As part of the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training Navigator program, Ladder has commenced a pilot program in partnership with Berry Street in Gippsland.

The Navigator program supports disengaged young people aged 12 to 15 years old to re-engage with education and learning and works with them to get back to school.

In the Pilot Program, Ladder Development Coaches work directly with young people, their family and support networks to support young people to re-engage in education. Similar to the Ladder Step Up program, the Navigator program aims to work closely with young people to assist them with life skills, classroom skills and understanding themselves better to bridge the gap and best support them to return to school.

The Pilot Program kicked off to a great start in Morwell, with 12 young people enrolled. In the first week, the group participated in a number of Ladder Development Programs (LDPs) covering topics such as Gratitude, independence and routine, personal hygiene and emotional regulation. Young people and Development Coaches also attended a health and wellbeing session at the local gym.

The group have been really enthusiastic and are very quick learners, saying that they want to adopt what they've learnt so far into their everyday life.

"It's been amazing to watch these young people grow and learn as they navigate their way through their own challenges that life throws at them. I'm extremely proud of every single person, they are so kind and always use their best manners." - Tarni White, Ladder Development Coach.