1. MANUFACTURING IN THE NORTH: This project aimed to increase knowledge of the manufacturing environment and the opportunities that currently exist for training and employment in this area.
2. KODE INDIVIDUAL PATHWAYS (KIP's): In Year 10, students leaving Box Forest KODE School must make a decision as to their future pathway. Some students find this distruptive and choose not to continue with education and employment. The KIP's program was devised to provide a personal transition program so that each student was able to develop an individual learning plan. 3. WHITTLESEA TOWNSHIP YOUTH PROJECT: This project intended to retain students in years 9 and 10 who were identified as being at very high risk of leaving school. It also worked to re-engage a number of young people who had left school early and who were not working or studying. It offered 2.5 days per week of VET, one day of work placement and 1.5 days with an adapted Certificate of Education for adults. 4. BROADMEADOWS YOUNG MIGRANT ACCESS PROGRAM:
This program was developed to assist refugee people who needed a greater opportunity to develop their language and learning skills before commencing their VCE, other training program or work.
ROUND 2: (August 2002)

In August 2002 a total of 6 Projects were funded.

1. DISCOVERING YOUTH VOICES WITHIN THE WHITTLESEA COMMUNITY:

This was an action research program which aimed to engage with organisations working with young people from the City of Whittlesea. Its purpose was to find the most effective ways to ensure that the work of the Whittlesea Youth Commitment and member organisations is youth driven and responsive.

2. DEVELOPING INDUSTRY AWARENESS IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES:

This was centred on the organisation of a series of Industry Information Sessions for students, parents and teachers. The sessions focussed on the areas of known skill shortages, with regard to the fact that a number of industry groups, particularly the Stainless Steel Industry, had reported extreme difficulty in attracting young people into their industries.

3. HUME AND NON GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS EXIT TRACKING AND SUPPORT PROGRAM:

This project aimed to investigate ways to improve current student exit procedure processes and record keeping, identify the needs of all exiting students and help them become aware of their options. It also worked to develop tracking resources and procedures to assist schools to keep in contact with former students during the year after exit.

4. HUME KOORI LEADERSHIP PROGRAM:

This program instigated an 18 month pilot program aimed at building support mechanisms for 'at risk' Koori Youth. It utilised and trained well respected Koori adults to act as mentors, whose roles included supporting and guiding Koori youth through their life problems.

5. CURRICULAM/WORKPLACE SKILL IDENTIFICATION:

This project provided an opportunity for 'at risk' students to identify skills developed in their school subjects and their relevance to the workplace before industry visits. The rationale was to develop in students minds the association between school subjects and workplace skills.

6. GISBORNE/SUNBURY YET PROJECT:

This project aimed to indentify the needs of the young people in the Sunbury and Gisborne region aged 15-19, who were at risk of disengaging from learning.

*Gisborne/Sunbury Yet Project - REPORT

ROUND 3: (July 2003)

In July 2003 a total of 10 projects were funded.

1. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION BROKER PROGRAM:

Six secondary schools have employed transition brokers to assist students who are at risk of leaving secondary school before completing Year 12. The project proposal is for funds to employ a Support Person for the Transition Brokers to evaluate their current processes, to collate data currently being collected and to ensure processes are set in place to sustain their valuable work beyond HWLLEN funding.

2. GISBORNE/SUNBURY YET RECOMMENDATIONS EVALUATION:

The YET (Youth Employment & Training Group) intends to have a number of representaives visit locations where alternaitve education processes are being conducted, then subsequently assess the value of each one to their own region and its youth.

3. HOMEWORK SUPPORT PROGRAM:

This project aims to reduce educational disadvantage, school disengagement and social isolation for migrant and refugee students from Broadmeadows Secondary College and Broadmeadows English Language Centre by providing these students with an after school homework support program.

4. HUME/WHITTLESEA SCHOOL/BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROJECT:

The aim of this project is to initiate, facilitate and develop relationships between schools and businesses on a local level. The project is particularly seeking to support and encourage current and prospective providers of VCAL in commencing, developing and sustaining relationships with local business partners.

5. PERSON CENTRED PLANNING PILOT PROJECT:

This project between Brite Industries and Broadmeadows Disability Service aimed to deliver person centred planning assistance to 13 people with intellectual disabilites. It is a process of life planning and will include a schedule of activites including leisure and work experience.

6. SUPPORTING EARLY SCHOOLS LEAVERS THROUGH MENTORING:

This project provided mentees with a range of introductory activities and training to enhance their invlovement in the mentor/mentee relationship, while at the same time, offering support and encouragement for greater numbers of disengaged people to participate.

7. TACKLING STUDENT ABSENTEEISM IN THE WOODLAND CLUSTER:

A Community Development Officer will be employed to undertake a research project within the Woodlands Cluster to identify and document statistics and demographics which focus on absenteeism, school refusal, non attendees etc, as well as identification and documentation of models of 'Best Practice'.

* Tackling Student Absenteeism - REPORT

8. TRANSITION IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM:

The aim for this project was the development of a research project in order to create a best practice model for transitioning 14-19 year olds. This will identify the role that external organisations might play in the process and the most appropriate time to introduce the activities.

9. WHITTLESEA TOWNSHIP YOUTH PROGRAM EVALUATION:

This project desciption is to evaluate a previous alternative education program with the view of making the findings available to stakeholders, as well as recommendations on a wider scale. The program itself aimed to retain and re-engage students who were at risk of leaving school or who had left school early.

10. POLL POSITION:

This project aims to provide young poeple with basic skills in automotive mechanics, as well as detailed knowledge regarding the legal and financial aspects of car ownership and use. Skills gained through the course will also provide opportunites to further pursue pathways in the auto industry.

* Poll Position - REPORT

ROUND 4: (October 2003)

In October 2003 a total of 6 projects were funded.

1. SKILLS WORX:

The primary aim of this program is to enable young people to be invloved in a program that will provide introductory pathways for employment and training in the community sector. This will be done through the development of generic skills through incorporating aspects of general education for adults, planning for employment and training, information technology and life time goal setting.

2. LATER YEARS RESEARCH: CITY OF WHITTLESEA SCHOOLS:

This program aims to research the Whittlesea community and its young people's needs, as well as educational models of good practice throughout Australia to bring new ideas and practices to Whittlesea.

3. AGENCY COLLABORATION - DISABILITY:

The aim of this project is to ensure the learning's from the previous Person Centred Planning Project (in round 3), are developed, implemented and the service system enhanced. It aims to move into the next phase of the Person Centred thinking philosophy.

4. YOUTH PATHWAYS IN AGED CARE:

Occupations in the Aged Care sector are not as readily considered by young people leaving their education as other areas are. This project aims to highlight the industry and its job opportunities, through providing a model that can be utilised across regions confirming the need, and establishing networks to support the introduciton of new VET courses in the Community Services area.

*Youth Pathways in aged Care - REPORT

5. WHITTLESEA CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT EXPO 2004:

Whittlesea Secondary College will hold a careers and employment expo in mid 2004 following the success of their expo held the year before. The expo is aimed at those students who may have difficulty geographically in attending expos in other areas.

6. WHITTLESEA SUPPORTED HOMEWORK PROGRAM:

This is an after school prgram for secondary students 'at risk' of disengaging from school, their family and the community. The program aims to reduce educational disadvantage, school disengagement and social isolation of young people, by providing a supportive and safe work learning environment.