Term 1 Week 5 2021
Hi everyone!
This week was another adventure!
On Wednesday we visited Kangan Batman Institute in Broadmeadows, where the students were taken on a guided tour around the campus and introduced to courses that the TAFE has on offer. We were lucky to join in on a hospitality cooking session where we made pizza (YUM!). The students enjoyed being in the kitchen and learning new skills. We had Michael talk to us about the options for the students if they decided to attend Kangan Institute at a later stage including VCAL, VET, apprenticeships and traineeships opportunities. The students asked questions and left having a better understanding about TAFE and their possibilities.
On Thursday we picked the young people up from Collingwood Station and travelled to Brittannia Creek Caves where we went caving for the day. The location was beautiful and were lucky to have had great weather. We geared up with our overalls, helmets and headtorches and explored the wild cave system. After our safety briefing, we all courageously squeezed through tights gaps and nooks, slid down boulders, crawled through holes, treaded through water and even saw some glow worms. For some students, this was a big challenge for them but they all did an amazing job! Together, they communicated effectively, encouraged each other and displayed leadership skills. We spoke about observing and acknowledging some of the reactions and symptoms we have when we feel anxious and nervous, including sweaty palms and increased heart rates. It is important to decipher certain coping mechanisms and use them effectively to calm us down. The students rated how anxious they were feeling before going into the caves (from 1-10 ) and were asked again half way through the cave. All students felt less anxious from when they first started which was a great sign. After exploring the caves, we had a quick walk through the forest and along the creek before heading back to Melbourne. The students had a great day!
On Friday we went canoeing along the Yarra river. The students helped pack and tie the canoes and kayaks to the trailer before leaving Collingwood. There was a safety briefing before heading on the water and then once in their canoes, we did some drills to learn the functional ways to forward and back paddle and how to turn left and right. The students paired up and we made our way to the Studley Park Boathouse where we enjoyed a well deserved lunch. This day we focused on effective communication and how it is paramount to work together as a team to move forward. At stages, some pairs struggled but realised quickly that they needed to communicate better. This day was great and we were very impressed by the students efforts and participation. Well done you all!
