Background

Initiated by leaders in education

In 2004, Malcolm Millar, Regional Director, Department of Education and Training, and Kerry Cox, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ballarat, discussed their concerns over the significant number of young people not completing Year 12 or an equivalent qualification in the Grampians Region. They were concerned because this level of education and training is the acknowledged minimum level required to actively participate in life and work in the 21st century.

The two leaders determined explore, with representatives of the education, training and employment sector, a way in which they could all work collaboratively to meet the needs of those young people currently not achieving this minimum level of education and training.

A Regional Partnerships Conference was held in July 2004 in Stawell with participants from each of the sectors, to identify possible areas for collaboration to meet this goal.

An outcome of the conference was the formation of a planning group, which in 2005 was formalised into the Grampians Education Partnership. Its aim was to develop a framework for the partner organisations to work collaboratively to assist all 15-19 year olds in the Grampians Region complete year 12 or an equivalent qualification.

To achieve this, young people need access to a broad range of education and training programs, and the support necessary to participate in the programs and to make successful transitions between them. This vision led to the development of the concept of the Youth Options Guarantee.

While schools play an essential role in providing support to young people in the pathway to completing Year 12, the Youth Options Guarantee aims to draws together the full range of education and training providers, employment and health and wellbeing agencies, which collectively recognise that education and training of young people in the Grampians Region is their shared responsibility.

With the assistance of a grant from the Department of Education and Training, in July 2005 Project Officer was engaged to assist the four Local Learning and Employment Networks in the Grampians Region to develop the proposed support and referral system.