Career education: linking learning for students with disability to workplace experiences
Black Mountain School supports students to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions described in the Australian Curriculum by providing learning experiences through engagement with community and industry.
Key aspects of the program of learning include:
Horticulture
The horticulture program provides the opportunity for students to engage in rich, applied learning through on-the-job training and industry-standard work experience at Yarralumla Nursery Horticulture Training Centre, as well as the school's own horticulture centre.
Hospitality
Students in the hospitality program operate the school canteen. Students also operate the on-site facility Café Six Degrees as a commercial venture. The program maximises opportunities for students to access work experience in the community and practice communication and collaboration skills in an authentic, supportive learning environment.
Sustainability
Students in the sustainability skills program lead the school recycling program to collect and sort paper and plastic recyclables. Recycled and sustainable products are used to create artworks and other products. These are available for purchase in the school café.
Work Experience
Meaningful work experience allows students the opportunity to transfer the skills they learn at school to a workplace environment. Community partnerships offer work experience in a wide range of contexts.
Black Mountain School incorporates the Australian Curriculum learning areas of Design Technologies, Health and Physical Education, English, Mathematics and The Arts.
The school uses the general capabilities to develop teaching and learning plans that support all learners to achieve their goals. Development of the Literacy, Numeracy, and Critical and Creative Thinking capabilities is fundamental to students becoming successful learners. Students can develop the elements of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and social management within the Personal and Social capability.
In the illustration of practice:
Describe how the school uses the Australian Curriculum learning areas and general capabilities to develop a career education program.
Identify the school's approach to the key objectives of Future Ready: A student focused National Career Education Strategy.
How does the school identify and engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of their career education program?
In your school context:
Identify how a school-based career education program would benefit your students.
What aspects of the Australian Curriculum could be included in your school-based career education program?
What elements of the Future Ready: A student focused National Career Education Strategy would you include when developing your school-based career education program?
How would you identify and include appropriate community stakeholders when developing a school-based career education program?
Black Mountain School website
