This powerpoint outlines some tips and strategies for working with Youth within the VET Sector

1. Working with Youth, 2010 and beyond
Centre for Vocational Pathways
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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP

2. Issues facing our youth
•Psychological problems ranging from mild to extreme (intrusive thoughts)
•Asp(b)erger’s Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, mental illness
•Homelessness and semi-homelessness
•Dysfunctional family situations
•Poor self esteem
•Anger management
•Diagnosed learning disabilities
•Smoking, drug and / or alcohol issues
•Poor family attitudes toward education
2Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared by Tracy Grimmer, CVP
•Bad experiences in education which have developed poor attitudes

3. Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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•Refugees
• Victims of crime and/or war
In addition some may be:

4. •Exited from mainstream secondary system
•Poor relationships with previous teachers
•Lack of recognition of authority
•Victims of bullying
•Gaming habits
•Criminal activity
•Bullying behaviours
•Chronic absenteeism
•Socio-economic circumstances
•Teenage pregnancy and parenthood
•Poor diet, sleeping and self care habits
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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP

5. They have been spoken at, judged and
labelled enough without anybody
taking the time to build a rapport. It’s
time for us to see young people and
their situations as individual, and help
them to move on.
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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
Youth who are disengaged from the secondary system or
seeking alternatives, don’t need to be placed back into
the traditional style of classroom or suffer an overly
authoritative approach, an ‘us and them’ mentality, which
may have failed them in the first place.
Lana Powell, Youth Worker / Counsellor Cranbourne Campus:

6. Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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A different physical layout
and approach may help to
eradicate previous negative
classroom practices.
Why offer more
of the same?

7. Useful strategies within the classroom
Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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8. Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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• Clearly outlined
behavioural
expectations, what’s
acceptable and what
is not, and clearly
spelled-out
consequences;
• Explanation of why
something is not
acceptable;
• Moving away from the traditional classroom dynamic so the
teacher is not seen as a dominant force but more as a
facilitator, making it more difficult for the demanding
students to engage in power plays.

9. A student commented in a reflection document after experiencing one semester
in Certificate in General Education for Adults at Cranbourne:
“ My experience was great to be honest, teachers were a lot of fun and they
weren’t uptight about anything. It’s a rare feeling to actually want to get up
and go to a school which I only got here at TAFE.”
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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
• The ‘I’m here to help you’
approach.
• Quiet approach
i.e. not inviting an audience.
• “Are you ok, today?” often
helps.

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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
• Believing in the students and wanting them to succeed;
• Liaising with workers and family to have an open dialogue;
• Youth counsellor involved with the
program is essential;
• Sign in /out book to
keep a history of
attendance patterns;
• Regular breaks;
• Breaking up the focus of
sessions, not spending too
long on any one topic;
• Sign off sheets so students know exactly what is expected
of them in each subject.

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Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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• The opportunity to have more than one attempt at work
requirements.
• Patience.
• A consistent
approach -
Firm, but fair.
• An
awareness
of cultural
differences.

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Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
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•Adaptable delivery & assessment methods.
•A greater mix of self paced work so the student can
work within their comfort level and get help without
others realizing.
•No teacher sitting out
the front, moving
among students
constantly offering
‘help’ and checking
how they are going.

13. Support services
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Working with Youth 2010 and beyond
Prepared By Tracy Grimmer, CVP
• Chisholm Institute –
Student Support Services
• Visycares
• S.E.A.D.S (South Eastern
Drug & Alcohol Services)
• WAYS Youth Services
• Headspace
• Newstart - Victoria Police
• The Reach Foundation
• DHS – Department of Human Services
• Taskforce

14. • Springvale Monash Legal Advice
Working with Youth 2010 and beyond Prepared By Tracy
Grimmer, CVP
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• Migrant Resource Centre – Dandenong
• Foundation House – Dandenong
• Youth Links – Noble Park
•Peninsula Youth Connections
• South East Youth Connections
• Springvale Community Aid Advice Bureau
• Employment Service Providers –
Job Services Australia
Disability Employment Service

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To the students and staff of the Centre for
Vocational Pathways who were involved in
this presentation; in particular Robyn
McKenzie for her expertise in MovieMaker.