Services

Accredited Pre-Vocational Education

CREATE provides personal development education for individuals and those to whom practical learning styles accommodate for improved pathway developments to other educational pursuits. These programs incorporate components of experiential learning through outdoor educational activities provided by CREATE’s qualified staff, these components being directly related to key components within the curriculum.

The ethos of this delivery provides for effective and supportive pathways in the pursuit of vocational and personal development. Participation rates exceed 90% with 80% of clients participating in work placement activities on its completion. Many of these obtain employment as a direct consequence of this participation or through the pursuit of vocational education and training also supported by CREATE through Post Program activities and support from the Participant Support Worker funded by the organisation with support from MIPS funding for youth.

Employers, businesses and industry groups are invited to participate in each of these programs providing assistance in delivery through guest speaking and workplace visitation. This activity fosters unity with relation to employee and employer relations and enables participants to view all aspects of workplace interaction and communication requirements. In addition to this, CREATE also involves the services of other agencies such as community health providers, local accommodation providers, welfare agencies and those providing services under the Job Network to name a few. Information sharing in this non-threatening environment encourages active participation and positive input by participants and agency staff. For many young people attending and completing this program it is often the first time that education has been a positive experience presenting to each individual an achievable outcome and pathway.

Vocational Education

CREATE delivers a diverse range of vocational programs for participants of all ages. Suitably qualified professionals with relevant work and life experience and delivery these programs demonstrating empathy and an understanding of the needs of each participant. Each program embraces the Principles of Adult Learning making the learning experience a positive and progressive one. As with the delivery of its Pre-Vocational Training both accredited and non-accredited, CREATE applies itself to catering for all learning styles within the course delivery, those learning styles identified by Kolb and McCarthy ensuring all individuals needs are addressed in the educational or learning environment.

Many participants within the vocational programs are individuals displaced within local industry, casual or seasonal workers and those with little or no formal qualifications. For many, prior learning or educational placement has not been that of a positive experience. These programs not only motivate through positive encouragement and support but also identify current skills that are transferable across industry. These skills are qualified through the process of Recognition of Prior Learning or Experience. Participation in this activity is often a first time inclusion for course participants, the result being a positive and motivational tool within the delivery strategy of the individual program.

As with Pre-Vocational and other areas of service delivery, participants are offered practical work placement as a component of their course with on-going support provided by the organization. An excellent example of this being mature persons participating in Certificate III Community Services (Aged Care) where practical placement utilizing CREATE’s Host Employer register often results in paid employment upon completion of the program. Pathways such as this can also result in the continuance of work related studies such as in this case, Personal Care Attendant for employed people. CREATE strives to establish these pathways in all of its program areas this being one example.

CREATE still maintains its strong focus within the Horticultural and Land Care educational environments. CREATE’s community works projects over the last 3 years are testament to this with the ongoing development of the Gateway Reserve Project at the disused Seagull Paddock site within North Geelong and the current development of the Stieglitz Camp Recreation and Learning Facility.

The Personal Support Program

CREATE delivers services to those disadvantaged under the auspice of the Participant Support Program (PSP). Individuals referred to this program are assessed as possessing multiple barriers to employment and education and require intensive one to one assistance and are not deemed suitable for Job Network Intensive Assistance. Assistance is provided to participating individuals in areas of accommodation, drug and alcohol use/abuse, motivation, personal development, life skills training, Literacy and Numeracy education and general health issues utilizing its vast community network.

Participation in this program is one of a voluntary nature where referred clients may exit assistance from the PSP project at any time. Each individual is treated with respect and dignity irrespective of social and economic status, confidentiality is maintained at all times where the right of the individual being held foremost in the programs delivery.

The target groups include young people aged 15 to 25, mature aged persons from varying social and economic and individuals who are ethnic or from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). CREATE employs the services of specialist workers in areas relative to individual needs including translators and NESB workers for more individualized assistance and support. CREATE’s PSP links with other PSP providers including the broader community in general providing holistic service delivery to all clients.

Although the main purpose of the program is to assist those back into Job Network service provision, CREATE has successfully placed individuals from PSP into meaningful and long-term employment in a diverse range of industry types. These employment outcomes have been made possible through structured and properly negotiated work experience placement and intensive post placement support mechanisms. For many PSP participants, further community education through Registered Training Organisations and Tertiary providers has provided additional motivation through confidence building achieved by the commencement and successful completion of educational and vocational training programs. The program has a strong focus on recreational activities as an effective vehicle to personal progression. Click here to find out more.

Youth and Schools Programs

CREATE provides extensive support and educational programs to youth within the Northern suburbs The City of Wyndam and Barwon Region of Geelong. These include such innovations as:
• Youth Educational Programs for early school leavers
• Financial assistance for returning and attending school students
• In schools programs across the Geelong region for the retention of students
• College based youth worker positions within the Corio Bay Senior College
• Recreational programs for young people including wilderness activities and outdoor education

CREATE provides extensive programs for youth and alternate learning environments incorporating the Geelong Football Club Ltd, The Geelong Audio Education Centre, The Werribee Business Centre, The Norlane Training Centre and experiential outdoor learning venues.

Independent Living Skills & Young Mums Program

Located within an Office of Housing home within the Northern suburbs of Geelong, this program is able to assist those with basic living skills and strategies for securing longer-term accommodation. Targeted at youth and single women, it is supported by the Office of Housing and Aged Care and the Greater City of Geelong. Key areas within the program include:
• Budgeting
• Household Maintenance
• Dealing with service providers
• Personal development and support
• Access to Education and Employment

In addition to this program a program specific to the needs of young teenage mothers was established in the earlier part of 2002 providing holistic support and re-entry to mainstream and community education.

Career Guidance & Driver Education

Assistance is available to individuals with relation to Career Counselling through the Northern Community Education Network (NCEN) and driver education through CREATE's Youth and Community Service Centre and Disability Support Services. Financial aid is also available upon application by contacting Head Office.

Literacy and Numeracy Assistance

Extensive assistance is available to individuals through CREATE's funded course areas for this assistance. Contact Head Office directly for more information. Individual assistance is available upon request and application.

The Community Jobs Program (CJP)

The Gateway Reserve Project will be of long-term duration with land and amenities secured and supported by the City of Greater Geelong to develop a community centre within the northern suburbs of Geelong for equal access to all groups within the local region. This year saw the development of stage II and III of this continued development and the continued partnership between the City of Geelong and other CJP providers and sponsors.

The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Placement Program

CREATE provides services as a Registered Training Organisation for Trainees and Apprentices under this program in a diverse range of areas. The program links with local employers, New Apprenticeship Centres, Job Network Providers, youth agencies and local providers in its placement of individuals within the scope of CREATE's Registered Training Organisational Scope of delivery.

Disability Support Services

Funded by the Department of Human Services and the Schools Disability Impairment allocations, the programs commenced operations in July 2001. Services include pre-vocational and vocational education programs, outdoor education, recreational programs, career guidance and work placement to name a few. Programs link directly to CREATE’s broader service areas and include personalised support for individuals and families.
The department also provides services to schools and has linked the broader community network to individuals by way of other government and community funded programs. Click here to find out more.

Participant Support Worker

Within the previous financial year, CREATE employed the services of a suitably qualified worker to address issues of individuals accessing CREATE’s Community Education Programs. The Participant Support Worker assists participants and students within ACFE funded programs and those within Youth Pathways Program funded courses in a holistic case management role to develop further pathways to learning and employment options. Funding for this position was provided by CREATE and is more recently supported by Managed Individual Pathways (MIP’s) through ACFE.

“Sow a thought and you reap an act;
Sow an act and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit and you reap a character;
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.’

RALPH WALDO EMERSON