School: Endeavour Hills Secondary College (VIC)
Partner: Beacon Foundation
Endeavour Hills Secondary College is situated 31 km south east of Melbourne, and delivers a year 7 to 10 curriculum to 330 students. The community is of low socio-economic status, with a high percentage of students from a non-English speaking background. The College considers that generational poverty is significant within the community and that many students lack role models who can demonstrate employability skills within the home. The College places a high priority on the development of those skills by giving students the authentic experience of the world of work.
The College has entered a partnership with the Beacon Foundation, a national not-for-profit organisation that addresses youth unemployment via its No Dole program. This program equips students with the skills to identify and access appropriate employment opportunities. Beacon has been operating for over twenty years, and over 100 schools across Australia are running the No Dole program. An integral feature of this program is the involvement of local industry partners.
Extensive discussions have been held between Beacon and the College principal and staff. A tailored No Dole program for years 9 and 10 students has been planned, based on a career education audit of the school. The following activities will be included:
Charter signing: Year 10 students make a pledge that by March of the following year they will be involved in further education, employment or training. The event is attended by representatives of the Beacon Foundation, parents, and local business and community members.
Polish: The Polish program is a one day workshop that helps young people to prepare for their careers through personal presentation and communication.
Industry Tours: Students and teachers undertake hands-on tours of business sites to learn about specific industries and careers available within them. Students also gain a greater understanding of an operational work environment and the expectations of employees working within the industry.
Mock Interviews: Students engage with business and community volunteers in a mock interview to practise their job interview skills.
There are also state and national conferences for student representatives and staff members.
Based on the track record of the Beacon Foundation, the school is confident of achieving a range of worthwhile outcomes for its students, including the development of communication, teamwork, problem-solving, self-management and job application skills. It can be expected that students will have a much better knowledge of the range of pathways in training and employment and of the expectations of the workplace. In turn, the College expects that more of its students will remain at school or undertake training or employment, and in general make more informed decisions about their future pathways.
