Youth education program launched

A new youth education program "Connections" has been launched at Ettalong Beach.

The three-year program is aimed at helping young people re-connect with further education, training and employment.

The program is being run by Workwise at Ettalong Beach and will provide 40 young people a year with the life skills they need to continue their education and employment.

Ms Member for Robertson Ms Belinda Neal launched the program on March 26.

"Connections will ensure a flexible education for young people who have dropped out of school so they can participate in further education, training and employment," Ms Neal said.

"This program is great news for our region, and provides our young people with the opportunity to expand their skills base and improve their career options.

"For whatever reason youths do go off the tracks and this program allows them to hop back on and put their talents to good use."

The program is part of the Australian Government's Career Advice Australia (CAA), directed at assisting youth aged 13 to 19 years to achieve a successful transition through school and then on to further education, training and employment.

The Government provided funding of over $330 million between January 2006 and June 2009 for CAA.

Nationally Connections services aim to assist more than 3000 disconnected youth annually to re-engage with education.

"WorkWise Connections is partnering with other organisations to effectively deliver individually targeted services in education," Ms Neal said.

"They are delivering integrated courses comprising Certificates I and II in General Education for Adults, together with other key life skills and pastoral, mental health and youth crisis support services."

Ms Neal said the Ettalong program, currently has 12 participants and a waiting list of 40 to enter the program.

Clare Graham, 27 March 2008 Press release, March 26 2008 Belinda Neal, Member for Robertson