Pathway Development

STAGE 1 – Expression of Interest

This stage is completed once all the following has occurred:

• The student has spoken directly to either a member of their school’s pathways team or a Head Start Industry Coordinator, OR the student has accessed information regarding Head Start from this website.
• The student has completed and submitted a current EOI form via the HOW TO APPLY link.
• The student and their parent has accurately completed ALL information requested on the EOI form, including course preferences.
• A representative of the school Pathways team has been notified of the completed form.
• The completed form has been processed by the Head Start Administration Manager.*

* All information contained in the EOI form must be FULLY COMPLETED.

STAGE 2 – Interview & Readiness Assessment

This stage is completed once all the following has occurred:

• The student’s parent has been contacted by the Head Start Administration Manager, and an interview date/time arranged.*
• The student and parent have both attended the interview at an allocated Bayside Peninsula Head Start host school, at the arranged date/time.**
• The student and their parent have accurately completed ALL interview documentation, including Medical Declaration and Media Consent form.
• The Head Start Learning Leader has compiled a Readiness Assessment form, based on responses gathered during the interview, as well as information gathered via the student’s Compass reports.

* Where a parent is unable to attend, either a sibling or caregiver who is 18+ years of age may attend as the parent’s representative.

** Where a face to face interview cannot be conducted, the interview will take place remotely via the WebEx platform. In this instance, an information pack will be forwarded to the parent (either via email or posted as hard copy). All required documentation contained in this pack MUST be completed and returned to the Administration Manager prior to the interview taking place.

STAGE 3 – Workplace Trial

This stage is completed once all the following has occurred:

• The Learning Leader has made a judgement on the student’s readiness to explore a Head Start Pathway, based on interview and, where necessary, further contact with members of school teaching and wellbeing staff.
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator has spoken directly to the student regarding their listed course preferences, and the availability of workplace trials in relation to these preferences.
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator has identified a suitable Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placement, and an agreement has been met between the employer and the school as to the most suitable length and commencement of placement.
• The school Pathways team, in consultation with the Head Start Industry Coordinator, has acquired all necessary information and signatures as per the SWL Arrangement Form (Ministerial Order 55*).
• The Student has attended all prescribed dates of placement.

* SWL Arrangement forms MUST be signed by the school Principal (or their designated representative) prior to any SWL commencement. NO student may attend SWL without this signature. Head Start representatives cannot under ANY circumstance sign off on an SWL Arrangement form.

STAGE 4 – Head Start Pathway Planning

This stage is completed once all the following has occurred:

• The Head Start Industry Coordinator has confirmed that the student has successfully attended the SWL placement and an SWL reflection report has been completed.*
• Information in the SWL reflection report indicates that both the student AND employer agree to extend their relationship to include an official Training Contract agreement.
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator liaises with the employer and the school to identify the most suitable days of employment, based on each student’s individual timetable.
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator liaises between the school and the relevant Registered Training Organization (RTO) to verify availability of the student’s preferred training course, and the integration of date(s) of delivery within the student’s school timetable/calendar.
• An official Training Contract is signed with the assistance of an Apprenticeship Support Network representative (AASN).

* The student may be required to complete multiple SWL dates or placements before a final reflection report is completed

STAGE 5 – Monitoring & Reporting

This stage is ongoing, once an official Training Contract has been signed. From the point of signature, the following will occur:

• The Head Start Industry Coordinator will liaise with all stakeholders, including student, parent, employer, RTO, School Principal and Cluster Director, to attain confirmation of the Head Start Pathway via an individual student Head Start Pathway Plan. Each stakeholder will be required to sign this plan.*
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator will obtain an official Training Plan from the relevant RTO, to be provided to the school’s VASS Administrator.**
• The Head Start Industry Coordinator will maintain regular contact with the student and report ongoing student progress at regular intervals.
• The Bayside Peninsula hub is required to report details of ongoing student progress to Department of Education & Training at regular intervals, including bi-annual Activity Reporting and steering committee member updates.

* The Pathway Plan is a dynamic document, containing details of the student’s work, school and RTO training schedule, as well as copies of all documentation completed as part of the identification process. The Pathway Plan is held on file with the Head Start Administration Manager and is updated as details of the student’s schedule are amended or completed.

** A Training Plan will only become available once ALL required documentation, including pre-training LLN assessment, student details, and course payment have been received by the RTO.