Check out the new competition happening at Greensborough Plaza!
Year 11 and 12 Viewbank Secondary College textile students have worked hard to put together a millinery piece for this competition and now you, the public, get to vote for your favourite one.
The hats can be viewed over the next month on Level 2 of Greensborough Plaza, near Target.
Once voting finishes a winner will be announced and the pieces will be returned to students and included in their VCE portfolio.
Click photo to enlarge
As part of a Greensborough Chamber of Commerce and local community initiative to celebrate and promote the launch of the new Regional Leisure and Aquatic centre, WaterMarc Banyule, the year nine students from Loyola College were invited to create banners to mark the occasion.
Randy Schrader, Arts teacher for Loyola College, who worked with the students, says “the School Arts Project was integrated into the 2011 year nine Visual Communication Design curriculum. Students spent a number of weeks on the development of promotional banners which would reflect the Greensborough community and the WaterMarc Banyule centre.” Banyule Nillumbik Local Learning and Employment Network worked with the Greensborough Chamber of Commerce as part of this project to give students a commercial project for them to use in their resume for future career prospects.
Twenty eight of the best designs were selected and put into a banner format to facilitate printing and production. These banners have been placed around Greensborough in Main, Grimshaw and Flintoff Street and decorate the area adjacent to the new Leisure and Aquatic Centre, WaterMarc Banyule which is opening shortly. At a recent special assembly at Loyola College, students were awarded by the Greensborough Town Centre Manager, Noella Jacobs a Certificate of Appreciation and Participation, along with a WaterMarc water bottle and mini version of the banner they had created.
These banners are part of a community online voting competition to select the best one. The student whose artwork on their banner gains the most on line votes will be awarded an Apple iPad 3 donated by the Greensborough Chamber of Commerce. Everyone who votes on line will also go into a draw to win an Apple iPad 3. You can enter on the Greensborough Chamber of Commerce website www.greensboroughtowncentre.com.au. Entries close midnight 12th August 2012. The student who has been voted having the best banner will be presented their prize at the opening of WaterMarc in August by the Banyule City Council Mayor Cr Tom Melican.
Come for a walk through Greensborough and enjoy the creative talents of your local school students.
The role of Banyule Nillumbik Workplace Learning is to increase workplace learning opportunities for local students, including School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SBATs), Structured Workplace Learning and Work Experience. The Workplace Learning Team is often asked ‘What are the advantages of undertaking a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship’? Perhaps this is best illustrated through one of the many success stories.
Jedda Charles—School Based Traineeship Children’s Services 2006
Since completing Senior VCAL and a Children’s Services SBAT in 2006, Jedda Charles has continued to experience success in the Industry. As a School Based Trainee, Jedda worked one day per week at Eltham Early Learning Centre, gaining on the job experience in a range of childcare environments including baby and kinder rooms. Off the job training was undertaken at Kangan Institute during term breaks. Based on her SBAT and VCAL performance, Jedda was awarded the Montmorency Secondary College VCAL/VET Student of the Year in 2006.
After leaving school, Jedda successfully applied for a position with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). Her role at VACCA involved running supported playgroups for local Aboriginal families. During this time, Jedda also began a Diploma in Children’s Services.
In 2009 Jedda joined Bubup Wilam Early Learning as an Early Years Educator. Jedda is proud of the centre’s vision to provide a thriving Aboriginal, family-based early childhood centre that creates strong foundations of life-long learning, health and well-being. As an Early Years Educator and Koori Mentor Jedda develops activities and programs for children that focus on connections with their Aboriginal identity and culture. Jedda continues to model life-long learning and, having successfully applied for a scholarship, is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Koori Education Deakin University. Most recently Jedda has been nominated for the Ricky Marks Award 2012 which acknowledges outstanding achievements of Victorian Indigenous Young People who have demonstrated leadership and initiative.
Jedda always knew she wanted to work with children and undertaking a SBAT allowed her to confirm this was the right career for her. She believes her Year 12 program enabled her to experience success as it suited her learning style and, as an independent student, being paid for her SBAT work was a bonus. Jedda says she is “proof that undertaking a SBAT and making the most of it, provides lots of opportunities”.
For more information contact:
Nancye Harrison, BNWL Program Manager
nancye@bnllen.org.au or (03) 9431 8000
For the last few years Banyule Nillumbik LLEN has been working behind the scenes, bringing stakeholders together to develop programs that would prepare young people for a career in the local Health and Community Services Industry. This initiative has now evolved to become the Health and Community Services Industry Themed Program.
The Industry Themed Programs allow students to pursue an interest in a specific industry or for a specific occupation but they also build knowledge and skills valued by the industry. It is a way of increasing the breadth of knowledge of students, so that they can see beyond one or two specific roles within the industry. They can work in a field that is of interest to them and build a pathway that supports their passion. The focus is on ‘where do I want to be in terms of industry sector’? This is a significant shift in terms of perceptions because it is irrelevant whether students undertake a VCE or VCAL program as the industry has entry points for all students.
The program aims to build the capacity of young people to work in the industry. It aims to provide students with real insight into the many opportunities that exist in a skills shortage industry. The community services and health industry is already amongst the largest employers in Australia and an aging population means demand for skilled workers will continue to increase. Encouraging students to consider the many and varied career pathways in this area is crucial in addressing a growing skill shortage.
The specialist senior certificate known as the “Industry Themed Program (ITP) – Health and Community Services” was launched on 23rd February 2012. Bundoora Secondary College, Ivanhoe Girls Grammar and Our Lady of Mercy Heidelberg have formed a collaboration to enhance the opportunities for this group of young people in their senior program.
The program has four key quadrants: a contextualised curriculum; industry link component involving structured workplace learning placement and site visits; a careers component for reflecting upon future pathways; and a transition component, where students are encouraged to take the appropriate steps towards relevant TAFE courses or university degrees.
For more information contact:
Hari Nikolaou, Health & Community Services ITP Manager
hari@bnllen.org.au or (03) 9431 8000
On Thursday, March 29th, Working Community students from Diamond Valley College and Eltham High School were introduced to the idea of working in teams by way of a day in the outdoors.
For half the day students experienced canoeing on the Yarra River, commencing with a safety briefing by the facilitators from Kaykaze Adventure Experience, before paddling down grade 1-2 rapids in Warrandyte State Park.
An interesting time was had by all, students worked in pairs negotiating their way down the Yarra River with some students getting more than they bargained for and falling in.
Once on land students were bussed to “Challenge Valley ” Clifford Park Scout Activity Centre where they worked in small teams to complete a series of obstacles/challenges focusing on encouraging team work and trust within the group.
Students were met with many challenges as they climbed timber walls, crawled through tunnels, swung on ropes and tyres, balanced on beams and assisted each other to successfully complete the course. Some students found themselves covered with mud as they swung over the mud pit with everyone having a go and by the smiles on faces everyone enjoyed all aspects of the day.
It was great to see the students eager to participate and throw themselves into these challenges that they may not have had a chance to experience previously.
Well done to everyone who participated, it’s great to see the support, trust and team work in action.
For more information contact:
Colleen Hughes, Project Officer
colleenhughes@bnllen.org.au or (03) 9431 8000
When the Banyule City Council offered me the opportunity to organise a local school to lead the annual Arty Farty Parade with a MASS DANCE, I thought it was a great opportunity for mainstream students and students with disabilities to work together.
The process of getting schools on board was easy; Bundoora Secondary College and Concord School both welcomed the idea and things moved quickly from there. Each Monday afternoon in Term 1, Bundoora Secondary College VCAL students met at Concord School and they were provided with professional mentoring by the Waterdale Theatre. After a few weeks, music and steps were chosen and the dance started to take shape.
The parade was held on Sunday 25th March and the students led approximately 850 people in the mass dance down Burgundy St, Heidelberg.
It was a huge success and the students felt like rock stars. Of course the project was not really about the dance but about personal development. Themes included inclusiveness and teamwork and of course a chance to shine and feel proud of oneself.
The teacher from Concord School had the following to say about the experience:
“It has been a wonderful experience for all students and staff alike. It has fit so well into the secondary curriculum as their “challenge” unit, obviously being a challenge in different ways for our students. “
Thank you Banyule City Council for this wonderful experience.
For more information contact:
Jayne Valle, Project Officer
jayne@bnllen.org.au or (03) 9431 8000
The L2P learner driver mentor program is an initiative of VicRoads funded by the TAC. L2P is designed to support young learner drivers who do not have access to a suitable vehicle or family members able to help them get the minimum 120 hours of driving experience they need before they can sit the Probationary Licence test. BNLLEN is delivering the L2P program for the City of Banyule.
The L2P program relies on the involvement of volunteer mentors or Supervising Drivers who supervise driving practice sessions in vehicles provided by the program. All volunteers undergo training provided by VicRoads prior to being matched with a learner driver. Volunteers are required to complete a Working with Children Check, a Victoria Police check and a VicRoads driver’s licence (driving history) check to ensure their suitability for the program.
L2P is open to learner drivers aged 16 – 20 who live in or have strong links with the Banyule area but who lack the family support they need to get supervised driving experience. Learner driver applicants must have a current Learner’s Permit in order to participate in the program.
Young P-Plate (Probationary Licence) drivers are over-represented in fatal car crashes. Volunteers keen to make a difference and help keep young drivers safe on our roads are invited to be part of the program.
To volunteer, contact the Banyule L2P Program Coordinator Michael Light on 0430 038450 or email L2P@bnllen.org.au
