Follow the Dream – Pathways, Opportunities and Student Success

Discovering post-school pathways is a major part of the Follow the Dream (FTD) program. Through funding from the Polly Farmer Foundation and its partners, our students are provided with valuable opportunities and experiences beyond the classroom that broaden their horizons and help them explore their future aspirations.

In addition to supporting students academically through afternoon tutoring, ongoing mentoring and monitoring, our Upper School students had the opportunity this term to attend our annual FTD Career Camp. Through an Outreach program this year, students from Eastern Goldfields College in Kalgoorlie joined us for the week-long camp in Perth.

The range of events, activities and visits throughout the week allowed students to learn more about themselves, explore different study and career pathways, and discover opportunities that could support their future goals.

We visited the North Metropolitan TAFE campus in Midland, where students toured a range of training facilities across different VET industries. One particularly interesting discovery was that some of the old wind turbines from Esperance are now being used as training resources at the campus. It therefore made perfect sense to follow this visit with a trip to Pacific Energy, one of our valued funding partners and the company behind the new wind turbines. Students learned more about sustainable energy and had the opportunity to see first-hand the large-scale operations involved in building and operating standalone energy systems.

A visit to the Defence Force head office provided another valuable opportunity for students to learn about career and study pathways supported by the Australian Defence Force, as well as the many benefits and opportunities available.

Throughout the week, students also attended several events alongside other FTD programs from across Australia, including a day at ECU Joondalup, the Kadala Djinanginy (Day of Looking) at Curtin University and the Polly Farmer Foundation Career Expo. This year, around 500 FTD students from across Australia had the opportunity to explore potential careers across more than 40 industries and engage with a wide range of industry partners at RAC Arena.

The remainder of the week included visits to UWA, the Construction Futures Centre and the BHP head office, where students learned how the mining industry is using the latest technologies. Seeing machinery being operated remotely from a desktop, with equipment located kilometres away on active mine sites, was a real eye-opener. Remote operations are becoming increasingly important within the industry, and this was an avenue that many students found particularly interesting and inspirational.

Exploring post-school study and career opportunities away from home can be daunting, so students also had the opportunity to investigate accommodation options that could provide a supportive ‘home away from home’. St Catherine’s College at Curtin University and the Dandjoo Darbalung program at UWA offer excellent accommodation and support for students moving to Perth to pursue further education. Other options, including Trinity College and information provided by the Indigenous Youth Mobility Pathways (IYMP) program, gave students further insight into boarding and accommodation opportunities.

One of the highlights of travelling to Perth for these camps is the opportunity to connect with our FTD and ESHS Alumni. We felt particularly privileged to be invited to St Catherine’s special annual formal dinner, where we had the opportunity to meet with four of our Alumni. Hearing about the impact the FTD program has had on their future endeavours is incredibly rewarding. It is a privilege and an honour to know that the program has played such a significant role in helping shape their journeys and turning their dreams into reality.

Monitoring students’ academic performance and providing the support they need to achieve their maximum potential remains a core purpose of the program. This support extends well beyond afternoon tutoring and includes assistance with preparing for and completing NAPLAN and OLNA, as well as supporting Upper School students through specific and individualised learning plans.

It is wonderful to see our students pursuing their aspirations through Certificate courses at TAFE, engaging in the Junior Ranger program with Tjaltjraak and gaining valuable real-life work experience through Workplace Learning.

These opportunities and experiences are enriching our students’ learning journeys, building confidence, opening doors and supporting them to achieve their aspirations. They are an important part of the Follow the Dream journey and demonstrate the positive impact that strong partnerships, mentoring and access to opportunities can have on our young people and their futures.

Hettie Maree

Follow the Dream Program Coordinator