Initiatives targeting Recommendation 22

Victoria

Koori Recruitment and Career Development Strategy

This strategy recognises the need to have more Aboriginal officers in Victoria Police and correctional facilities with a priority to have them employed in policy and program development in all justice agencies. Strategy includes:

• Employment targets across all areas of the Justice Portfolio;
• Scholarship programs for Aboriginal students studying law, criminology, police studies and other justice-related courses;
• Scholarships and a mentoring program
• Placement opportunities for Koori trainees within the justice system;
• Development of a support network for Koori employees.

Target group: Koori tertiary students, government trainees and employees

Coverage: Victorian Public Service and the Victorian Indigenous community

Timeframe: 2000 - 2005

Responsible Agency: Indigenous Issues Unit Portfolio Planning, Department of Justice

Website: www.justice.vic.gov.au

Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs)

LLENs as a result of their local research and analysis may identify the need for an enhanced focus on vocational experience and structured workplace learning as a local priority for young people.

Target group: Young people aged 15 to 19 years

Coverage: Metropolitan, rural and regional communities across Victoria

Timeframe: 2001-2004

Responsible Agency: Department of Education and Training

Website: www.det.vic.gov.au/det/

Action Plan for School to Work Transition for VCE Students

Implementation of an Action Plan to increase successful school to work transition mechanisms for VCE students through increasing participation rates of Victorian students in part time (school based) traineeships and apprenticeships.

Target group: Students with a post school employment destination and students at risk of not completing Year 12

Coverage: Victorian Students in Years 10 to 12

Timeframe: 2002 - 2005

Responsible Agency: Office of Training and Tertiary Education, Department of Education and Training

Website: www.det.vic.gov.au/det/

VET in the VCE

These programs provide access to nationally recognised training sector credentials (from Certificate I to III in the AQF) as part of the overall VCE program. Programs comply with the Training Packages and/or accredited VET curriculum. Most programs include structure workplace learning.

Target group: Students aged 15-19 years in schools or other VCE providers

Coverage: About 25% of the VCE cohort undertake these programs

Timeframe: Ongoing

Responsible Agency: Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) for development of programs. Funding support to schools from Department of Education and Training

Website: www.det.vic.gov.au/det/

Youth Pathways Program

This program provides funding to deliver training to at-risk young people and provide support to assist the young person to remain in the training. All providers are required to work with the Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) in the delivery of training to improve post compulsory education and training outcomes.

Target group: Young people aged 15 - 17 years who have left school, have not completed Year 12, are eligible for Youth Allowance, and are not employed are priorities of this program

Coverage: TAFE Institutes and ACE organisations State wide

Timeframe: 2001-2002

Responsible Agency: The Office of Training and Tertiary Education, Department of Education and Training

Website: www.det.vic.gov.au/det/

Go For IT Traineeships

Go for IT aims to assist people, especially young people to gain employment through an IT, Communications or Multimedia Traineeship.

Target group: Young people aged 15-24 years

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: Program expected to run until 2004

Responsible Agency: Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, New Apprenticeship Centres (NACs) and Group Training Companies (GTCs). Program supported by Australian Interactive Multimedia Association (AIMIA), Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Commonwealth IT Skills Hub.

Website: www.iird.vic.gov.au

Young Achievement Australia and Shell Livewire Program

Both programs combine the know-how of existing community leaders with the energy and vitality of young people. The programs support new business enterprises and introduce principles of successful business operation to secondary and tertiary students and other young people.

Target group: Young people aged 18-25

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: 2002

Responsible Agency: Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development

Website: www.iird.vic.gov.au