Overview
Participation in Term 3 in the Women’s Futures Group varies between 4 and 9 participants. There is a mix of new and continuing participants from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds including those born in Australia and representing: Croatia, Italy, Libya, Iraq, Albania, Peru, Macedonia.
In the first week the group worked on -
Group Rules
1. Being cooperative
2. Helping one another
3. Respect
4. Listen before start talking – not interrupting
5. Getting along with each other
What are our expectations from participating in this Group?
· Working together with people
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· Confidence building
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· Release from home
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· Improving English
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· Hearing other people’s ideas
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· Making new friends
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· Having Fun
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· Future Prospects
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· Learning about different cultures
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· Balancing work and family
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· Feeling more comfortable to ask questions
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What do we need to achieve – see hand out
What other learnings do we want achieve in the Future
- Note: TAFE Excursion – Mini Bus
- First Aid Course
- Budgeting
- Communications Skills – Assertiveness Training; Anger Management
- Self Esteem
- Whole day of women’s training
What skills do you already have that are valuable and that we can recognize?
Skill
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Skill
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Skill
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| Caring for children |
Cooking skills |
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| Teaching children – homework |
Reception skills |
Multicultural awareness |
| Knowing how to play with children |
Budgeting |
P&C Management |
| Teaching others to be independent |
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Caring for Adults |
| Kitchen skills & cleaning |
Investing money; Saving money |
Manage soccer team |
| Caring and teaching for children |
Financial skills |
Teaching English |
| Arts & Craft with children |
Relaxation |
Teaching Dental Care |
| Caring for Others – Adults |
Driving |
Child Care Worker |
| Family relationship building |
Organizing |
Teaching Italian |
| Husband management |
Child Protection |
Child Development |
| Walking |
Conflict Resolution |
Arabic teacher |
| Helping with sports |
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Come aboard the futures train
The journey has begun
You’re gonna get some learning and it’s going to be fun
Come aboard the futures train
Destination’s up to you
You may need some links to learning or just get that interview
We’ll build you up with confidence and set your feet upon the ground
Come and find your pathway
Let your destiny be found.
Author: Mary Haasjes (27/6/2006)
Thankyou to our Guest Speakers on Monday 5 June 2006 for an inspiring and empowering talk – Luz Guevara, Assistant Youth Worker, Cringila Community Co-operative and Blanca Azabal, Multicultural Health Worker & TAFE Teacher. Luz is originally from El Salvador and Blanca is originally from Spain.
Participants asked a series of open questions that had previously been developed in the whole group. The answers gained showed participants that learning is the key to self discovery, knowledge and empowerment. Starting a course can lead to a lifelong learning journey.
Five participants are researching opportunities for further learning at TAFE NSW or other Registered Training Organizations next semester. Potential pathways include -
*** Community Services
*** Business Administration
*** Hairdressing
*** Nursing
*** Workplace Training
Quotes of the day -
“You have to have something to believe in – if you can’t believe in something….you will accept anything.”
“A Goal is like a vision and a woman without a vision will perish.”
The goal setting workshop enabled participants to be proactive and focus on how they are going to achieve their goals. Participants developed the beginning of their Career Action Plans. This included their ‘most important goal’ and activities to support the Goal using a SMART framework. Goals must be -
Simple
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Targetted
Congratulations to the three ladies who have completed and submitted job applications in the past week.
Areas of work interest include -
* Aged Care
* Traineeship – Business Administration
* Call Centre
It will be interesting to see what other job opportunities present themselves in the next few weeks.
On Monday 23 May 2006 the Group worked on creating a personal vision. The activity commenced with a meditation focussing on the breath and then focussing on an image, place or memory that had a special meaning. Then participants were encouraged to focus on an image or place in the future.
The Women’s Futures Project is a Project of the Cringila Community Cooperative in partnership with The Wollongong Outreach Unit of TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute.
The Project is for women who aim to gain skills to make choices about their future education, training or work options.
Computer Training & the Women’s Futures Group are being held at Cringila Primary School Computer Room –
Computer Training – 8 Mondays starting 8 May 2006 – 9.30am-12noon
The Women’s Futures Group – 8 Mondays starting Monday 8 May 2006 – 12.30-3pm –
– confidence building/self esteem/ knowledge about educational pathways/job seeking skills/guest speakers.
Facilitator: Petre Goode
Wednesdays from 10 May 2006 9.30am-1pm – Face to Face support at the Cringila Community Cooperative
1. One person speaks at a time
2. Mobile phones turned on for child minding purposes
3. Listen to one another
4. Be prepared to participate
5. Respect each other
