Project Educate

Project Educate supports up to 10 young people per year, from disadvantaged backgrounds, who are missing from education, to re-engage in learning within an alternative education setting.

Engagement in education is a key factor in producing equitable social and employment outcomes for young people, as well as being a protective factor for well-being. It will provide the opportunity to thrive in society thereby avoiding poverty, homelessness and unemployment. Project Educate is an

alternative education school where young people will be engaged through flexible learning, hands on practical skills, trauma-informed support, mentoring and transition into further education, employment and training.

The student needs to be under 17 and going to be enrolled into year 9 or 10. The main purpose of the program is to help students who are at risk of not achieving their RoSA.

The school program runs four days a week at our Project Youth centre in Hurstville and all of the work is done at the centre online. There is a teacher and a youth support worker on site full time to assist with the learning and the days and hours can be flexible.

To be enrolled the young person needs a medical diagnosis from a psychologist or paediatrician and a supporting document stating why a program such as Project Educate would be better suited than the mainstream setting. If a young person does not have a diagnosis but mental health is still a concern please continue to get in touch.

The school which the young person is currently enrolled in, needs to do the initial application and complete an access request but we  can assist with that process before the application is sent to the regional office for review.

If you have any young people in mind, please complete an referral using the button at the top of the page. please note that there are only a total of 10 positions available and some young people may be remaining in the program if they have not yet completed their ROSA.

Referrals to Project Educate can be made by anyone. Schools, HSLO’s, parents, PY staff and health providers to discuss suitability, backgrounds and behaviour.



Job Readiness

Our young people often lack confidence and experience, they might have mental health worries, do not have access to money to get to work or buy lunch, and they have had no role models to teach them what having a job entails. the RAISE job readiness program sets young people up for interview and supports them when starting their job. RAISE  not only helps young people in their job search, but provides ongoing support throughout their employment.

RAISE

RAISE stands for ‘Raising Achievement, Inclusion and Social Equity’. RAISE is the high-level banner for all social enterprises and employment pathway programs at Project Educate. The core aim is to support young people 14-24 who are facing disadvantage, trauma and complex needs, to prepare for, find and sustain employment pathways. The program operates across the Sutherland Shire, Georges River and Bayside Council areas, and has 5 components: 1. Wrap around support 2. Industry qualifications and courses 3. Work placements and work experience 4. Employment opportunities & traineeships 5. Job readiness and employment pathways RAISE currently has two social enterprises, Café Y and Sound wave productions under its banner. There are also plans to set up an additional two social enterprise in the next 3 years, expanding our portfolio of business and increasing the opportunities for young people facing challenges in finding employment. RAISE was set up in response to young people falling through the gaps of existing employment services. A consideration for the future is how Project Youth can tap into sustainable Government funding without being set up as a job network provider. Between 30-50% of young people supported through Project Youth are already signed up with a job network provider who would be receiving payments for getting them into courses and employment using Project Youth’s services. A fee for service or similar arrangement with these providers could be negotiated if it does not inhibit Project Youth still providing support.

Sound Wave Productions

Sound Wave Productions aims to  assist young people to engage in supportive programs to increase opportunities, increase young peoples resilience, confidence, access to education, access to services, improve mental and emotional wellbeing, improved employability & job readiness and peer connections.

This is done through:

1.      Brief therapeutic interventions:

• Referral & Intake, relationship building, communication, personal development, removing barriers to access, therapeutic activity, resilience building, reflective conversations, emotional support, living skills

   2.       Creative Music Program (BASS)

• Therapeutic music program which supports young people, through the healing power of music. Music is a great therapeutic resource and can support young people’s mental well-being, while also reducing harm, helping them express trauma and difficult experiences, in a safe environment where they are forming connections to services and peers, while gaining new skills.
• Song writing, drumming, performing skills, beat work, using activities, connections with peers and music sessions

BASS is delivered over an 8-week period. One session per week, for 2 hours (on a day/time agreed with the school). BASS can also be run in Project Youths centres as required.

   3.       Performance sessions and events

•  Creation of opportunities to perform – confidence, mental well-being, story telling
• Opportunities to design and manage events – job skills

   4.       Employability

• Job Readiness Program
• Access to qualifications, work placements and employment
• Increased confidence and resilience to seek and maintain employment

 5.      Certificate II Music

• The course will be run once per year at Project Youth Menai and will prepare young people for further study and employment in the music and production industry. The course will assist young people to work effectively with others, contribute to the health and safety of self and others, develop and apply creative arts industry knowledge, develop skills to play or sing music, perform simple musical pieces, incorporate technology into music making, develop basic audio skills and knowledge and assist with sound recordings

The course will run for 12 weeks and participants need to be eligible through smart and skilled.  

Criteria

-         Young people facing disadvantages, challenges or trauma and are finding it difficult to maintain their education

-         Young people who are interested in music as a career pathway

-         Young people who would benefit from the healing power of music