By Denise Deason
TEN ‘at risk’ Wyndham teenagers will have an opportunity to build a better future through an innovative $100,000 Rural Skills Transition Program beginning next week.
The teenagers, all aged about 16, will take part in a four-week intensive applied learning course at Camp Cooriemungle in south-western Victoria.
Paul Ellender, executive officer of WynBay LLEN (Local Learning and Employment Network), said the program was for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“These kids have had a hard go at life,” he said.
“They have left school early, for whatever reason, and some have been in trouble with the police.
“This program aims to re-engage them with education, training and employment opportunities.
“We want to give them a chance to build a good future.”
The Wyndham teenagers will be joined by 10 others from Corangamite for the course, which will address both the high levels of unemployment in Melbourne’s West and the significant loss of rural youth to metropolitan areas. The course will focus on team-building, motivation, self-discovery and life skills.
Employability skills will be highlighted, with a focus on the dairy industry involving visits to farms, milk producers and cheese factories so the teenagers can see the myriad of connections between the paddock and the plate.
There will also be a five-day trek across the Grampians.
From the Wyndham teenagers’ point of view, the course will be a challenge, according to Mr Ellender.
“It will really take these city kids out of their comfort zone,” he said.
“No mobile phones or computers are allowed to be taken.
“It will be a reality check for the kids who will be getting out and doing something physical.
“They will probably discover some resilience they didn’t know they had and learn to not give up when the going gets tough.
“We believe we will get good outcomes with the kids re-engaging with studies and being exposed to potential jobs they haven’t even thought about.
“And there’ll be cost-saving benefits to the community in the long-term, such as reducing social security outlays.”
As well as WynBay LLEN, other partners in the program are South West LLEN, Connectus, South West TAFE, WestVic Dairy, Wyndham Community Foundation, five south-west and western Local Community Partnerships, Wyndham City Council, Melbourne West Area Consultative Committee and Rural Skills Australia.
Businesses taking part include Total Dairy Services, Genetics Australia Cooperative Ltd/Herd Improvement, Demo Dairy, WestVic Dairy Inc, National Centre for Dairy Education Australia, Murray Goulburn Cooperative, Apostle Whey Cheese and Coprice.
These businesses are providing hands-on activities, tours of their facilities and guest speakers.
