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The STEP Program
CO-ORDINATOR |
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The STEP Program
CO-ORDINATOR |
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Students in their final two years at Ashwood School undertake a multi-faceted program that develops the key competencies proven to be necessary for post-school life. These years are a true transition and aim to assist students with disabilities and impairments to develop confidence and competence in the skills needed to function in post-school employment, further education and training, leisure and recreation and home and community living.
Students are grouped into one of two pathways- the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or modules from the Certificate I in Transition Education. Learning outcomes from a wide range of subject areas are selected to suit the needs of the student. These include Literacy and Numeracy skills, Personal Development, Work Related skills, Travel, Orientation and Mobility, Technology for Life, etc.
Students are allocated to pastoral groups for educational programs. The pastoral care teacher plans an educational program that links continuing literacy and numeracy with the necessary independent living, community access and vocational skills.
Each student is also allocated to a work station or simulated workplace setting, to practice pre-vocational skills and to enhance personal social skills in a cooperative work environment. Each semester, for 2 days per week, most students will be placed in a different work station as follows:
Catering:
Involves baking and preparing food for a local school canteen, managing and collating lunch orders and maintaining food supplies, complying with the strict requirements of the Victorian Department of Health
Industry:
A work centred program comprising collating and packaging items, group placement at supported work settings, managing the school Waste Wise Recycling Unit and car washing and detailing.
Grounds/Maintenance:
Tasks include the general maintenance of the school gardens and grounds at Ashwood School as well as developing new garden and landscape projects. The group is also part of a monthly mowing and grounds maintenance program at Garfield Outdoor Education Centre.
Textiles:
Storage King allow us to use a fully serviced facility on the ground level in Evans St Burwood, where students assist in the production of canvas goods such as chair and library bags for use in schools throughout Victoria. STEP students who are posted to the annexe for a semester on work station days learn how to measure, cut, sew and finish the goods under the watchful eye of their teacher and the sewing machinist and teacher aide, Michelle Lee.
In addition, some students will attend a TAFE institution for a full day session per week as part of the VCAL requirement. All STEP students are expected to gain an acceptable level of competency in OH&S before being placed on Work Experience in a range of settings over the two years.
The STEP curriculum also includes an Urban Adventure trip to the Melbourne CBD or an interstate trip to Queensland in alternate years. Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate planning and organisational skills and many other essential social competencies at this time.
At the end of the year a Valedictory Dinner is held for Year 12 students, all of whom have been placed in the Futures For Young Adults Programs, local TAFE courses and/or open employment.