As part of the Victorian Government’s Department of Education and Training Navigator program, Ladder established a pilot program in partnership with Berry Street to support students in Gippsland.

Navigator supports disengaged young people to return to education and learning. Following the success of two pilot programs (Morwell & Bass Coast/South Gippsland), the third and final program for the year commenced in Warragul recently.

Over the course of the 6-week program, participants are being supported in 1:1 and group settings to identify and progress their individual education goals. In addition to focusing on education outcomes, the program supports participants to increase their health and wellbeing, independent living skills and community connections.

Participants are completing Ladder Development Programs on topics such as motivation and discipline, self-care, and independence and routine. These sessions have become more of an open dialogue rather than information session as the young people are extremely engaged and comfortable with each other, which has been impactful on the group. Participants also engage in weekly gym sessions and outdoor exercise sessions.

All participants have identified individual goals of returning to school, with some from the first two pilots already back in school.

We look forward to continuing to work with the final group and seeing them complete the program in the remaining weeks.