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Community organisations

Community organisations often work with people who, for various reasons, have been unable to follow traditional avenues of study, gain some important life skills or find secure employment. Our role in working with these community organisations is to enhance the quality of outcomes and opportunities for the students.

Bendigo TAFE works in close collaboration with these organisations to develop appropriate programs. The programs can draw on existing training packages or be an innovative response to a unique need. They can be delivered in a way that makes them enjoyable and accessible. Our aim is to build confidence and provide stepping stones to further study or employment.

St Luke’s is a community agency that provides a range of human services throughout north central Victoria. The Family Services program works to help and support families and children by building on their own strengths.

The program was established to assist parents who were having difficulty managing their children’s behaviour. The parents themselves were not living in cohesive family arrangements where parenting skills could be developed. They lacked confidence and many of the skills necessary for successful parenting.

St Luke’s identified the need to establish a program that was tailored to suit the particular needs of this client base. Working with Bendigo TAFE an education program was developed that both engaged and supported parents while they learned. The resulting Early Years program combined three nationally accredited competencies in community services with a playgroup and mentoring program, delivered in a family-friendly environment.

The formal learning aspect of the program addressed the problems evident when parents present at Family Services including emotional and environmental neglect, and inappropriate discipline. Children were cared for by a qualified childcare worker, but were welcome to join their parents in the classroom.

A St Luke’s family worker acted as mentor providing transport, coaching and encouragement to apply classroom learning to their own situation. The mentor was an important element in retaining the participants in the program.

All participant's completed the program which won the Innovative Delivery Award presented by Community Services and Health Industry Training Board in 2009.