Background Information

On Track is an important Victorian Government initiative designed to ensure that Year 10 to 12 government and non-government school students are on a pathway to further education, training or employment after leaving school. The Victorian Government launched On Track in 2003.

On Track survey students in years 10, 11 and 12 who left schools the previous year. The survey is designed to provide information on post school destinations and identify young people not in education training or full-time employment. This data will provide a better understanding of outcomes from education as well as assisting the Government to improve pathways planning both centrally and at the local level.

On Track Connect, as part of On Track, aims to assist young people who have left school and are not studying or in full time work through connecting them with an appropriate pathway.

Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) are familiar with local agencies, networks and transition and support systems available in their local area and have valuable information about local young peoples experiences in making the transition from school.

LLENs successfully managed the implementation of On Track Connect over the past four years.

The role of LLENs in On Track Connect is to broker and negotiate appropriate referral arrangements to provide advice to young people about options for reengagement with post compulsory education, training or employment.

LLENs are not funded to act as service providers or case managers. Where appropriate, young people are referred to local agencies that are funded to provide specialist service or case management. The detailed knowledge that LLENs have of local transition and support services makes them the most appropriate referral point.

In addition to On Track Connect LLENs have a role to coordinate planning around improvements to post compulsory education and training outcomes.

1. Background

The Eastern Industry Education Partnership Inc., in partnership with the Gateway Local Learning and Employment Network, Outer East Local Learning and Employment Network, Regional Industry and Career Adviser (RICA) and the Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne), developed a project for refugee students attending secondary schools in the Eastern Region.

The objective of the Eastern Refugee Pathways Project is to establish a service model that will provide additional support to refugee students, their parents and teachers which includes developing educational and career pathways linked to training and employment outcomes for the students.

2. Project Worker

A part time Project Worker, Bianca Spence is based, at the Migrant Information Centre (MIC) in Box Hill  to further develop and implement the project.

3. Project Phases

The project has four phases which are being undertaken simultaneously:

• Phase 1 - Consists of establishing the project, which includes forming a Steering Committee with representatives from the Eastern Industry Education Partnership (LCP), Gateway LLEN, Outer Eastern LLEN, Regional Industry and Career Adviser (RICA), Migrant Information Centre, Department of Education  Eastern Metropolitan Region, Foundation House, Blackburn English Language School and the Sudanese Community Association of Australia.
• Phase 2 - Research will be undertaken to identify:

For refugee students

• Where and how do refugee students get the information that helps them shape their career and transition pathways expectations?
• What kind of support, assistance and information have they received regarding education, employment and training pathways? Which ones were useful/not useful?
• What kind of assistance and information do they need to develop their individual career and transition pathways?
• How and/or from whom do they want to receive information about their career and transition pathways in Australia?

For parents

• What is their knowledge of the educational and training system in Australia?
• What kind of support, assistance and information have they received regarding education, employment and training pathway options for their young people? Which ones were useful/not useful?
• What kind of information do they require to support their young people in developing career and transition pathways?
• Phase 3 - includes developing and implementing:
• A series of workshops providing information regarding educational, training and employment pathways for refugee students in the eastern region.
• A series of workshops for parents in the eastern region that raise their level of understanding of the educational system in Australia as well as training and employment options available to their young people.
• A support program assisting refugee students to access and develop individual career and transition pathways.

• Phase 4 - includes completing an evaluation of the project and preparing an evaluation report which will be available on the MICs website.

4. Role of the Steering Committee

• Provide expertise and direction to the Project worker in the development and implementation of the project.
• Identify issues and solutions for refugee students, parents and schools that need to be addressed as part of the project.
• Where necessary, participate in community forums and workshops.
• Provide feedback to networks and agency staff on the project.