Teaching youth skills for life

FORMERLY called Things No One Told You, an updated version of The Y Ballarat’s free Lifeskills Program will soon return for people aged fifteen to twenty-three.

Youth impact facilitator Caitlin Clark said the effort is all about educating youth on the things and processes in life they’re expected to know, but may not have been taught at school or at home.

“We’ll look at the areas of finance, home, life administration, and relationships and social,” she said.

“We’ll address things like how to fill a script, getting a tax file number, putting up a picture frame, voting in an election, job skills, how to approach a job interview, and relationships and boundary setting.”

Ms Clark is consulting with young people and community organisations, and she said every person she’s spoken to already has expressed the program is necessary.

“There’s a gap between what young people learn at school, and the expectation of young people in society,” she said. “Not everyone gets this kind of information from their parents or guardians.

“This program aims to fill that gap and teach them in a safe and supportive environment.

“It will be delivered in collaboration with other organisations around Ballarat who can provide specific content, like a financial counsellor for example, and we will employ young people on short-term casual contracts to assist us with digital content development and co-facilitation.”

The Y Ballarat are seeking more young people to consult with around content and development, and these people will receive a $20 voucher for their input.

The next Zoom consultation session will be held on Tuesday, 13 September from 3pm to 4pm. Contact Ms Clark at 0448 608 961 or [email protected] to express interest.

The program is expected to return by the end of the year and will primarily be delivered face-to-face.