K-12 Career Education - Havenlee School
Havenlee School aimed to establish a whole school, workplace learning program for students in Preschool to Year 12 to develop portable employability skills in an authentic real-world setting to establish future employment and work experience placement links in the local community.
The program also aims to make vocational education tasks accessible for all 67 students. The K-12 Career Education Initiative assists schools embed career education into their curriculum.
The aim of the initiative is to:
- develop innovative and creative career education processes that will strengthen the smooth transition from secondary school to their school replacement plan.
- raise student expectations and pathways into further study and/or training.
- provide teachers with targeted professional learning.
- establish strong relationships with the community.
- be inclusive of students who have moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, complex medical needs and/or mental health disorders.
School context
Havenlee School is on the traditional land of the Yuin Nation. It is a School for Specific Purposes (SSP) in North Nowra and part of the Northern Shoalhaven Community of Schools. The school consists of 10 classes, Pre-school to Year 12. The students present with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Aboriginal students make up approximately 38% of Havenlee School enrolments. Each student has a Personalised Learning Plan/Pathway (PLP) from which an adjusted Individualised Education Program is devised and implemented.
The K-12 Career Education Initiative assists schools embed career education into their curriculum. The career education initiative aligns with:
Our Plan for NSW Public Education to advance equitable outcomes, opportunities, and experiences by providing broad, inclusive, and rich curriculum with strong co-curricular activities; and
Our Disability Strategy so that students can experience smoother transitions between schools and settings.
How is Havenlee school implementing K-12 career education?
The Havenlee school is establishing a whole school, workplace learning program for students in preschool to year 12 to develop portable employability skills in an authentic real-world setting and future employment and work experience placement links in the local community.
Environmental scan
The team surveyed staff, collated an inventory of vocational education resources, analysed vocational education activities, and prepared a wish list of what they wanted to achieve.
Vocational education school-based industries
It was important to ensure that there were tasks across the chosen vocational education, school-based industry activities that could be achieved across all classes and include all students. Activities identified include, Havenlee Café, Havenlee Canteen, Vermiculture and Gardening.
Student Personalised Learning Plans
All secondary students have a Vocational Education goal in their personalised learning plans (PLP). For example, “participates during in-school work experience activities with a switch and one-to-one support, 4/5 times by the end of semester 1”.
Parent and carer engagement
Parent and carers are engaged in student transition processes. Parents and carers are invited to attend an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) meeting and Shoalhaven NDIS service provider tour. A post-program survey is provided to parents to identify impact of the vocational education program including, school-based industry activities, ITP meeting and service provider tour.
PowerPoint presentation Havenlee school K-12 Career Education (233.5 MB PPTX)
- Increased accessibility of career education for students who have moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, complex medical needs and/or mental health disorders.
- Students are exposed to employability and life skills.
Tips for schools/teachers
- Upskilling and building capacity in teachers and SLSOs will support sustainability.
- Consult teachers and SLSOs when buying resources and purchase equipment that is multipurpose and easy to maintain.
- Parents/carers play an important role in student transition into post-school pathways. Include them in planning vocational activities and provide them with a checklist to help them guide their children.
- Purchase an iClick to use with any new equipment in the future and with appliances across the school. NOTE: This is specialised adaptive equipment that can be purchased from Spectronics.
Reflective questions for leaders
- How can we develop a whole school approach to career education and allocate resources effectively to support its implementation?
- How can we better prepare our students for post-school pathways and establish future employment opportunities?
- How can we evaluate the impact of career education and show case student achievements to inspire the wider school community?
- What professional learning would support staff to engage in the program?
- How can we foster partnerships with local businesses, industry experts, and community organisations to enrich career learning opportunities for our students?
Reflective questions for teachers
- Am I meeting the career aspirations, goals, and interests of my students according to their student plans - IEPs/PLPs etc?
- How can I get more involved in career education/activities at my school?
- What resources, support, and technology can enhance the incorporation of career learning in my lessons, while enriching student experiences through real-world connections?