Swinburne pathways student wins Learn Local award

Swinburne pathways student Rory Madden has received the 2019 Victorian Learn Local Young Pre-accredited Learner Award, in recognition of his hard work and commitment to learning.

Disability is no barrier to Rory’s enthusiasm to learn, undertaking short courses in Horticulture and Carpentry at Learn Local provider, Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre (KewNLC).

Learn Local is a Victorian Government initiative that offers a range of community-based education and training programs designed to help learners develop the skills and confidence needed to look for a job or go onto further study.

Rory is now continuing his learning journey at Swinburne where he is on a pathway to Transition Education, which teaches those with a mild intellectual disability/ cognitive impairment the skills they need to find their feet in the community after leaving school.

Rory has already gained valuable insights and skills that can be applied to the work environment and is looking forward to new learning opportunities at Swinburne.

Rory was presented his Learn Local Award by Victoria’s Minister for Training, Skills and Higher Education, The Honourable Gayle Tierney MP, at a recent ceremony.

‌Rory accepts his award | Image: Learn Local

Swinburne and Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre

In 2018, Swinburne signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Learn Local provider, Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre (Kew NLC), to break down barriers to education and training faced by disengaged and disadvantaged learners and create pathways from pre-accredited programs to accredited programs.

As part of the agreement, Swinburne’s Horticulture team, led by Stewart Detez, supports Kew NLC in delivering its short course in Horticulture.

Kew NLC learners visit the nursery at Swinburne’s Wantirna campus to learn about horticultural processes, materials and equipment, as well as interact with Swinburne students and develop an understanding of what vocational education and training is like.

The program has also given the learners the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge, with Swinburne and Kew NLC working together to transform the Sister’s Garden at Kew Cemetery and with the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust at Northcote Cemetery.

“Our partnership with Swinburne and the direct relationship we have with staff is so important to the success of the Horticulture program”, says KewNLC Executive Manager, Barbara Ghiani.

“Visiting the Wantirna campus and meeting the staff and students is exciting for our students and breaks down barriers to further education and training pathways.”

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