The Links to Learning LOTE (Language Other Than English) program operates out of the Illawarra Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). It caters for 60 students from seven local high schools: Lake Illawarra High, Oak Flats High, Warilla High, Warrawong High, Illawarra Sports High, Figtree High and Illawarra Senior College.

Links to Learning is a Community Grants Program, and assists young people at school aged 12 to 24 years who are at risk of leaving school early. It provides them with a range of opportunities to remain in or re-enter mainstream education and training.

The aim of the Program is to assist young people to remain in or return to education or training. The program undertakes innovative and creative activities with young people in informal learning settings, and assists the young people to create possible pathways for further education and training.

The community based approach for implementation of the Links to Learning project means that organisations develop local strategies to best meet the needs of local young people.

The community setting of the projects takes learning away from the classroom and places it in a context that is most appropriate to meet the need of the target group.

The project delivers innovative and creative packages of activities to motivate young people who are no longer engaged in or are leaving the formal education and training system.

The Links to Learning LOTE program provides / incorporates packages of education and training activities to develop key skills and abilities to assist them to make informative choices for their future activities include:

Personal planning - Goal setting - Time and resource management - Communication

Learning to learn - Processing information - Problem solving - Cross cultural communication

Developing cultural understanding - Career development and pathway planning

Using technology through a broad range of creative, recreational or arts-based activities

VET accredited pathway

Who Administers the Program?
Links to Learning is staffed by a Manager and a Training and Development Officer, Additional Supervisors, Tutors and Volunteers.

The program is auspiced by the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra and operates from the Police Citizens Youth Club, Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra. This program is a community based program and is managed by the Youth Assistance Strategies Section of DET (Department of Education and Training YASS) and the NSW Department of Education and Training.

For more information, contact:
   Michael Marino
   Links to Learning Coordinator
   Phone: (02) 4296 9032    Fax: (02) 4226 3146
   Email: michael@mcci.org.au