Creating Industry and Education links to develop tomorrow’s workforce

YouthWorX NT

YouthWorX NT is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation which is proudly operated by NT Industry Training Bureau (NTITB) and managed by Barry Cramond (Chairman),  Melanie Brenton (Deputy Chairman) and Natasha Angelo (Project Manager).   Established in 1998, YouthWorX NT was previously known as the Darwin VET in Schools Workplacement Centre, with a change to our new and more user-friendly name occurring in 2003.

YouthWorX NT comprises a small team of professionals, with Manager, Natasha Angelo, at the helm liaising with Senior Secondary schools and other key stakeholders for programme development and delivery as well as overseeing the general operations of YouthWorX NT. Finance and Marketing Manager, Robyne Brouwer, also coordinates the VETiS Workplacement programme, with the assistance of our Programme/ Administration Officer, Jenna Lacey, and Programme Officer Matthew Alterator.  Karen Flahavin also organises Workplacement opportunities for Senior Students in her role as Workplacement Officer for the WorkReady Programme.

The entire team is very focused on delivering a high level of service for students and employers, and advocating our mission statement through quality Workplacement experiences for students within the Darwin, Bathurst Island, Palmerston, East Arm, Litchfield, Finniss, and East Arnhem Areas.

Creating Industry and Education links to develop tomorrow’s workforce.

YouthWorX NT Mission Statement

YouthWorX NT Local Community Partnerships vision statement encompasses the desired future of the DEST funded LCP, and provides a basis on which the LCP Management Committee and Consortium Organisation’s members can focus and work towards.  The vision of the YouthWorX NT LCP is to provide:

1. Youth (13 – 19 year olds) with opportunities to:

• Strengthen their knowledge, understanding and skills within Industry areas through participating in Structured Workplacement;
• Develop and strengthen an awareness of career opportunities and transition pathways;
• Develop and maintain general employability skills with a sound work ethic;

2. Industry with the opportunity to:

• Participate in the training and support of youth within the work environment, with specific focus on the skill shortage and emerging skill areas within the Northern Territory;
• Strengthen the local support and partnerships between Industry/Employers and Schools/Students.

3. Develop. Implement and Facilitate quality Career Guidance and Transition support programmes for youth within the LCP Service Regions 202 and 203.

YouthWorX NT Local Community Partnerships (LCP)

YouthWorX NT Local Community Partnerships (LCP) is affiliated with the Career Advice Australia – Local Community Partnerships initiative, which is federally-funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training.  We are a member organisation comprised of Education Transformations, Group Training NT, Tiwi Islands Training and Employment Board and YouthWorX NT, who have been contracted by the Department of Education, Science and Training to implement the Local Community Partnerships within three Service Regions expanding from the Tiwi Islands and Darwin, Palmerston, East Arm, Litchfield Shire and Finniss Region to the East Arnhem Region.

		YouthWorX NT LCP – Organisational Structure
		Region 202: Darwin, Bathurst Island - Map
		Region 203: Palmerston, East Arm, Litchfiled & Finnis - Map
		Region 206: East Arnhem Region - Map

In the 2005 Budget, the Australian Government extended its commitment to improve the career education and transition support of services available to young Australians, with announcements of the funding for the Career Advice Australia (CAA) initiative.  The CAA initiative aims to support all young people from 13 – 19 years of age to assist them in achieving a successful transition through school, and from school to further education, training and employment.

There are six key outcomes for the Australian Government CAA initiative:

Improved career choices by young people;

• Increased school engagement;
• Increased industry and employer engagement in schools and career development;
• Increased awareness of the range of vocational education and training opportunities;
• Improved quality and availability of career and transitions education across Australia;
• Effective Local Community Partnerships providing coordinated career and transition support.

NT Industry Training Bureau is federally contracted by the Department of Education, Science and Training to deliver the Local Community Partnerships initiative.

Local Community Partnerships (LCP) such as YouthWorX NT LCP are not-for-profit, community-based organisations that work closely with schools to help 13 to 19-year-olds gain skills, experience and guidance as they move through and beyond school.

To achieve this goal, YouthWorX NT LCP has established relationships with important groups within the local community. We have formed these partnerships with industry and employer groups, schools, professional career advisers, community organisations, parents, young people, youth service providers and other government agencies and encourage these groups to work together to deliver the following programmes:

• Adopt–A-School Programme;
• Career and Transition Support Programme;
• Structured Workplace Learning Programme.

Under the Career Advice Australia initiative, 213 Local Community Partnership regions have been set up across Australia to ensure that all young people are getting the support they need. YouthWorX NT LCP delivers all three Career and Transition Support Programmes to LCP Service Region 202 – Darwin & Bathurst Island, and LCP Service Region 203 – Palmerston, East Arm, Litchfield and Finniss, and LCP Region 206 – East Arnhem.

Adopt-A-School Programme

Through the Adopt-A-School Programme, YouthWorX NT LCP encourages businesses to work with schools in their area, and engage young people in hands-on learning experiences.

The programme builds strong and ongoing partnerships between businesses and schools, which ultimately benefit all those involved.

Students are given the opportunity to gain real experience, learn about the career opportunities open to them, and find out about the kinds of skills employers are looking for. In addition to this, local businesses gain experience in working with today’s young people and have a hand in shaping their future workforce.

Adopt-A-School also focuses on meeting future skills needs by encouraging young people to learn in new and emerging industry sectors, and those which have current or predicted skills shortages.

Adopt-A-School projects can be based in business or industry, in the community or in schools. They include activities such as:

• Guest Speakers and Practical Skills Demonstrations and Workshops;
• Student Research and Enterprise projects;
• Practice ‘hands-on’ training experience;
• Competitions.

Adopt-A-School also aims to involve teachers and families in activities in order to give them a better understanding of the career pathways open to today’s young people.

Local Community Partnerships use their industry links and local knowledge of their region to encourage businesses to get involved in the programme.

Career and Transition Support Programme

Under the Career and Transition Support Programme, YouthWorX NT LCP works closely with schools in their region to make sure students have access to a range of career development and transition support services.

YouthWorX NT LCP does not directly deliver services to individual students. We work with local schools and other community groups to make it easier for young people to find and use services in their area.

Some aims of Career and Transition Support include:

• Assisting young people to understand their post-school options;
• Making it easier for students to access career advice;
• Promoting Vocational Education & Training (VET) Programmes;
• Encouraging parents, teachers and career advisers communicate better.

The Career and Transition Support Programme compliments state and territory strategies, programmes and services. YouthWorX NT LCP has assessed the local situation and then focused on ways in which they can best support schools to build on, and improve, their career and transition support services.

Many activities take place under Career and Transition Support including:

• Career Expos;
• Mentoring Programmes;
• Career Education and Counselling;
• Parent Information Evenings;
• Excursions to local businesses and industry;
• Interview and Résumé Workshops;
• Guest Speakers and Student/Parent/Employer Forums.

Structured Workplace Learning Programme

The Structured Workplace Learning Programme provides students with structured learning and development opportunities in a real or simulated work environment.

By being involved in Structured Workplace Learning, young people gain a better understanding of the world of work, and have a greater chance to develop their technical and general employability skills.

In many circumstances, students are also given the opportunity to gain real qualifications while they train and learn. Often the programme will conclude with a skill assessment that gives the students a chance to gain nationally recognised competencies.

Most Territory Senior schools offer Vocational Education & Training (VET) Programmes that contain a Structured Workplace Learning component. Structured Workplace Learning is there to assist their students make a smooth transition from school to post-school life. State and Territory policies and practices effect the way the programme is run, so different models of Structured Workplace Learning exist.

The Structured Workplace Learning Programme seeks to develop effective local partnerships between schools and business to achieve the following objectives:

• Promotion of Structured Workplace Learning Programme;
• Increase access to Structured Workplace Learning Programme;
• Increase student participation in Structured Workplace Learning;
• Enhance young people’s employability skills; and
• Enhance the quality of Structured Workplacements.

Many activities take place under the Structured Workplace Learning programme, including:

• Class visits;
• Expo’s;
• Try–A-Trade;
• On-the-job and off-the-job Industry experience; 
• Competency-based learning;
• Employability Skills programmes;
• Parent & Guardian Information Seminars and Workshops;
• Employer ‘Student Ready’ Workshops and Forums.

YouthWorX NT LCP use their community contacts to assist schools in arranging and delivering Structured Workplace Learning Programmes that meet local needs.

YouthWorX NT LCP Management Committee

Organisations funded as LCP’s must be governed by a Management Committee (LCP Management Committee), with members who have a sound knowledge of the region/s in which they operate.  The LCP Management Committee’s capacity to implement the three Career and Transition Programmes to meet local needs and circumstances, and avoid duplication with other Australian, State or Territory Government Programmes and Services, is paramount.

The LCP Management Committee will have responsibility for providing strategic direction and leadership to the Programme Delivery team.

LCP’s must ensure that the LCP Management Committee Chairperson and members have:

• Good linkages with, and influence in, their community, schools, businesses and industry;
• Knowledge of the local education, training and employment environment; and
• A sound understanding of the relevant local issues affecting young people in their transition through school, and from school to further education, training and employment. 

WorkReady Programme with Group Training NT

YouthWorX NT have partnered with Group Training NT to assist with the delivery of the WorkReady Programme to students in the Darwin, Palmerston and Rural regions.

The aim of the programme is to engage students who are 15 years or older, who have completed Year 10, and demonstrate a keen interest in becoming work-ready for an Apprenticeship in the work-related courses to enhance their future career opportunities. Students will have the option of undertaking an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA), and/or Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) based courses, while undertaking their Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE).

The programme allows students to attend school two days a week to study Stage 1/2 subjects while attending VETiS courses for 1 day, and Apprentice Certificate Training or Structured Workplacements the remaining two days. The programme enables the students to develop the skills sought by employers, thereby enhancing the student’s future employment prospects. If a student discovers that the programme doesn not suit their needs they are able to return to their mainstream studies without being disadvantaged. A student may also be offered a full-time apprenticeship whilst they are undertaking a Structured Workplacement, and may wish to take this option.

The WorkReady Programme seeks to enhance students’ future employment prospects and achieve the following objectives:

• Promotion of WorkReady Programme;
• Enhance students employability skills;
• Engage students in Australian School Based Apprenticeship (ASbA);
• Engage students enrolled in VETiS based courses;
• Assist students in completion of NTCE.

Many activities take place under the WorkReady Programme including:

• School Visits and Guest Speakers;
• Expo’s;
• Occupational Health and Safety course;
• Senior First Aid Certificate;
• Resume and Interview skills preparation.
• Workplacements periodically throughout programme
• Industry marketing for placements
• Term 3 & 4 activities to assist Year 10 students enrolling into the Year 11/12 programme
  • Resume building
  • Interview skills
  • Employability skills

Friends of YouthWorX NT

Over time YouthWorX NT has built substantial partnerships with a network of local Host Employers. This exceptional group of employers support and understand the benefits that Vocational Education & Training (VET) Programmes present to their industries. We commend these Host Employers for the effort and time they take to make Workplacements possible. The skills, experience and knowledge students gain from Host Employers during Workplacements is priceless.

Along side our team of Host Employers is a group of businesses and organisations that offer YouthWorX NT tremendous support, assistance and encouragement. Many of them are involved in school-to-work transitions, as we are.

• Australian Defence Industry Network
• Catholic Education Office NT
• Career Educators Association of NT
• Chamber of Commerce NT
• Charles Darwin University
• Department of Employment, Education and Training – Employment and Training Division
• Department of Employment, Education and Training – Teaching, Learning and Standards
• Department of Education, Science and Training – Transitions Unit
• Education Transformations
• Group Training NT
• Manufacturer’s Council NT
• National Industry Career Specialists
• NT Christian Schools Association
• NT Industry Capability Network
• NT Industry Training Bureau
• Post-Secondary Education and Employment Network
• Regional Disability Liaison Officer
• Regional Industry Careers Advisor
• Saville Hotel Group
• Tiwi Island Training & Employment Board
• NT Training Advisory Councils
• Transport Engineering Automotive Training Advisory Council (TEATAC)
• Services Industry Training Advisory Council (SITAC)
• Major Industries Training Advisory Council (MITAC)
• YouthTraX GTNT

Last but not least, High Schools, Colleges and TAFE’s. The shared commitment to provide young people with the best school-to-work transitions is reflected by the quality of the VET and Workplacement Programmes they deliver and support.Australian Technical College - Darwin

• Alyangula Area School
• Angurugu Community Education Centre
• Australian Technical College - Darwin
• Batchelor Area School
• Casuarina Senior College
• Charles Darwin University
• Darwin High School
• Dripstone High School
• Essington School
• Gapuwiyak Community Education Centre
• Gawa Christian School
• Henbury School
• Kormilda College
• Marrara Christian College
• Milingimbi Community Education Centre
• Nhulunbuy Christian School
• Nhulunbuy High School
• Nightcliff High School
• NT Open Education Centre (Darwin residence)
• Numbulwar School
• O’Loughlin Catholic College
• Palmerston Christian School
• Palmerston High School
• Queensland Institute of Aviation
• Ramingining School
• Sanderson High School
• Shepherdson College
• St. Johns College
• Taminmin High School
• Woolaning College
• Yirrkala CEC