Back in the Game
A referral service that provides specialist support to students to help them either re-engage with education, transition to vocational training or find employment.
The Back in the Game initiative provides professional support and mentoring for young people aged 15-19 who are not engaged with their education. The initiative is designed to help students overcome any barriers to their learning and then either re-engage with school or transition successfully to training or employment.
Initiative activities include:
- Professional mentoring and counselling
- Tailored career guidance with an emphasis on mapping out the student’s re-engagement with school or their transition to training or employment
- Assistance to overcome barriers to learning (e.g. assistance with obtaining ID, travel assistance, etc.)
For a young person to be eligible to participate in the Back in the Game program, they must meet the following eligibility criteria.
- be 15-19 years old;
- be a student enrolled in, and referred by, one of the participating Educational Pathways Program schools; and
- not be a current, active participant in any Commonwealth, NSW or any other program or service supporting youth transitions to work or study.
Back in the Game initiative delivery partners by region
Local provider: Enterprise Plus
Offices in: Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Moss Vale and Wollongong
Regions: Capital, Illawarra, Southern and Shoalhaven
Program Manager: Amie Baard
Contact Email: gbig@enterpriseplus.org.au
Contact Phone: 02 6297 3121
Website: enterpriseplus.org.au
Delivering: Get in the Game and Back in the Game
Local provider: Novaskill
Offices in: Broadmeadow, Tuggerah, Singleton
Regions: Central Coast, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and Hunter Valley exc Newcastle.
Program Manager: Alex Moore
Contact Email: GBIG@novaskill.com.au
Contact Phone: 02 4357 8600
Website: novaskill.com.au/get-back-in-the-game/
Delivering: Get in the Game and Back in the Game
Local provider: Careers Network
Offices in: Tamworth, Armidale, Moree, Inverell and Narrabri
Regions: New England and North West
Program Manager: Debbie Taekata
Contact Email: info@careersnetwork.org.au
Contact Phone: 02 6763 4800
Website: www.careersnetwork.org.auExternal link
Delivering: Get in the Game and Back in the Game
Local provider: Connect Northern Rivers
Offices in: Lismore, Grafton and Tweed Heads
Regions: Richmond-Tweed, Grafton
Program Manager: Anna Toole (Richmond- Tweed), Aron Hayman (Grafton)
Contact Email: info@connectnr.com
Contact Phone: 1300 183 352
Website: www.connectnr.com/wio/
Delivering: Get in the Game and Back in the Game
Local provider: Yourtown
Offices in: St Marys and Campbelltown
Regions: Sydney – Parramatta, Sydney – Blacktown, Sydney – South West
Program Manager: Sue Watson
Contact Email: getbackinthegame@yourtown.com.au
Contact Phone: 0402 965 622
Website: www.yourtown.com.au/employmentExternal link
Delivering: Get in the Game and Back in the Game
Useful references for schools
Where a student has not yet completed year 10, they cannot leave school and engage in paid employment during school hours. However, if school is not the best place for them, there are options (with approval of their principal and family) outside of school that would meet legislative requirements. These options include, but are not limited to, a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship, a certificate II with TAFE NSW.
The following legislation, policies and forms may be useful references when discussing next steps for some students in Back in the Game who are looking to leave school early:
Legislation
Policy