L2P – Learner Driver Mentor Program 

GSSC and L2P have been collaborating for a few years now and the program continues to make a significant impact on students driving skills, the program is highly sought after and is now a staple program at our College.

Currently around 30 GSSC students benefit from the program on a weekly/fortnightly basis, students are allocated a timeslot that fits where their school schedule, enabling them to drive with a mentor driver for an hour to gain vital road skills and get their driving hours up in preparation for gaining their P’s.

GSSC have recently had to put a hold on new L2P applications due to having a waitlist of 20 + students waiting to gain entry to the program. L2P rely on our generous community for volunteer drivers who kindly donate their time to ensure our students can practice driving skills that they may not gain otherwise.

We are currently on the lookout for more volunteers, if you or anyone you know are interested, please contact Jenni Bowles on: T: 03 5822 8166 | E: jbowles@berrystreet.org.au alternatively please speak with GSSC Partnerships Manager Lisa Kerr T: 03 5891 2000

E: lisa.kerr@education.vic.gov.au

La Trobe University Sessions

Last week across 2 days a select number of GSSC year 10 and 11 students gained insights into career pathways in Health and Social Work with La Trobe University as well as gaining insights on university specific information regarding entry requirements, HECS and much more.

Nursing student for a day

Rikke from La Trobe and nursing students Raihana and Shaelyn facilitated and engaging and hands on sessions for our students to get a feel for what working in the health industry is like. 

Students gained valuable knowledge on health and nursing pathways, entry requirements, the different between EN and RN nurses, salary guides, subjects that are required and advantageous for entry into the field. Raihana and Shaelyn also provided their lived experiences as nursing students, working in the health industry and the support that La Trobe provides their students.

Student where later introduced to the training ward where students completed hands on activities in groups, learning:

•  how to take blood pressure and temperatures
•  how to provide CPR
• the standard to which health workers hygienically wash your hands 
• how to tie a sling 
• case studies for diagnosing patients using the real-life dummy patients

Social worker for a day

Like the Nurse for a day a select number of GSSC students participated in a workshop along with Notre Dame College students, to hear about what its like to work in the field of social work and social justice.

We started the day with a game of BINGO, allowing GSSC and Notre Dame students and teachers to mingle and communicate with each other to simulate the importance of open communication interacting with a variety of different clients.

Over the course of the day students were mixed into groups to brainstorm ideas and work together to present a short presentation in front of the class. Students heard from 2 social work students, Billie Ann and Josh who are studying and working in our community as well as their teacher Sara.

The speakers engaged the students through and overview of their backgrounds and what led them to the fulfilling career path, they also introduced a variety of pathways and roles within the community for students interested in community services and social work careers.

Thank you to Rikke and the team at La Trobe for a fantastic 2 days for our students.

Year 12 - Monash & Deakin Tours

Monash

On Wednesday the 12th over 40 of our year 12 students were invited to tour the Monash Clayton Campus and Deakin Burwood Campus.

The day started at Monash with a presentation from Marion and 4 student mentors who are currently studying in the field of Medicine, Pharmacy and Engineering. The team provided the students an overview of their 4 campuses, their double degrees and course offerings, study options as well as the vast social clubs and student support available.

Students and teachers then workshopped their skills and interests and mapped them to potential careers and course areas.

The morning finished with a tour of the different types of res accommodation available and all relevant information including application timelines and costs.

Deakin

We then moved on to Deakin Campus where we were greeted by their student mentors and were guided to the new state of the art law presentation theatrette where students were familiarized with the Deakin campuses, their course offerings, extracurricular activities and events and the ‘pathways finder’ available on the website.

https://www.deakin.edu.au/study/entry-pathways/find-a-pathway

Students then filled out a little survey to provide insight on their study preferences and went into a lucky dip with two students winning beanies.

The group then toured the Deakin living on res options, common spaces and facilities with the student mentors providing important information on applying early for students wanting to live on res, this is crucial for students wanting to live on res at any university, not just Monash and Deakin. 

And to finish up the day we toured some of the educational spaces so that students could gain some insight into where they might be studying for specific course areas. All in all it was a fantastic day, teachers were delighted to hear Monash staff commending our students as one of the most polite and respectful groups they have ever had through. Students also took the opportunity to ask questions so a big Congratulations to our year 12’s for representing GSSC so well.

GV Health Allied Health Taster Day

Sixteen Year 10 students from GSSC recently participated in a full-day event hosted at GV Health hospital in collaboration with Goulburn Murray Local Learning & Employment Network (GMLLEN). The purpose of the day was to introduce students to various Allied Health professions through interactive workshops and educational opportunities.

Key Highlights:

• Workshops: Students engaged in five workshops covering a range of Allied Health fields such as Occupational Therapy, Medical Imaging, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Exercise Science, and Pharmacy.
• Educational Expo: An expo hosted by universities and TAFE institutions allowed students to explore courses related to Allied Health, providing insight into future educational pathways.
• Lunch Provided: Students were provided with lunch, ensuring they had the energy to participate fully in the day's activities.
• Personalised Certificates: Each student received a personalised certificate recognising their attendance and participation in the event, highlighting their commitment and interest in Allied Health careers.

Student Feedback: The day was enjoyed by all participants, who found the workshops engaging and informative. It provided them with a valuable opportunity to gain practical insights into different healthcare professions and to start considering their career paths early on.

Thank you to GV Health & Goulburn Murray Local Learning & Employment Network (GMLLEN) for organising such an interactive and informative day.

Trades Taster Day 

Recently GSSC organised a comprehensive event to expose students from year 7 to 12 to various trades-based career paths and educational opportunities. 

The event aimed to provide students and staff with insights into trades-based careers and education pathways. The event generated enthusiasm and interest among students, creating a lively atmosphere in the courtyard. Below are some of the many Trades and Institutions with had onsite: 

• Trades Represented: Engineering, Electrical, Carpentry/Building and Construction, Plumbing, Automotive.
• Educational Institutions: GOTAFE with their focus on VETDSS, Pre-apprenticeships and course offerings and all trade areas were represented by their training staff.
• Special Programs: The HeadStart team specializing in School Based Apprenticeships (SBATs).
• University Engagement: The University of Melbourne, emphasizing Engineering Pathways. La Trobe Uni with their presence to discuss both trade based and non-trade pathway options.
• Local Businesses: Watters, GV Water, O’Connor’s, who directly engaged with students to discuss job opportunities and career paths in their workplaces.

Overall, the event has been successful in achieving its goal of exposing students to trades-based career paths and education, thanks to the active involvement of educational providers, industry partners, and local businesses.

Lisa Kerr

Partnerships