The Central Ranges Trade Training Centre has commenced construction on two of the four buildings being supported by the $11.3 Million Trade Training Centre funds.

Alexandra Secondary College is almost half way through construction of their Hospitality and Building and Construction facilities. They are expected to be finished their buildings by the start of the 2012 school year.

Assumption College Kilmore has commenced construction on a new Hospitality centre, including restaurant which will be ready for use in Term 2, 2012.

Seymour P-12 College has successfully tendered for a Builder who will commence work shortly on the TTC and Regeneration buildings. It is expected that the TTC buildings will be completed at the end of Term 3, 2012.

Whittlesea Secondary College has just tendered for a Builder to commence development of new buildings in the beginning of 2012. It is expected that the buildings will be complete in Term 4, 2012.

The Central Ranges TTC Consortium has approved for a TTC Manager position. This position will be advertised in early 2012, commencing in Term 2, 2012.

The Central Ranges LLEN is planning Industry breakfast forums in Terms 2 & 3 to provide an opportunity for local and regional business to develop partnerships with the Central Ranges Trade Training Consortium, utilising facilities for workforce training, providing work experience, traineeships and apprenticeships.

A CRTTC Industry Newsletter was sent to current industry partners providing an update on construction and opportunities to partner with the CRTTC Consortium. Click on the link to our Central Ranges Trade Training Centre page to read newsletter and find out more.

Discuss

LLENS are concerned over negative implications of the withdrawal of VCAL coordination funding.

The Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network is concerned that the axing of funds for VCAL program coordination will hinder the education options of local students. Skills Minister Peter Hall has flagged that $12 million set aside for schools to co-ordinate the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning [VCAL] program would be axed as the purpose of the cash roll-out was redundant.

CEO of the Central Ranges LLEN Boyd Maplestone said this was based on the notion that the program was now established, had gained some stability and did not require coordination funding.

However, Mr Maplestone said the program required more funding, not less, and that the withdrawal of the planned $12 million would have negative implications for students in the Central Ranges region.

Although VCAL is now an established part of the provision of senior secondary education in Victoria, with 70 per cent of government schools delivering VCAL programs, it is still very labour intensive and if anything, requires additional funding, not less. Mr Maplestone said.

VCAL is a great option for students who are interested in trades and is an alternative pathway to the more academic VCE in senior school. Over the past eight years it has grown in popularity and in credibility,≈ he said.

In 2006 there were about 8,600 students enrolled in VCAL courses offered by 280 government providers, in 2010 12,386 were enrolled with 281 government providers. In total, including the non government sector, 2006 enrolments were 12,386 with 401 providers, and in 2010, 18,748 with 429 providers.

Mr Maplestone said this increase was reflected in the Central Ranges region where the VCAL program had prepared hundreds of students for the workforce. There has been a 105% increase in VCAL enrolments across the Central Ranges since 2003. This decision will also impact on satellite VCAL programs such Kyneton Community Based VCAL which has successfully supported 106 of the most vulnerable young people in the community in completing VCAL courses.

Our VCAL teachers say that each year is different, and that coordination capacity is critical to success of our students and the continuity of the program, he said.

It is already a program that challenges schools to be creative, flexible and link strongly with the needs of employers. The program increases options for our young people, provides a more hands-on learning that addresses the needs of business and industry with a workplace learning component. In this age of skill shortages and an ageing population, why would we withdraw support for this?

Victoria currently has the highest Year 12 attainment by age 20-24 years of any state in Australia and is the only state to offer the Certificate of Applied Learning (see ABS Education & Work).

PHOTO: Talitha Annuscheit and Sam Whyte get into the mood by decorating boomerangs at the Big Deadly Day Out in Mansfield last Wednesday.

Mansfield Courier

By RICHARD JAGO

STUDENTS from secondary schools and other indigenous networks from the Koorie community attended the special celebration day in Mansfield last Wednesday [1st June]. As many as 110 people, mostly students, were bussed into Mansfield from surrounding regions such as Seymour and Wallan for the one day event billed as a Big, Deadly Day Out.

Major sponsor, GOTAFE, used the occasion to present three trades: hairdressing, automotive and construction. This popular focus let students try their hand at the trades and ask any questions about possible employment there and the preparation required.

Central Ranges LLEN chief executive officer, Boyd Maplestone, said the day was all about young people being able to identify themselves as indigenous and feeling comfortable about it in the wider community.

The day is not just about identification with the culture and feeling good, he said. The broader goal is to encourage these young people to complete year 12 or its equivalent, which itself is part of the national education target to achieve 90 per cent year 12 attainment.

This will give them a better chance of transferring into further education, TAFE or university and a better foundation for employment. The celebration day is one strategy to achieve this.

Also of great interest to attendees was the Melbourne Museum segment, where Koorie artefacts, possum skin coats, boomerangs, digging tools and shields - could be touched and handled in interactive workshops. This allowed the students to familiarise themselves with hardware items of their culture and ask questions about them.

Member of the Taungurung community, Bernadette Franklin, is rich in local culture and held a display of of local indigenous interest and also spoke with young people.

Moving around between the seven activities/workshops gave attendees a greater feeling for the breadth of the Koorie culture.

Organisation of the event was helped considerably by Suzie Roberts and Tandy Annuscheit, who worked tirelessly to help ready the Big Deadly Day Out.

For more information click on the Central Ranges LLEN Indigenous Pathways page

The Central Ranges LLEN is surveying the Parental Engagement Programs Community Organisations deliver across the Shires of Murrindindi, Mitchell and Macedon Ranges.

The Aim:

If your community organisation is delivering or interested in parental engagement programs please click on the link to Survey: Parental Engagement and complete the online survey which comprises of 12 questions. Each survey completed by June 17th will go into the draw to win a $200 JB Hifi voucher to add to community parent engagement resources.

We thank those 55 people who participated in the recent survey of Schools - Parental Engagement Programs.

The winner of the draw goes to Jason Gatt of Broadford Secondary College - Congratulations to you and your school.

For more information go to the Central Ranges LLEN Parental Engagement page.

The KPP initiative was launched in 2007 and is designed to improve educational and employment outcomes for Koorie students across Hume region through increased student engagement. This year the event will be held in Mansfield at the Sporting Complex and students will be transported in from all over Lower Hume and the Ranges area.

There are a number of exciting interactive activities including:

Click here to view KPP Celebration Day flyer or for more on past events go to KPP page

If you would like to attend this event contact your schools Indigenous Liaison Teacher or the Central Ranges LLEN on 57811014.

The Central Ranges LLEN is undertaking a survey of all Primary & Secondary Schools (Government & Non-Government) across the Shires of Murrindindi, Mitchell and Macedon Ranges in relation to Parental Engagement Programs.

The Aim:

If you are a school representative please click on the link to Survey: Parental Engagement page and complete the online survey which comprises of 10 questions. Each survey completed by May 20th will go into the draw to win a $200 JB Hifi voucher to add to school resources.

A survey of Community Organisations - Parental Engagement Programs will be conducted in late May to add greater detail to activities across our communities.