VIC and TAS State Impact Award Winners Announced
21 October 2011
A school-community partnership that provides practical experience in the agricultural industry and a school-community partnership established in response to a critical need for increased transition and work opportunities for young people with disabilities were last night named respective VIC and TAS State Award winners at a celebration event in Melbourne.
Tyrrell College’s collaborative partnership with Grainflow Sea Lake and Agrivision was one of one of 13 Victorian school-community partnerships vying for the State Award title. The schools “Investing in the Future of Dryland Agriculture” program was developed to overcome the challenges of student disengagement, absenteeism and social connection. In response to these challenges, the secondary school formed a partnership with Grainflow Sea Lake and Agrivision to provide students with practical, hands-on experience.
The students interact with local experts and gain agronomic knowledge that can be utilised in real-life situations. The educational opportunity provides students who would otherwise have left school unqualified with official qualifications, certificates, new job skills and the potential to become the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Head of Education, NAB, Rebecca Sherwill said Tyrrell College was a deserving State Award winner.
"This is an excellent program that produces extremely positive results for participating students, as well as the partners and the wider community. The knowledge and skills obtained in the program can be used by the students to obtain work in the agricultural industry,” said Ms Sherwill.
Northern Support School - St Georges' TAS State Award win acknowledges their collaboration with Ravenswood Community Garden, Natural Resources Management (NRM), and Inspirations Garden Centre, which is known as Off-Shoots.
As a result of the partnership, students are able to raise saplings from seed and grow stock for retail sale and for land rehabilitation, assisting their transition and work opportunities.
“Northern Support School - St Georges is an outstanding and worthy winner that meets the needs of students with disabilities to engage in meaningful, worthwhile and satisfying work. This is a truly collaborative effort from all partners to ensure that these students are given the opportunity to experience real work,” said Sherwill.
Both Tyrrell College and Northern Support School - St Georges have received $50,000 as State Award winners, which is in addition to the $50,000 they received as Impact Award winners.
They now join all other State/Territory Award winners at the National Awards event being held in Melbourne on Wednesday, 23 November, where the 2011 NAB Schools First National Award winner will be announced.
