Senior Pathways

The school employs a Leading Teacher with the exclusive role as Head of Pathways and Student Supports. Our Leading Teacher ensures that our students are able to develop the skills and access employment opportunities to the best of their ability and interests.

The Lake Colac School Senior Pathways Program aims to assist students to improve their skills and capabilities, promoting opportunities for hands-on meaningful learning activities, along with gaining confidence to equip them with the necessary skills to function as productively and independently as possible in their post-school life. The program seeks to foster an understanding of the importance of the continuous process of managing life, learning and work-related skills. This may include further education, employment (open and supported), day support services, recreation activities, and home and community living environments.

The program is based on the school’s vision;

To provide authentic learning opportunities that empower all students to achieve their academic and personal best.

It focuses on the individual needs and the priorities of students as they make the transition from schooling into adulthood.

The program continues to develop student’s literacy and numeracy skills. It is project based through the Enterprise Education program and aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, with an emphasis on improving and consolidating functional skills. This includes an important focus on enhancing student’s wellbeing through developing personal and interpersonal capabilities.

Generally, the program is delivered in the last four years of a student’s enrolment at the school. Some areas of the program may be introduced at an earlier stage, with individual student needs and abilities taken into consideration. It requires a flexible approach to meet the needs of each individual student.

The Senior Pathways Program has three core areas

• Independent Living – This area is a focus for all senior students based on the core fundamentals of living life as independently as they can. These essential skills and knowledge build the foundation for all transitioning options.
• Career Education – Most students will focus on and develop necessary skills and behaviours related to various forms of paid or unpaid work. Where possible, this area will include Work Experience and Work Placement, exposing students to a range of career options. Students participate in work readiness programs at school through the Enterprise Education program, running micro businesses to develop their skills and knowledge through the whole process, including project proposals, product design, budgeting/invoicing, problem solving and continual evaluation of the process. Students also undertake work-related and OH&S skill development programs including A Job Well Done, Safe @ Work and the Passport 2 Employment, amongst a variety of other training tailored to individual students needs and interests (ie. White Card, Food Handling, Barista course, etc).
• Further Education – Some students will explore various post-secondary educational settings to gain qualifications related to a specific career path. This may also include School-Based Traineeships (SBATs) or another certificate-based course (ie. Certificate II in Hospitality).

Within each learning area the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours are organised into categories.

This framework is designed to give an overview of the skills and areas that are concentrated on throughout the senior years of schooling at Lake Colac School. It is not written as a prescribed program; it is a framework, illustrating the areas of importance and focus in the secondary years.