The staff of the Brimbank/Melton LLEN wish you a very happy festive season and a peaceful, safe and healthy 2012.

Graeme has been the BMLLEN Project Manager for the last four years and previously served the education sector for the previous 30 years.  He has served in the government secondary sector in the West as a teacher, Western Region Curriculum Consultant, Assistant Principal and Principal.

Graeme has worked in several schools in the West and neighbouring regions, namely St Albans Technical School, Keilor Downs Secondary College, Essendon High School, Bacchus Marsh Secondary College, St Albans Secondary College and Sunbury Downs College.  For approximately two years during his career he has also held positions with the Western Metropolitan Region in Curriculum Consultancy (Lincolnville Support Centre) and a short term contract in the Facilities Unit assisting with the Building Education Revolution.

In his previous role with the BMLLEN, Graeme has built strong and enduring relationships with our stakeholders and we look forward to a strengthening of relationships and enhanced outcomes for our young people in the Brimbank/Melton area.

The Brimbank/Melton LLEN commissioned Mary Cahill to investigate and establish benchmark data regarding the pathways of students with a refugee background.  The study involved refugee students who attended government secondary colleges in the City of Brimbank in 2010.

Click on the link to read the full report: Refugee students transition from school to employment or further education from goverment secondary schools in 2010 in City of Brimbank

Brotherhood of St Laurence ‘Connecting Young People to Real Jobs’ flyer

Importantly, a number of local young people spoke, including a past client of the clinic, who emphasised the vital support the BackDoor Clinic gave her when she was going through a critical time in her life in relation to both her physical and mental health.

The Clinic is open every Thursday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.  The service provided is free of charge and an appointment is not needed.  In addition to Dr Petersen, the clinic is staffed by Tara Seelenmyer, Youth Counsellor, DjHS and Louise Antony, Nurse.

The following is from an article published by “The Brimbank Leader” on 20th September 2011.

Fashionistas at St Albans Secondary College have again shown their designs are a cut above

On September 10, students from the college participated in the Australian Fashion Awards for Secondary Schools as part of Melbourne Fashion Week.  Finalists and garments were selected by a panel at regional heats in August, with all finalists invited to parade their gowns at the Grand Hyatt ballroom.

One of two government schools in the competition, St Albans was called as first or second prize in five of six categories.  “The results of our individual achievements were tallied at the end of the night and we were announced as this year’s Australian Champion Fashion School”, Arts Co-ordinator Nick D’Aglas said.  “We were presented with the perpetual Carringbold Cup by the Melbourne Mayor”.

There were eight finalists, including year 12 student Rolland Andreica, who took out Australian Champion Smart Street school designer of the year.

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SKILL shortages in Melton Shire’s building industry will be tackled as part of a new Building Melton Together initiative.

The program, initiated by Melton Council in response to the rapid growth in housing development, aims to link up 150 pre-screened Melton Shire job-seekers with employers.

It is a “one stop shop” that links and supports developers, builders, sub-contractors, job services, education and training providers and job seekers.

Building Industry Liaison Consultant, Joanne Mikkhael, said more than 50 job-seekers had already registered for the program and were set to be pre-screened and given career counselling before being recommended to employers.

She said Building Melton Together was for everyone looking for work or employees in any trade associated with the building industry in the shire.

“We will be linking quality job seekers with employers to make sure this is a positive experience for everyone, “she said.

Ms Mikhael said if successful, the pilot project could be expanded to other industries such as hospitality in the future.

Employers and job seekers can register at meltonconstruction.jobs.com.au or 1300 003 337.

Hon Peter Garrett AM MP and students from Kurunjang SC

At the Western Chances-Skills Scholarship Award Ceremony held on 9th August 2011 at Victoria University, St Albans Campus, four Kurunjang Secondary College students were awarded VET scholarships which will go towards assisting them in pursuing their educational dreams.  They were Melissa Pereira, Jennifer Pereira and Dylan Simmons who are all studying hospitality and Nathan Rtosa who is studying building and construction.  The Western Chances Committee is chaired by Terry Bracks and the Mick Young Scholarship Trust generously funds the scholarship fund.

The Guest Speaker was the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.  The key message was the importance of supporting all of our young adults in the pursuit of their goals and direct link to their capacity to contribute positively in the world of work.  Three past recipients then spoke about how the scholarship assisted them financially as they attended a range of tertiary programs.

A fitting close to the evening comprised of two presentations by past recipients to Terry Bracks, Hon Peter Garrett and Katherine Henderson (WMR Regional Director).  They were presented with a poem on the significance of education and a painting with the message “Education leads to Knowledge which leads to Power”.

As part of the Local Learning & Employment Network’s 10^th Year Anniversary Celebrations, the Brimbank/Melton LLEN has offered all secondary schools in the Brimbank-Melton area, two x $300 scholarships.  We acknowledge that both Brimbank and Melton schools have developed and participated in a very successful VET Cluster for over a decade with government, catholic and independent schools participating in a VET delivery model demonstrating sound governance, equity and access, financial and accountability practices.

 Click on the link below to read a summary of the recommendations of the investigation carried out by Mary Cahill.

BMLLEN Refugee Transition Project recommendations