Going to TAFE
 Study at TAFE for Clear Horizons service users brings 'real world' skills
“It’s a real step into the real world,” commented Evan Munroe, Manager Clear Horizons, about the recent move by several of Clear Horizons’ service users, to attend TAFE one or two days a week.
One such student is Prew McKell (pictured) who is doing TAFE’s Vocational Skills Development course each Monday. She’s just a few weeks into the course, but she’s enjoying it and is happy with her decision to enroll in two courses at the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE (MSIT) Alex Hills campus.
“Prew was ready for TAFE this year,” her mother, Dawn McKell said. “She’s at TAFE on Mondays doing Vocational Skills, and on Wednesdays she does Cert 3 in Childcare.
“We found the whole process went very smoothly. The staff and teachers were very helpful. The course fees are also reasonable,” Dawn said. “In Prew’s case it was less than $50 for the half-year.”
Speaking about the move to making TAFE Institutes more inclusive for students with special needs, Tara Kent, Adult Literacy Teacher at MSIT, said that additional support and greater flexibility has been the key.
“For people with disabilities entering the tertiary education sector for the first time, the Vocational Skills Development course has been set up as a pathway between the student’s current study and their future. For instance, with Prew, she had the goal of working in the childcare industry in mind.
“However, not everyone is seeking work or study as their desired outcome. Others are studying to improve their life skills, and take their numeracy and literacy up a notch. They learn about interpersonal skills, community skills, health care.
“For example, students gain the skills to make an appointment to visit the doctor, or to understand a bank statement,” she said.
Evan Munroe feels that these days, there are programs available through TAFE which allow for far greater flexibility and are tailored to student’s particular needs.
“There are two specific numeracy and literacy courses which TAFE has tailored for the needs of people with disabilities or other support needs. These are Vocational Skills Development, followed by Skills for the Future which goes up the next level.
“These courses have a teacher and tutor as the minimum and particular students may also be assisted by a mentor. These are supports that TAFE provides. Then if support workers from Clear Horizons are also needed to assist, that is all possible. Whatever the level of support needed for the student, going to TAFE has become much more responsive to the needs of students with disabilities,” Evan said.
Students who transition towards attending TAFE without Clear Horizons support, will find that their attendance at TAFE is not linked in any way to the individual’s DSQ funding packages (Post School Options, or Adult Lifestyle Support). This minimizes the financial effects on families.
“Families are impressed that upon completing the numeracy and literacy course that Clear Horizons offers (funded by the State Department of Employment and Industrial Relations), that there’s an affordable study option for people to progress even further.”
“TAFE seem to have done their homework on creating a course that fills that academic gap. The experience of going to college is a source of pride as well as excellent life training for any young person,” Evan said.
Tara Kent said the courses are not restricted to the target audience of 17-25 year-olds. “Since 2005, when we first ran Vocational Skills Development at MSIT, we’ve had several mature-aged students in their 30’s and 40’s successfully complete the course.
“Mid-year entry is still possible for 2007, otherwise I am happy to assist people who want to study in 2008, as MSIT starts taking enrolments from August onwards. Besides these two courses, MSIT can help students with disabilities enroll in other courses at Mt Gravatt or Alex Hills campus,” she said.
Course queries: Tara Kent - 0400 477 833
MSIT Mt Gravatt campus- 3215 1402
MSIT Alex Hills campus– 3826 8340
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