Around Australia, Education First Youth (EFY) Foyers have been built on TAFE land to provide 2-year accommodation and 24/7 coaching support for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access education, training, employment and mainstream opportunities. Across 11 sites, EFY Foyers have worked with well over 1,000 young people nationally to transition them beyond dependency on service systems and into thriving futures.
Key to the EFY Foyer model is the Certificate 1 in Developing Independence, a modality created by the Brotherhood of St Laurence and co-delivered by TAFE and community services staff.
The Certificate I is an accredited, foundation level course to assist young people living at EFY Foyers and beyond to re-engage in education and training, as well as develop the life and living skills necessary to move toward independence. Young people set actionable goals around key life domains including education, civic participation and health and wellbeing, and engage in 11 practical life skill modules focusing on topics such as: personal presentation, knowing your legal rights and accessing independent housing.
This innovative course was co-developed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 2013 and demonstrates how re-engagement with education can be delivered differently, by bringing TAFE closer to community service organisations and recognising their mutual expertise and roles in supporting young people experiencing barriers to education.
In this engaging session, delegates can expect an inspiring and informative presentation on EFY Foyers model and the Certificate I in Developing Independence course. They will understand the co-delivery role of TAFE and community sector partners and experience a showcase of student outcomes. The audience will also learn how the EFY Foyer program and the Certificate I in Developing Independence can be taken on and adapted for different TAFEs and their respective students and communities.