At the beginning of 2006, legislation was passed to increase the school leaving age requiring young people to attend school until the end of the year they turned 16 with a further increase introduced in 2008 raising the leaving age to be the end of their 17th year.
To help support this new initiative, the Participation Directorate was formed together with the positions of Participation Manager and Participation Coordinators for each education district. The key objective for these positions is to ensure all young people are engaged in full time education, training and/or employment.
The Manager Participation, together with Participation Coordinators are attached to district offices across the state but the Narrogin District identified a need to develop an “off site” venue to support young people who may be at risk of disengaging (as well as their carers/parents) to assist with career advice and to process the required forms for the Department of Education and Training.
Careers on Track was established in 2005 to support the introduction of the raising of the Leaving Age and is the only one of its kind in the state as all other Participation staff work from District Offices. It offers a ‘non-institutional’ environment that may be less intimidating for some young people and their parents. This off site initiative is funded by the Department of Education.
Participation Coordinators working through Careers on Track support students by:
Developing an Individual Pathway Plan
Providing viable pathways for clients
Processing Notice of Arrangements forms
Assisting with career advice by using a computer software package called Jobs Ideas and Information Generator – Computer Assisted Learning (JIIG-CAL).
Assistance with Resume writing
All Participation Coordinators are assigned schools which they visit regularly to support young people. Participation Coordinators also undertake community visits and liaise with Government Departments.
The Manager Participation is responsible for the allocation and monitoring of DET funds assigned to each district to support suitable:
Learning Programs
Learning Environments and students Support Services and Career Development
Many schools have brought in their students to access our bank of computers which have the JIIG-CAL software installed. Students answer a series of questions and the JIIG-CAL program identifies and suggests many different jobs which match the students’ interests and preferences.
Manager Participation
Heidi Astbury
0428882587
Participation Coordinators
Gail Ward
0428882684
Alicia Vagg
0437463049
Clerical Officer
Enzina Spouse
08 98816962
For further information and queries please phone
08 98816962
08 98816963