It’s celebration week for students enrolled in TAFE NSW’s YES+ program. While COVID restrictions ruled out any kind of mass gathering to mark the end of this term’s program, the people behind YES+ were determined that the students get some kind of recognition for their efforts.

“The celebrations are designed to acknowledge the students for their commitment to the program and to reinforce the value of a vocational pathway,” says Nola Lucre, the TAFE Services Manager for Macarthur.

In case you’re wondering, YES+ stands for Youth Engagement Strategy PLUS. The program is all about giving students the opportunity to engage in TAFE-style hands-on activities while they’re still at school. Think of it as a little taster of what a TAFE NSW course offers. It also provides an opportunity for some 1:1 mentoring to help them turn their aspirations into a realistic career plan.

The students from the EPPP’s pilot schools in south-west Sydney have been lapping up the YES+ program, trialling courses in everything from Carpentry to Community Services, Design, Fashion, Hospitality, and Transport and Logistics. The program has even seen students studying Robotics.

This week’s festivities kicked off in Campbelltown on Monday. The Creative Stream students had an opportunity to finish their projects before enjoying a celebratory lunch. Later in the day, after some inspiring speeches by TAFE NSW staff, the students were presented with their certificates by their teacher. Similar events were held at Macquarie Fields, Liverpool, and Wetherill Park for students in the other streams and, on Friday 25 September, Skills Minister Geoff Lee is scheduled to speak to the Carpentry, Electrical and Robotics students at TAFE NSW Miller campus.

All in all, it’s been a great week highlighting the efforts of some enthusiastic and talented students who will become the workforce of the future.

If you’d like more information about the YES+ program, please email the EPPP team.