Programmes
Green Central was funded under the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations Jobs Fund to create employment opportunities for young people on the Central Coast during the global financial crisis. The site was retrofitted and refurbished using apprentices and trainees under mentorship from skilled tradesmen, and became a space for social enterprises, a sustainable house, Indigenous Skills Centre, Media Centre, horticulture and classrooms.
It takes a while to get it. To understand what's really going on up at Green Central, amid all the buildings, the trees and chickens. It's about chances and second chances, and maybe even third. It's a gathering of many, but mostly young fellas, gleaning from their Elders and each other. It's redrawing the circle that was broken, reconnecting youth to learning and knowledge.
What's been going on
YC Media kicks off in spanking new studio
Green Central grounds taking shape
The Green Central permaculture gardens and chickens have really flourished over the summer break, transforming Green Central from a construction site to a welcoming hideaway of landscaped gardens, native plants and wildlife. Our horticulture apprentices have been busily completing rock-bordered pathways and ponds behind our Sustainable House. A view from the back deck is breathtaking, with towering trees and native bush lands creating a natural retreat.
The Sustainable House Conversion Project and Education Centre inhabit these surrounds and are both available for functions, conferences or event hire, with catering packages available from Gunya Flavaz, who offer a variety of freshly prepared choices for your guests. The Education Centre seats up to 80 people (lecture style) and the Sustainable House is suited to workshops or focus groups (10 - 25 people). All our rooms are wheelchair friendly with reasonable rates. Please contact our Sustainability Coordinator, Ian Garradd, for information relating to workshops, education and advice on sustainability, and especially home energy efficiency and solar hardware. 0431 819 873, or ian@youthconnections.com.au
Another sprouting project is the circular food forest ecosystem, set in the centre of the grounds. Bursting with greenery, the produce from this mighty food-bank will be put to use on the menu of The Coolamon on Green Central. The barista training centre will create job opportunities for local apprentice chefs who can try their hand at preparing delicious dishes using native foods.
A New School That Isn't Like School
Yesterday 64 students from across the Central Coast attended their first day of either year 9 or 10 at new alternative education school ALESCO.
Students and parents were given a tour of the grounds, with year 9 campus located at Berkeley Vale and year 10 campus located at youthconnections.com.au's Green Central site, Mt Penang Parklands. (Pictured)
ALESCO Principal Andrea Cingi who was there to meet the enrolled students said they could expect real life learning.
"Part of our year 9 English Unit on Australian history will be read down by Tuggerah Lakes, which has a rich sense of past," she said.
Another priority of the independent school's culture is a 'hands-on' and self-paced learning approach.
"Many students here haven't been to school in quite some time, so it was really exciting to see them getting back into the rhythm of learning," said Ms Cingi.
CLICK HERE to go to the ALESCO website.
