Delahey News

HeadStart

It has been a wonderful experience working with the dedicated staff at Copperfield College and implementing the HeadStart program. As HeadStart Coordinator, I was privileged to meet some amazing young people and assist them with their pathway into an apprenticeship/traineeship. HeadStart students work as part-time apprentices with their employers during the year (including school holidays) and move to full-time work once they complete their Senior VCAL next year.

Year 11 VCAL students Jordan, Taylah and Emily have all begun their careers in areas they are passionate about and earning high praise from their respective employers. Jordan has already completed 6 months off his formal Cert III training in Cabinet Making at Victoria Polytechnic and at least 3 months off his formal employment which started with Westside Cabinets at the end of Term 2.

Taylah has been a valuable member of the team at Paisley Park since starting with SWL earlier in the year. Now, working as a Childcare trainee, she will be able to commence a Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care early next year and take on more responsibilities and roles in at the centre.

During her week of SWL, Emily impressed the staff at Hair House Warehouse with her attention to detail and diligence they immediately offered her the job at their Highpoint salon. Emily was very keen to direct her VET studies in an industry she was passionate about, using her 2019 completed Cert II in Salon Assistant to get her into the HeadStart program and an apprenticeship.

The success of the HeadStart program at Copperfield is due to the support of the school leadership team and the teachers and staff who have worked with the students and behind the scenes to make it happen.

Thank you for your support in 2019 and I look forward to further successes in 2020.

Ms Maria Cox

HeadStart Co-ordinator

CEAV Careers Conference

Recently I had the opportunity to refresh my careers knowledge and practice by attending the CEAV Careers Conference with other career practitioners from across Victoria and interstate. The Conference was held at Melbourne University over three days in late November and provided numerous key note speakers and workshops which directly benefited my work as Head Start coordinator at Copperfield and other Government schools across Brimbank and Melton. Other staff from Copperfield included career practioners: Sam DeSilva, Jenny Zahra and Bella Moore.

I was fortunate to sit in on a career theory masterclass with Dr Mary McMahon, (Universtiy of Queensland) and gain a fabulous overview of career education and development in Australia by Colin McCowan, OAM. In fact I won a copy of his latest publication: Career Education and Development. The conference gave me an opportunity to refresh my interest in the Labour Market Information Portal (lmip.gov.au) and check out the employment trends across Melbourne’s West.

Ms Maria Cox

HeadStart Co-ordinator