachers and others who know the Victorian education system. They will give you good advice.

Realistic Choices


Good Job


Good Life


The path of life is never straight for anyone.

The best pathway in education is the one which starts from where YOU are NOW and leads you to somewhere BETTER.

The best pathway for you or your child may be different from that of someone born in Australia.

The best pathway for you or your child may also be different from the pathway of other members of your community.

HOWEVER,

the most important thing is reaching your destination successfully:

and maybe the Winding Pathway will help you achieve this.


Current Opportunities in Some of the Alternative

Pathways for CALD Students


Foundation (ESL) VCAL at Debney Park Secondary College

(in Flemington)

INFORMATION:- tailors VCAL courses to the needs of new arrivals with disrupted schooling

CURRENT SITUATION: Only enrolling at the beginning of the year. Therefore, not available to students exiting at mid-year or end of terms one and three.


Victoria University YouthTransitions

INFORMATION: Youth ESL Access Program for students from 16 to

19. Foundation VCAL is offered in this program at the

Nicholson Street Footscray Campus as well as Certificates 1, 2, 3 and 4 in ESL Access English, thus giving students pathways into other TAFE programs.

CURRENT SITUATION:- Not enrolling students once Government Funding has been used. WELS and Brunswick ELC had 20 students to exit there at the start of term 3 this year. None were offered places.


YAMEC(Young Adult Migrant Education Certificate)

Part of NMITNorthern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE

Information:- Offers Certificates 1,2,3&4 in English (ESL) as well as Foundation VCAL, YAMEC caters specifically for those with disrupted schooling or other new arrivals whose English needs to be brought up to speed so that they can access appropriate courses.

CURRENT SITUATION:- Will take students at any time if places are available. For those of us in the West, it is a little far, but, at the moment just about the only suitable option.


AMES Youth Programs

INFORMATION;- Footscray, St Albans and Werribee all run Youth Programs for students who need more support with their English. Students get assistance re future pathways while doing the program.

CURRENT SITUATION;- AMES will enrol at any time if the student is eligible. Those on 457 visas, temporary long stay and some other visa categories are not eligible.If there is more than one youth class running, it tends to suit student needs better. It is also important to be aware that the students themselves do not always like this option, because they still feel they are in an adult environment.


LLNPLanguage Literacy and Numeracy

Program

INFORMATION:- This program is now run by JPET (Job Placement, Employment and Training Program) and accessed through Cenrelink. Therefore, the student will need a Job Seeker ID.

CURRENT SITUATION:- I don’t refer students here mainly because it seems a bit too close to the work force for them and they are not ready to access this at the moment.


SPIRIT WEST SERVICES(Footscray)

Information:- Offer VCAL and CEGA (Certificate in General Education Attainment) for students struggling in mainstream settings.

CURRENT SITUATION:- Spirit West Services do a lot of very good work with schools in the West. Their current education programs cater mainly for the disengaged. They do not have ESL students in their programs at the moment. However, Spirit West Services are forward looking and open in their thinking and it is worth trying to form partnerships with them in order to better meet the needs of ENGAGED CALD students.


River Nile Learning CentreFootscray

INFORMATION:- The River Nile Learning Centre is designed to provide an alternative bridging program for students from Sudan and the Horn of Africa who have experienced severely disrupted schooling.

CURRENT SITUATION:- Currently River Nile is catering well for a group of young girls, many of whom have young children and cannot access other educational venues.


TOTEM PROJECTFootscray

The Totem program supports disconnected young people aged 15 – 19 to re-engage with education and training. The focus is on the young person’s individual learning needs, personal development and vocational aspirations.

CURRENT SITUATION:- Currently enrolling for this semester and have a few places left. Although this course is suitable for one or two of our students who have ‘fallen through the net’ and are now disengaged, the majority of students I try to place and engaged and interested in becoming better educated. They simply need courses which are at THEIR level.


FinallyIf you are in a mainstream school with quite a few students from CALD backgrounds, is it possible to introduce a Foundation (ESL) VCAL course or CEGA course at Year 10? Many students really want the mainstream option, but can’t cope with the work requirements of Year 10 and VCE. With some of the alternatives drying up (e.g. Victoria University’s Youth Pathways) it would be good if Secondary Schools could offer alternatives to this very worthy group of students.

win madigan - wels - 2008 transition resources for older cald students contents of cd

Documents

win madigan wels

straight pathway slide

kindergarten slide

winding path slide

primary school slide

straight winding

victorian education

power point students