Geelong Community Foundation Supports Ardoch Programs

Ardoch was excited to be the recipient of a grant from the Geelong Community Foundation in 2019/20. The Foundation’s support enabled a range of Ardoch’s Broadening Horizons programs to operate in Geelong, positively impacting on the educational outcomes for children and young people in the region.

This grant supported, amongst others, Nelson Park School – Illinois Campus students, who face many challenges and barriers to obtaining ongoing employment and finding effective study options that match their interests. As part of Ardoch’s You-niversity program 40 year 10 and 11 students from Nelson Park’s World of Work class travelled to The Gordon’s East campus to explore different career path opportunities and experience first-hand what life is like at TAFE for a day. Students were able to explore up close what it is like to be a student at the campus and see Gordon students taking part in a broad range of practical learning activities.

The program was developed through a partnership with Ardoch and The Gordon and was supported by a staff member from the Gordon team who acted as a guide explaining the expectations of the TAFE students and their different course options.  At each learning area, teachers shared the day to day classroom activities and showed practical examples of student work involved as part of; design, mechanical/engineering, spray painting, carpentry, agriculture, administration, and IT courses to name a few.

Here is what some of the students had to say about the experience:

“The Gordon has a lot of different opportunities for student post school like graphic design which is what I want to do.”

– Student

“Interacting with unfamiliar adults about their career pathways – it was interesting to find out how the Gordon had helped them”.

– Student