Successful applicants will spend every Wednesday in 2012 building a 4-seater light sport utility airplane whilst undertaking studies in Aeroskills–TVET at Warnervale Airport with Stan Webber who has spent over 40 years maintaining and flying planes all over the world. Applicants can be in year 11 or 12 in 2012 – they will complete 4 units as part of this program. At the end of Year 11 participants will be ready to look for an apprenticeship in Aeroskills or a related trade, or may choose to complete Year 12.

TO APPLY:

Download the form below, complete it and drop it into Wyong TAFE ASAP.

Any questions call Lyn Cooper 0429 210 042.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM HERE

KBT Garden Project

Words and images: Jess Oldfield

Yesterday 11 Central Coast students began building an extension to the recently completed community garden, based on ideas from the local community that will soon include a children’s bike track.

The students are enrolled in a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management as part of an ingenious community park and garden partnership project for the Killarney Vale, Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi (KBT) area.

Since its inception early this year, the KBT Project has assisted 44 long term unemployed men and women, mainly from within the KBT neighbourhood, to gain employability skills through hands-on training courses.

It has also provided the community with a valuable shared recreation resource and is an exemplary model of sustainable urban farming.

Over the three courses, participants have achieved a Certificate II, or a Statement of Attainment in Conservation and Land Management with additional skills in traditional Aboriginal land management and plant identification.

“Building this garden has brought the community together,” says Wendy Walkerton, a Bateau Bay resident and graduate of the first course.

The garden, nestled in a large residential block on Deborah Anne Drive, was officially opened to the community last week at a festive ceremony. Graduates from the second course also received their awards.

For some, completion of the 13-week course just wasn’t enough. Proud graduate Chris Foster continued to volunteer after he finished and was offered employment as an Assistant Supervisor onsite one day a week.

Ten participants from the first two courses also found employment at the conclusion of their course.

Trainer Ian Sutton of Tuggerah Lakes Community College says the park was designed as a food forest.

“It will have the capacity to feed about 30 households,” he said.

The food forest has an upper canopy of deciduous fruit trees, a middle canopy of miniature fruit trees, a lower canopy of herbs and veggies and a top garden of edible bush tucker foods.

The site’s design also aims to conserve water. It is self-irrigating through an underground system that disperses rainwater run-off around the garden, filtering sand and silt via sandstone sediment traps.

The KBT Project is the product of a successful partnership between Break Thru People Solutions, Job Find Centre, Housing NSW, Salvation Army Employment Plus, Samaritans, The Entrance Lions Club, Tuggerah Lakes Community College, Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, the KBT Community Nursery and youthconnections.com.au.

The KBT Garden Project was also supported through the generosity of many local businesses, which provided equipment and building supplies for the project. Sincere thanks to Grants Road Sand, Australian Native Landscapes, Ourimbah Landscape Supplies, Lee Rowan’s GardenWorld and Pat Mcgrath Tree Services. Bunnings Warehouse West Gosford/Tuggerah and Erina North, The Wildflower Place – Erina Heights, Erina Hire and Landscapeland.

Last year, 28, 000 school days were lost to suspension on the Central Coast. "That's alotta days," says youthconnections.com.au's Partnership Broker Lyn Cooper.

This year, it's hoped the number will be substantially less, thanks to a partnership between Umina PCYC, Evolution, PACE, Wesley Mission's 'Getting it Together Scheme', DEC and youthconnections.com.au.

After several months of negotiations, a program has been developed to cater for students suspended from Brisbane Water Secondary College's Umina Campus.

No more 20 day bored blocks of Maccas on the couch, sleep-ins, daytime TV, sifting outside the school gates or solo missions to the skate park.

Instead, students will have the chance to attend a program three days a week, which will allow them to work out at the gym, improve their literacy and numeracy, undertake drug and alcohol workshops and access any other services they might need.

"It gives young people a safe place to go when they are suspended. When they get to Evolution, they'll also realise it's not just a daggy place for ten-year-olds. And I'm hoping it will be a success, because it stops our duplication of services," Lyn said.

This partnership means the young people won't be lost within the system when they're referred to another provider. All partners will work together to achieve the best outcome for the students.

It won't just be the students who are supported, but also the parents. Bobbi from PACE will kick off a yarning circle next week for Aboriginal parents on the Peninsula who's kids have been suspended. This will inform parents of their rights and of the interview process needed to get their kids back into school.

Although the program is starting on the Peninsula, Lyn hopes it can be replicated across the Coast.

Keep your ears open for Lyn's next exciting partnership--it's gunna allow young people to build and fly planes!

Chinese Whispers Warm the Heart

So we’re in the heart of winter. And anyone who’s spent any time in Gosford during winter will know the mornings can be teeth-breakingly cold. No one knows this better than Gosford’s homeless.

But thanks to a year 9 class at St Philip’s Christian College, this winter will be a fraction warmer.

The class rallied in response to a call for donations from the Rotary Club of East Gosford and managed to raise almost $800.

Stella Gaffney from St Philip’s spearheaded the fundraising effort. “We raised the money by baking cupcakes and selling them to our school community. We baked over 800 cupcakes on the last day of term and sold them all.”

However, they wouldn’t have known about it if hadn’t been for an elaborate case of Chinese whispers.

Suzanne Atteridge, a Partnership Broker with youthconnections.com.au, attended a Rotary meeting seeking assistance for the ALESCO Brekky Club.

At the meeting, Rotary mentioned they were gathering scarves, beanies and gloves to hand out to the homeless in Gosford.

“I sent a group email to all YC staff,” Ms Atteridge said. “Jess got back to me a couple of days later and said she’d passed on the information to staff at St Philips, who had then decided to fundraise for Rotary so they could buy new beanies, scarves and gloves.”

East Gosford Rotarian  Michael Kemmis, was blown away with the effort and sees great hope in the next generation of community leaders. 

“We are very impressed that these . . . young people have made a huge effort to help our neighbours that they may never see or even know exist.”

Stella Gaffney says it will be the start of a positive relationship with Rotary and stresses the importance of community.

“This is a wonderful example of community working together. People are very quick to judge our youth but this is a wonderful example of students wanting to do something for their community.”

As a result of this strong community networking and support, Rotary have kindly donated two staff a month to assist with the ALESCO Brekky Club.

Thank you!!

Babes with Babes

The Central Coast Babes with Babes project aims to assist young parents and expecting mothers (women aged 13 - 19yrs) resume their education by providing independent learning programs with a holistic approach to support them in their education, parenting and personal goals. The project also provides an on-site crèche with high quality childcare, enabling the young women to bring their babies with them.  

The program will recommence on Tuesday 3rd May, running Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each school term onsite at Narara Valley High School.

Central Coast Babes with Babes works in partnership with the Australian Red Cross - Young Parents Program, Benevolant Society - Central Coast, Breakthru Employment Services, Central Coast Family Support Services, Central Coast Women's Health Centre, Coast Shelter - Maya Cottage, Community Services, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Education and Training Central Coast Regional Office, Narara Valley High School, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, TAFE Outreach, UnitingCare Burnside, youthconnections.com.au and Youth Health by providing funding, resources and support for programs.

An information session will be held at 1pm on Monday 4th April 2011. Please phone Amber, Central Coast Family Support Services on (02) 4340 1585 for more information and enrolment details.

Create Innovate Gosford City project 

Are you entrepreneurial, innovative, an imagineer or an initiativist? If so, then we want you to be part of the creative hub in Gosford City.

Based on the successful Renew Newcastle project, the Create Innovate Gosford City (CIGC) project has been initiated by members of the community, business organisations and artists, and is focused on developing and attracting creative industries into the empty shops in Gosford City.

Aiming to bring a new energy to the city centre the project also aims to provide the creative industry sector a low risk and low start-up cost opportunity to start their own business.

CIGC would not be possible without the support of Arts NSW and Gosford City Council - City Centre Development Team.

CLICK HERE to visit the website or contact Mel Law, Ph: (02) 4350 2600. 

Indigenous Partnership Broker

Basket weaving, manufacturing of possum coats and fish traps are just some of the Aboriginal crafts that Ngaruki Gulgul, an Indigenous skills centre to be built at Green Central Mt Penang, intends to preserve.

To further pursue this development and the entire site's eco-tourism potential, Aboriginal Partnership Broker Jimmy Kyle, youthconnections.com.au CEO Maggie MacFie, Central Coast Tourism CEO Ollie Philpot, Business Development Manager Jacqui Greaves and other Indigenous tourism special guests met to discuss how this transformation can take place and be an amazing visitor experience.

Tourists will be able to visit the Bush Tucker Cafe, guided walks through lush gardens and experience traditional dance and arts and crafts. Ngaruki Gulgul will offer training in many trade areas including providing space for Aboriginal Elders to pass on these culturally valuable skills. 

© Copyright, Youth Connections 2006- 2010    powered by: Organise Internet