Page 1043 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
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My directorate, in partnership with Minister Burch, the Community Services Directorate and community sector organisations, offer a strong variety of programs that support the transition of young people with a disability through school and on to further education, training and employment opportunities. These programs and initiatives align well with the review of special education in ACT schools.
Over the past few years, new processes and programs have been developed that support the preparation for post-school transitions, both while at school and after students have transitioned to further education, training and employment options. These include work experience programs for students with a disability that commence in year 9, well before year 11; a stronger focus on post-school transitions in each student’s individual learning planning; and greater collaboration between education and training providers and community sector organisations.
These processes and programs have been developed in a way that emphasises the strong cooperation between the Education and Training Directorate, Disability ACT and community service providers. For example, the Education and Training Directorate and the Community Services Directorate are working in partnership with the House with No Steps to prepare students from year 9 and their families for a transition. Through this program, students are eligible to participate in either a work experience or non-vocational social placement. In addition, school leavers can access ongoing community access support or transition support.
Work experience assists students in the transition to work by providing an opportunity to test tentative career choices through short-term, unpaid participation in the workplace. Students with a disability or a special need often require additional support to complete a work experience placement. The partnership with the House with No Steps is an example of the additional support provided.
My understanding is that the services provided by the House with No Steps have been strongly patronised by students with a disability. I believe this is a great program that seeks to build strong links with local businesses to ensure disabled students have access to a full range of work experience opportunities and placements that suit both their skills and interests.
Another significant initiative is the annual post-schools options expo, which will be held on 19 June. The expo provides a range of information for students with a disability and their families, including information on transition planning, career pathways, employment services and options, further education and training, advocacy and information services, work and life skills and life skills and community access services. The expo is another example where my directorate and the ACT government are working with the community sector agencies to ensure support for the transition of young people with a disability through school and on to further education and training and employment options.
Under the ACT youth commitment, all young people from year 6 to year 12 will have the opportunity to participate in pathways planning activities. Pathways planning aims to help young people to think about who they are, what they know, where they are
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