The BGK LLEN, along with Inner Eastern LLEN and the Department of Human Services, is leading the Youth Disability Pathways Network. This Network brings together key agencies supporting young people with disabilities to increase their access to sustainable learning and career pathways. Network members include the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Southern Metropolitan Region), Department of Human Services (Southern Metropolitan Region), National Disability Coordination Officer (Southern Melbourne), special needs schools (Berendale and Montague Schools) and a range of regional employment and youth transition agencies.

Networks

• School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SBAT) Pilot Network – this Network is exploring the introduction of an SBAT pilot progam for young people enrolled in special needs schools within the Inner Melbourne region.

Projects

• Ticket to Work Pilot Program – Ticket to Work is a SBAT program for young people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Within the BGK LLEN region, a number of Berendale School students with disabilities will be selected to take part in this pilot program.  Ticket to Work will match students with employers, enabling them to take part in an SBAT for between 1 – 2 years.  Students will commence with their employer in early 2012 and will undertake the SBAT training and employment as part of their VCAL. The program will follow best-practice approaches and include substantial evaluation and action research to benefit ongoing delivery and/or introduction in other regions.  For more information download a program flyer
• Research Report - A literature review of strategies and approaches to apprenticeships and traineeships for people with a disability and recommendations for how to develop a best practice SBAT model for young people with disabilities was jointly prepared by representatives from the BGK LLEN and the Department of Human Services in 2010. PDF download: Rationale and Recommendations for a Pilot School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SBAT) Program for Students with Disability in the Inner Melbourne Region (BGK LLEN and IE LLEN Regions).
• Australian Disability Employment Services Conference 2011 - Network members (including BGK LLEN staff) have delivered findings from the Research Report (outlined above) at the 2011 ACE Conference in June 2011 as well as the Victorian Applied Learning Association conference in August 2011. 

Who would be interested in learning about or participating in this network or projects?

School staff (eg. VCAL, VET, Careers, Welfare Coordinators), disability organisations, youth organisations, welfare organisations, health and wellbeing organisations, business, industry groups, apprenticeship services, group training providers, registered training providers, employment services and local government (eg. youth and economic development departments).

More information

• Fiona Waugh (BGK LLEN) on 9584 8845 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Louisa Ellum (BGK LLEN) on 9584 8845 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it